> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://pulse-41cf5b0d.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Installing the PulseGuard pulse CLI (npm, bun, pnpm)

> Install the PulseGuard pulse CLI globally via npm, bun, or pnpm. Requires Node.js 18+. Confirm the install is working with pulse --version.

The `pulse` CLI is published to the npm registry as `pulseguard-cli`. You install it globally so the `pulse` binary is available in any directory on your machine. The package ships compiled JavaScript and has no native dependencies, so installation is fast on any platform.

## Prerequisites

Before you install, make sure you have **Node.js 18 or higher** on your machine. You can check your current version with:

```bash theme={null}
node --version
# v20.11.0
```

If you need to install or upgrade Node.js, visit [nodejs.org](https://nodejs.org) or use a version manager like [nvm](https://github.com/nvm-sh/nvm) or [fnm](https://github.com/Schniz/fnm).

## Install the CLI

Choose your preferred package manager to install `pulseguard-cli` globally:

<CodeGroup>
  ```bash npm theme={null}
  npm install -g pulseguard-cli
  ```

  ```bash bun theme={null}
  bun add -g pulseguard-cli
  ```

  ```bash pnpm theme={null}
  pnpm add -g pulseguard-cli
  ```
</CodeGroup>

## Verify the installation

After installation, confirm the `pulse` binary is available and shows the expected version:

```bash theme={null}
pulse --version
# 0.1.0
```

If your shell can't find `pulse` after a global install, ensure your package manager's global `bin` directory is on your `PATH`. For npm, run `npm bin -g` to find the path.

## Upgrade to the latest version

Run the same install command you used originally to upgrade in place:

```bash npm theme={null}
npm update -g pulseguard-cli
```

<Tip>
  Pin a specific version in your CI environments (`npm install -g pulseguard-cli@0.1.0`) to keep builds reproducible and avoid unexpected changes when a new release ships.
</Tip>

## Next step

Once the CLI is installed, [authenticate with your PulseGuard API key](/cli/authentication) so `pulse` can reach your account.