---
description: Detect local system capabilities required for Smith Core installation
---
# Detect System

Run:

```bash
uname -a
node -v
docker --version
docker compose version
cargo --version 2>/dev/null || echo "cargo not installed (optional — pre-built binaries available)"

if [ "$(uname -s)" = "Darwin" ]; then
  command -v gondolin
  gondolin help >/dev/null
fi
```

## What It Does

This skill gathers the minimum environment facts needed before bootstrap.

1. Confirms host OS/kernel information.
2. Confirms Node.js runtime availability.
3. Confirms Docker engine and Compose plugin availability.
4. Checks for Rust toolchain (optional — pre-built binaries are available via npm).
5. On macOS, confirms Gondolin is installed for persistent VM sandbox mode.
6. Establishes whether the machine can run the standard Smith Core flow.

## Prerequisites

- Shell access in the `smith-core` repository.
- `bash` available.

## Expected Output

Successful environment output includes:

```text
Linux ...
v22.x.x
Docker version ...
Docker Compose version ...
cargo 1.xx.x ...
/usr/bin/gondolin   # macOS only
```

## Reading Results

- Missing `node` means installer and Node workspaces cannot run.
- Missing `docker compose` means infrastructure cannot start.
- Missing `cargo` is non-blocking — pre-built binaries are installed via `npm install -g @sibyllinesoft/smith-services`. Cargo is only needed to build from source.
- On macOS, missing `gondolin` means persistent VM sandbox sessions cannot start.

## Common Failures

| Symptom | Cause | Fix |
|---------|-------|-----|
| `node: command not found` | Node.js missing | Install Node 22+: `nvm install 22` or `fnm install 22` |
| Node < 22 detected | Older Node.js version | Upgrade: `nvm install 22 && nvm use 22` (or `fnm install 22 && fnm use 22`) |
| `docker: command not found` | Docker missing | Install Docker engine |
| `docker compose` unknown command | Compose plugin missing | Install Docker Compose plugin |
| `cargo: command not found` | Rust toolchain missing | Optional — pre-built binaries available via npm. Install Rust via rustup only if building from source |
| `gondolin: command not found` (macOS) | Gondolin missing | Install Gondolin and verify `gondolin help` works |

## Notes

This skill is diagnostic only. It does not install packages automatically.