Prerequisites

Install Rust, Node.js, Clarinet 3.23+, and a Stacks wallet before using stacksdapp and Scaffold Stacks to build Clarity smart contract dApps.

Install the tools below before using Scaffold Stacks. All versions listed are minimums.

Run stacksdapp doctor after installing the CLI — it checks Rust, Node, Clarinet 3.23+, Docker, and git in one pass.

Requirements

Tool	Minimum version	Required for
Rust	1.75+	Building and installing the CLI
Node.js	20+	Frontend and contract tests
Clarinet	3.23+	Contract toolchain and Clarity 6 devnet
Leather or Xverse	latest	Testnet and mainnet wallet flows
Docker Desktop	latest	Local devnet only

Install the CLI

cargo install stacksdapp
stacksdapp --version

Or build from source:

git clone https://github.com/scaffold-stack/scaffold-stack.git
cd scaffold-stack
cargo install --path cli

Verify installation

stacksdapp doctor

Checks Rust, Node.js, Clarinet 3.23+, Docker (for devnet), git, and git hooks path.

For CI pipelines, use strict mode to fail on warnings:

stacksdapp doctor --strict

To verify manually:

rustc --version && node --version && clarinet --version

If doctor passes, continue to the quickstart.

Rust

curl --proto '=https' --tlsv1.2 -sSf https://sh.rustup.rs | sh
rustup update

Verify:

rustc --version

Node.js

# Using nvm (recommended)
curl -o- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nvm-sh/nvm/v0.39.0/install.sh | bash
nvm install 20
nvm use 20

Verify:

node --version
npm --version

Clarinet

Scaffold Stacks templates target Clarinet SDK 3.23+ and default to Clarity 6 (epoch 4.0).

# macOS with Homebrew
brew install clarinet

# Or build from source
git clone https://github.com/stx-labs/clarinet
cd clarinet
cargo install --path .

Verify:

clarinet --version

Clarinet 3.23+ is required for Clarity 6 devnet. Testnet and mainnet deploy work with earlier 3.21+ releases, but stacksdapp doctor expects 3.23+.

Stacks wallet

Install a browser wallet and create a testnet account:

• Leather
• Xverse

Docker (optional)

Required only for local devnet:

# macOS
brew install --cask docker