# Local

Source: https://docs.interop.io/bridge/deployment/local/index.html

## Overview

To deploy **io.Bridge** locally on your machine without using a Docker image, execute the [`@interopio/bridge`](https://www.npmjs.com/package/@interopio/bridge) package directly via `npm` by using the [`npx`](https://docs.npmjs.com/cli/v8/commands/npx) command.

The following sections describe the requirements and the steps for executing the `@interopio/bridge` package locally.

## Executing the io.Bridge Package

1. To be able to execute the `@interopio/bridge` locally, you must have the following tools installed:

- [npm](https://docs.npmjs.com/)
- [Node.js](https://nodejs.org/) 24 or later

2. **io.Bridge** requires a valid [license key](https://docs.interop.io/bridge/requirements/index.md#licensing) to operate.

Provide your license key directly or provide a path to a file containing your license key by using the `IO_BRIDGE_LICENSE_KEY` or the `IO_BRIDGE_LICENSE_KEY_FILE` environment variable respectively:

- on Windows:

```cmd
set IO_BRIDGE_LICENSE_KEY_FILE=./secrets/io-bridge-license.key
```

- on macOS or Linux:

```cmd
export IO_BRIDGE_LICENSE_KEY_FILE=./secrets/io-bridge-license.key
```

3. Execute the `@interopio/bridge` package via the `npx` command:

```cmd
npx @interopio/bridge
```

This will initialize a single **io.Bridge** node on your local machine. Optionally, you can configure **io.Bridge** by using [command line arguments](https://docs.interop.io/bridge/configuration/bridge/index.md#command_line_arguments).

4. To connect your io.Connect platform (**io.Connect Desktop** or **io.Connect Browser**) to **io.Bridge**, you must provide the necessary platform configuration.

For more details on configuring the io.Connect platforms, see the [Configuration > Platform > io.Connect Desktop](https://docs.interop.io/bridge/configuration/platform/index.md#ioconnect_desktop) and [Configuration > Platform > io.Connect Browser](https://docs.interop.io/bridge/configuration/platform/index.md#ioconnect_browser) sections.