Installation

The Infa CLI is available on all Infa plans, and you can start without an account: run it in your repo and your docs open on a local board in the browser. We at Infa built it this way so you can see what Infa does with your own files before you sign up.

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Requirements

The Claude CLI is only required if you plan to use session management (starting Claude Code sessions). File preview and sync work without it.

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Install

npm install -g infa

Verify the install by running infa with no arguments — it will start the preview server:

infa

Or check available commands:

infa --help

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No account needed

You can use the Infa CLI without an Infa account. In your repo, run:

cd ~/my-repo
npx infa preview

npx runs the CLI without installing it first. The browser opens a local board at infa.ai/local: your repo's Markdown and MDX docs, in the same board layout as a cloud board. Files are read and edited on your machine, and nothing is uploaded.

Rendering components from your repo needs no account either — their .preview.tsx sidecars, or npx infa preview --static src/components/Button.tsx (the older infa render still works).

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Save to Infa

When you want your docs in the cloud, use Save to Infa in the local board's floating toolbar. You sign up (free), the CLI is connected to a free cloud board, and your local files then appear in that board's Local files section. Every account includes one free cloud board with 3 cloud papers.

You can also sign in from the terminal with infa auth and pick or create a board with infa board — see Authentication and Connect a board.

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What needs an account

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Install Claude CLI (optional)

If you want Infa to manage Claude Code sessions, install the official Claude CLI:

npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code

Infa looks for the Claude CLI at these paths in order:

1. /opt/homebrew/bin/claude (Homebrew on macOS)
2. /usr/local/bin/claude
3. claude (anywhere on your PATH)

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Starting the server

Run infa preview (or just infa) from the root of the folder you want to serve:

cd ~/my-docs
infa preview

The server starts on port 7100 by default. To use a different port:

PORT=7101 infa preview

The browser opens automatically:

• Signed out, or signed in with no board connected: the local board at infa.ai/local. When you are signed in, the CLI first asks you to pick one of your boards or create a new one for this folder.
• Board connected: your board at infa.ai/b/{boardId}.

The old infa.ai/editor address redirects to infa.ai/local.

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Next steps

When you want the cloud:

• Authenticate with your Infa account
• Connect a board