# Before You Begin ### Step 1: Install binaries To get started as quickly as possible we recommend using pre-built binaries. {% hint style="info" %} **INFO** You can find how to install VEXANIUM from source [here](https://github.com/vexanium/VexChain). {% endhint %} ### Step 2: Setup a development directory, stick to it. You're going to need to pick a directory to work from, it's suggested to create a `contracts` directory somewhere on your local drive. ```bash mkdir contracts cd contracts ``` ### Step 3: Enter your local directory below. Get the path of that directory and save it for later, as you're going to need it, you can use the following command to get your absolute path. ```bash pwd ``` #### What's Next? * Install the CDT: Steps to install the VEXANIUM Contract Development Toolkit (CDT) on your system. --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://docs.vexanium.com/getting-started/development-environment/before-you-begin.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.