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Guide · Open source

How to use open-lovable: setup, API keys and running it locally

Updated · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data

Open Lovable is an open-source web app from the Firecrawl team where you chat with an AI model to build React apps. It is an example app, not a finished product, and running it requires several API keys. This guide walks through the setup from the README so you can run it on your own machine.

Open Lovablefirecrawl/open-lovable · ★ 28.8k · MIT

Quick start

  1. 1Clone the repo. Run git clone on the open-lovable repository from GitHub and enter the project folder.
  2. 2Install dependencies. Run pnpm install, or npm install or yarn install if you prefer those tools.
  3. 3Create .env.local. Add your Firecrawl API key and at least one AI provider key to a .env.local file.
  4. 4Choose a sandbox provider. Set SANDBOX_PROVIDER to vercel or e2b and add the matching credentials.
  5. 5Start the app. Run pnpm dev and open http://localhost:3000 in your browser.

What you need before you install open-lovable

Open Lovable is installed by cloning the repository and building it locally. The project is written in TypeScript and licensed under MIT.

Setup needs several accounts, not just one. The README lists a Firecrawl API key as required, plus an API key for at least one AI provider and a sandbox provider.

  • Node.js
  • pnpm, npm, or yarn
  • Git
  • A Firecrawl API key (from firecrawl.dev)
  • An API key for one AI provider: Gemini, Anthropic, OpenAI, or Groq
  • A sandbox provider: Vercel Sandbox (default) or E2B

Clone the repository and install dependencies

Clone the project from GitHub, move into the folder, and install the packages. The README shows pnpm, but npm or yarn also work with the commands noted in its comments.

git clone https://github.com/firecrawl/open-lovable.git cd open-lovable pnpm install # or npm install / yarn install

Add your API keys in .env.local

Create a file named .env.local in the project folder. The README's template groups the variables into required keys, an AI provider, an optional fast-edit key, and a sandbox provider. Only the keys for the providers you choose need real values.

For the sandbox, set SANDBOX_PROVIDER to vercel (the default) or e2b. With Vercel, the README suggests running vercel link and then vercel env pull to get VERCEL_OIDC_TOKEN automatically, which it recommends for development. Its alternative is a personal access token using VERCEL_TEAM_ID, VERCEL_PROJECT_ID and VERCEL_TOKEN, described for production or when OIDC is unavailable. For E2B, set E2B_API_KEY.

  • FIRECRAWL_API_KEY is marked REQUIRED.
  • GEMINI_API_KEY, ANTHROPIC_API_KEY, OPENAI_API_KEY and GROQ_API_KEY are AI provider options.
  • MORPH_API_KEY is optional and is labelled as Fast Apply for faster edits.
FIRECRAWL_API_KEY=your_firecrawl_api_key GEMINI_API_KEY=your_gemini_api_key SANDBOX_PROVIDER=vercel # or 'e2b' VERCEL_OIDC_TOKEN=auto_generated_by_vercel_env_pull # E2B_API_KEY=your_e2b_api_key

Run open-lovable locally

Start the development server with the command below. The README then says to open http://localhost:3000 in your browser.

pnpm dev # or npm run dev / yarn dev

Troubleshooting setup problems

The README does not include a troubleshooting section. The most likely issues come from the setup steps it does describe: missing or wrong keys in .env.local, and a sandbox provider that is not authenticated. Check that the variable names match the template exactly and that the sandbox option you chose has its credentials set.

The README also does not describe how the website cloning works in detail beyond these setup steps, so check the repository's code and issues for more information.

What people use it for

  • Exploring how Firecrawl and an LLM can be combined in one app
  • Studying a self-hosted example of an AI app builder
  • Getting a quick React starting point from a website you like, as the project describes

Frequently asked questions

Is open-lovable free?

The project is licensed under MIT, so the code is free to use under those terms. The services it connects to, such as Firecrawl, AI providers and sandbox providers, have their own API keys and accounts that the README asks you to set up.

What do I need to run open-lovable?

You need Node.js, Git, and one of pnpm, npm or yarn. You also need a Firecrawl API key, an API key for an AI provider, and a sandbox provider such as Vercel Sandbox or E2B.

How do I install open-lovable?

Clone the GitHub repository, enter the folder, and run pnpm install. Then add your keys to .env.local and start the app with pnpm dev.

Which AI providers does open-lovable support?

The README template lists Gemini, Anthropic, OpenAI and Groq API keys as AI provider options. You need a key for at least one of them.

Is open-lovable a replacement for Lovable.dev?

No. The README describes Open Lovable as an example app from the Firecrawl team and points to Lovable.dev for a complete cloud solution. It is a self-hosted option for developers.

What are alternatives to open-lovable?

Projects comparable to Open Lovable include Bolt.new, Dyad and OpenHands. Pick based on whether you want a self-hosted codebase or a hosted tool.

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Our verdict

Open Lovable suits developers who want a self-hosted example of an AI app builder and already hold API keys for Firecrawl, an AI provider and a sandbox provider. If you want a hosted, no-setup builder or production-ready code, the README points you to Lovable.dev or a comparable project such as Bolt.new, Dyad or OpenHands.

Install options & downloads