LineLedger runs on your own server, so the first step is getting it running — then you create the account that owns the books. Together it takes about ten minutes, and there's nothing to sign up for and no card to enter at any point.
1. Get LineLedger running
LineLedger installs with Docker: one compose file, a handful of values in a .env, and
docker compose up -d. The install page walks through it end to end, including the
encryption key you need to generate and back up.
Note — where it lives. Out of the box the app answers on
http://localhost:8080. If you're installing on a server rather than your own machine, setAPP_URLin the.envto the address you'll actually use before you start it — passkeys and email links are both derived from it.
2. Register the first user
Open your install in a browser and you'll land on the registration page. Fill in your name, email address, and a password, tick the terms checkbox, and click Create account. The first user you register becomes the owner of the first organization.
3. Verify your email
Right after registering, LineLedger sends a verification email. Click the link in it before going further — verification is required before you can create an organization.
Tip — no mail configured yet? A fresh install writes mail to the log rather than sending it, so the verification link won't reach your inbox until you set
MAIL_MAILERand the matchingMAIL_*values. Until then you can read the link straight out of the container logs.
What you have now
Your own install, and a verified account with no organizations yet — so LineLedger drops you straight into the 8-step setup wizard. That's the next tutorial. There's no trial running in the background and nothing to activate: every feature is on, permanently, because the AGPLv3 says so.