Getting Started

Install Dokkimi and run your first test in minutes.

Prerequisites

You need three things on your machine:

• Node.js 20+
• Docker + Kubernetes — Docker Desktop with Kubernetes enabled is the easiest path. Rancher Desktop and minikube also work.
• kubectl — configured to talk to your local cluster.

Install

npm install -g dokkimi

Verify your environment is ready:

dokkimi doctor

dokkimi doctor checks that Docker is running, Kubernetes is reachable, and your cluster has enough resources. Fix anything it flags before continuing.

Scaffold example definitions

dokkimi init

This creates a .dokkimi/ folder with an example topology — a simple API gateway, a backend service, and a Postgres database. See Project Structure for details on how this folder is organized.

Run your first test

dokkimi run

Dokkimi will:

1. Create an isolated Kubernetes namespace
2. Deploy your services with interceptor sidecars
3. Seed any databases
4. Wait for readiness checks to pass
5. Execute your test steps
6. Report results and tear everything down

You'll see real-time output as each step executes and assertions pass or fail.

Inspect results

dokkimi inspect

Opens a full-screen interactive TUI showing every HTTP call the interceptor captured, assertion results, console logs, and database queries from the last run. See the CLI Reference for all available commands.

Next steps

• Project Structure — understand the .dokkimi/ folder layout
• Services — define your own services
• Databases — add Postgres, MySQL, MongoDB, or Redis
• Mocks — intercept calls to external APIs
• Tests & Steps — write test cases