> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.cli.cdata.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Installation

> How to install the CData CLI on Windows, macOS, and Linux.

## Before you begin

The CData CLI requires Java 17 or later. On Windows, the installer can automatically install [Adoptium JRE 17](https://adoptium.net/) via `winget` if no compatible JRE is detected.

***

## Windows

Run the following command in PowerShell:

```powershell theme={null}
irm https://downloads.cdata.com/cdatabuilds/builds/free/cdatacli/install-cdatacli-windows.ps1 | iex
```

The installer:

1. Checks for a compatible JRE. If none is found, installs Adoptium JRE 17 using `winget`.
2. Installs the CData CLI to `%APPDATA%\Programs\CData\CData CLI tool\`.
3. Adds the install directory to your `PATH`.

After installation, open a new terminal and run:

```powershell theme={null}
cdatacli --version
```

***

## macOS

Run the following command in your terminal:

```bash theme={null}
curl -fsSL https://downloads.cdata.com/cdatabuilds/builds/free/cdatacli/install-cdatacli-macos.sh | bash
```

After installation, open a new terminal and run:

```bash theme={null}
cdatacli --version
```

***

## Linux

Run the following command in your terminal:

```bash theme={null}
curl -fsSL https://downloads.cdata.com/cdatabuilds/builds/free/cdatacli/install-cdatacli-linux.sh | bash
```

After installation, open a new terminal and run:

```bash theme={null}
cdatacli --version
```

***

## Adding drivers

### Download a driver

The easiest way to add a driver is to download it with the CLI. First, search CData's published driver catalog to find a driver's artifact ID:

```bash theme={null}
cdatacli drivers search --driver salesforce
```

Then download the driver by its artifact ID. The jar is saved to `./lib` by default — the same location the CLI auto-discovers:

```bash theme={null}
cdatacli drivers download --artifact-id salesforce-jdbc
```

Use `--output <dir>` to save the jar to a different directory, or `--url <jar-url>` to download from a direct URL instead.

### Add a driver manually

You can also place driver JAR files yourself. The CData CLI discovers JDBC drivers from the following locations relative to the CLI executable:

* `./` — the current directory
* `./lib/` — a `lib` subdirectory

Place your CData JDBC driver JAR files in one of these directories. To verify a driver is available:

```bash theme={null}
cdatacli drivers list
```

### Third-party dependencies

Some CData drivers require third-party libraries that CData cannot bundle because of licensing restrictions. These dependencies may include a JAR file and, in some cases, a native library for your platform.

Place these files in the `./lib/` directory alongside the driver. The CData CLI automatically adds any non-CData JAR in `./lib/` to the driver's classpath and adds the directory to the Java native library path, so the driver can load both the JAR and its native library at runtime.

***

## Next steps

* [Quick start](./quickstart.mdx)
* [Activate a driver](./commands/drivers.mdx#activate)