Docker Setup

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Run the Crow gateway in Docker for self-hosted deployments.

Prerequisites

• Docker and Docker Compose installed
• Uses local SQLite — no database setup needed.

Cloud Profile

Exposes the gateway on port 3001:

docker compose --profile cloud up --build

Set environment variables in a .env file or pass them directly:

# No database config needed — Crow uses local SQLite automatically.

Local Profile

Runs the gateway with a Cloudflare Tunnel for remote access:

docker compose --profile local up --build

This creates a public URL via Cloudflare that you can use to connect from mobile/web AI clients.

Environment Variables

The gateway reads all integration API keys from environment variables. See the Integrations page for the full list.

Security note: If you're exposing the gateway to the internet, always use a reverse proxy (nginx, Caddy, or Cloudflare Tunnel) with HTTPS. Never expose port 3001 directly to the public internet without TLS encryption. The --no-auth flag should never be used in internet-facing deployments.

Health Check

Verify the gateway is running:

curl http://localhost:3001/health

Visit http://localhost:3001/setup to see integration status and endpoint URLs.

Crow's Nest Password

The first time you visit /dashboard, you'll be prompted to set a password. You can also set it from the /setup page or by asking your AI: "Set my Crow's Nest password."

Connect Your AI

Once the gateway is running, connect your AI platform:

Claude · ChatGPT · All platforms

Try it out — after connecting, say:

"Remember that today is my first day using Crow" "What do you remember?"

Multi-instance sync

This Docker instance can sync with other Crow installations on different machines. Set up a second instance on Oracle Cloud or Google Cloud, then chain them for redundancy and remote access.