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This guide creates a project declaration, synchronizes the local machine, and leaves the repository ready for teammates and CI.

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Choose the project root

Place jolter.json at the highest directory that should share one runtime and tool set. 
my-repo/
|-- jolter.json
|-- package.json
|-- apps/
|   `-- web/
`-- packages/
Use nested jolter.json files only when a subtree intentionally needs a different toolchain.

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Pin the runtime

From the project root: 
jolter pin node@24
Jolter supports Node.js, Bun, and Deno as runtimes: 
jolter pin node@24
jolter pin bun@1
jolter pin deno@2
Only one runtime can be configured in a project. Pinning a different runtime replaces the previous runtime entry and preserves tools.

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Pin tools

Built-in tools run through Node.js, so they require a Node.js runtime. 
jolter pin pnpm@10
jolter pin yarn@4
jolter pin npm@11
The resulting configuration can contain multiple tools:
jolter.json
{
  "$schema": "https://schemas.jolter.dev/project/v2/schema.json",
  "schemaVersion": 2,
  "runtime": {
    "node": "24"
  },
  "tools": {
    "pnpm": "10",
    "yarn": "4"
  }
}

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Synchronize the project

jolter sync
sync resolves the project, installs or reuses complete compatible versions, activates the exact result, and refreshes shims. Shims do not download missing versions during normal command dispatch. That keeps node, pnpm, and other commands deterministic once a build starts.

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Verify the project

jolter doctor
jolter list
node --version
pnpm --version
doctor reports invalid configuration, missing versions, incomplete installs, PATH precedence, cache readiness, proxy and certificate findings, and plugin issues.

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Commit the right files

Commit: 
jolter.json
package.json
lockfiles
Do not commit: 
.jolter/
JOLTER_HOME
downloaded runtimes
downloaded tools
cache directories

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Add CI

The same project file works in automation: 
jolter setup-ci --no-progress
Continue with CI automation or the planned setup action.
A prepared project has committed requirements, a successful jolter sync, a clean jolter doctor, and CI that calls jolter setup-ci before package-manager commands.

Related topics

QuickstartJolterUpdating toolchainsAutomatic switching