The plain, no-nonsense guide to getting the Slopify web UI running on your machine. (The README is where the shouting lives; this page just gets you up and running.)
Slopify runs on your Claude subscription — a Claude Pro or Max plan, which includes Claude Code. You sign in once with
claude loginand the app uses that. There is no API key to buy and nothing to host.If you don't have a Claude plan that includes Claude Code, this app will not run. No sign-in, no slop — save yourself the time. Get one at claude.com/claude-code.
(Prefer to pay per-use on the Anthropic API instead? That works too — see Configuration — but the subscription is the simple path.)
Once you're signed in, setup is basically: install Node → run one launcher → the browser opens. First launch installs everything itself.
- Node.js 18 or newer. Download the "LTS" build from nodejs.org and install
it. To check what you have, open a terminal and run
node --version. - A signed-in Claude. Install Claude Code if you don't have it,
then run
claude loginonce and follow the prompt. This is what lets Slopify talk to Claude.
That's the whole prerequisite list. Now pick your OS.
- Install Node.js 18+ from nodejs.org (the LTS installer).
- Run
claude loginonce in a terminal (PowerShell or Command Prompt). - In the project's
webfolder, double-clickstart.bat.
A terminal window opens, sets itself up on the first run, and your browser pops open to Slopify. Keep that window open while you use the app; close it to stop the server.
Terminal alternative: from the repo root, run node web/start.mjs.
- Install Node.js 18+ from nodejs.org (or
brew install node). - Run
claude loginonce in Terminal. - In the project's
webfolder, double-clickstart.command.
The first run installs dependencies, starts the server, and opens your browser automatically. Leave the Terminal window open while you play; close it to stop.
Terminal alternative: ./web/start.command, or node web/start.mjs from the repo root.
- Install Node.js 18+ from nodejs.org, your distro's package manager, or nvm.
- Run
claude loginonce. - From the repo, run
./web/start.sh(double-clicking works on most desktops too).
It installs on first run, starts the server, and opens your browser. Ctrl-C in the terminal stops it.
Terminal alternative: node web/start.mjs.
The very first launch downloads the Claude Agent SDK (about 250 MB) and installs dependencies — one time only. After that, startup is quick. Each slopified post then takes roughly 15–30 seconds to generate.
You shouldn't need any. It works out of the box on your Claude login with no config file. Two optional
knobs, if you want them (both via a web/.env file — copy web/.env.example):
| Setting | What it does |
|---|---|
PORT=3000 |
Change the local port the app serves on (default 3000). |
ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=sk-… |
Bill the Anthropic API per-use instead of using your subscription. If set, it takes over. Most people leave this unset. |
| Symptom | Fix |
|---|---|
node: command not found or a version below 18 |
Install/upgrade Node.js 18+, then reopen your terminal. |
| It says you're not signed in and won't start | Run claude login (install Claude Code first if needed). |
| 401 / auth error when you hit Slopify | Same fix — your Claude session expired or isn't set up: run claude login again. |
Port 3000 in use |
Set a different port: put PORT=3100 in web/.env, or free up 3000. |
| Browser didn't open | The terminal prints the URL (e.g. http://localhost:3000) — open it yourself. |
The web UI is the main way to use Slopify. If you already live in Claude Code, you can also run it straight from chat — from the repo folder:
/slopify today is a nice sunny day
You'll get one finished post. Ask to "show the ladder" to watch it build, or say "3 passes," "final only," "longer each pass" to adjust on the fly. That's the power-user path; everyone else should just start the web UI.