Getting Started

This guide will help you get Luker up and running in minutes.

Luker runs on your own computer or phone. Pick the method that fits you — you only need the tools that method requires. Every method also needs a working LLM API (OpenAI, Claude, Google Gemini, local models, etc.).

Standalone App

Run the complete Luker server and interface inside a single app. Opening it shows the full interface — there is no terminal and no browser address.

Platform	How to get it	Requirements
Desktop (macOS, Windows, Linux)	Desktop App	None
Android	Android App	None
HarmonyOS	Build from source	Node.js >= 24.0, DevEco Studio

iPhone and iPad have no app; use Luker in Safari. See iOS.

Docker

Best for server deployments or users who want an out-of-the-box experience. Luker provides pre-built Docker images. Requires Docker.

1. Create docker-compose.yml

Create a docker-compose.yml in the directory where you want to store data:

services:
  luker:
    image: ghcr.io/funnycups/luker:latest
    container_name: luker
    ports:
      - 127.0.0.1:8000:8000
    volumes:
      - ./plugins:/home/node/app/plugins
      - ./config:/home/node/app/config
      - ./data:/home/node/app/data
      - ./extensions:/home/node/app/public/scripts/extensions/third-party
    restart: unless-stopped

2. Start the Container

docker compose up -d

Port Binding and Security

The default configuration binds the port to 127.0.0.1:8000, allowing only local access. For remote access, change 127.0.0.1:8000:8000 to 0.0.0.0:8000:8000 and make sure to set up the following security measures:

• Reverse Proxy + HTTPS: Use a reverse proxy like Nginx to provide HTTPS encryption
• Enable Authentication: Turn on Basic Auth (basicAuthMode: true) or multi-user login (enableUserAccounts: true) to prevent unauthorized access. See Configuration for details

3. Update the Image

docker compose pull
docker compose up -d

Git Clone

Best for users who want to manage and update manually. Requires Node.js >= 24.0 and Git.

1. Clone the Repository

git clone https://github.com/funnycups/Luker.git
cd Luker

2. Install Dependencies

npm install

3. Start the Server

node server.js

You can also use the provided startup script, which automatically installs dependencies and starts the server:

bash start.sh

Alternative Runtimes

Luker also supports launching via Deno or Bun:

# Deno
npm run start:deno

# Bun
npm run start:bun

4. Update

git pull
npm install

Initial Setup

Access Luker

Once the server is running, open your browser and navigate to:

http://localhost:8000

Standalone App Users

The Desktop, Android, and HarmonyOS apps display the full interface when opened — there is no URL to visit in a separate browser.

Configure API Connection

When you first enter Luker, you need to configure at least one LLM API to start chatting:

1. Click the API Connection icon at the top
2. Select your API type (e.g., OpenAI, Claude, etc.)
3. Enter the API endpoint and key
4. Test the connection

For detailed instructions, see API Connections.

Select or Import a Character Card

Once the API is configured, you can:

• Select a character from the character card list to start chatting
• Click the Import button to import a .png or .json character card file

Learn more at Character Cards.

Migrating from SillyTavern

Luker is fully compatible with SillyTavern data. If you're a SillyTavern user, you can simply copy the data directory into Luker. If you later decide to stop using Luker, you can downgrade back to SillyTavern at any time without data loss.

Backup Reminder

Although Luker is compatible with SillyTavern data, it's still recommended to back up before migrating.

For a detailed migration guide, see Migrating from SillyTavern.

Next Steps

• Configure API Connections — Connect your LLM service
• Learn about Character Cards — Start your first roleplay
• Migrate from SillyTavern — If you're a SillyTavern user