Build AI Apps Locally for Free with Bolt.diy and Qwen 3

What is Bolt.diy?

Bolt.diy is a free, open-source version of Bolt.new — an AI coding assistant that turns simple prompts into full-stack applications. While Bolt.new is a commercial product with polished UX, Bolt.diy gives you full local control and is improving fast, thanks to recent updates from the GitHub community.

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How to Install Bolt.diy Locally

Step 1: Install Prerequisites

• Install Node.js (LTS version recommended)
  Download Node.js → Install → Verify via: node -v npm -v
• Install Git
  Download Git → Install → Verify: git --version
• (Optional but Recommended) Install pnpm npm install -g pnpm

Step 2: Clone the GitHub Repository

git clone -b stable https://github.com/stackblitz-labs/bolt.diy.git
cd bolt.diy

Developers can switch to the main branch for beta features:

git checkout main
pnpm install
pnpm run dev

Step 3: Install Project Dependencies

pnpm install

Step 4: Start the Dev Server

pnpm run dev

Open http://localhost:5173 in your browser. If it shows a blank screen initially, just refresh.

Free LLM Access with Qwen 3 via OpenRouter

Bolt.diy works with local models like Ollama or online ones like OpenRouter. Here’s how to use Qwen 3-72B (by Alibaba) for free:

Steps:

1. Go to OpenRouter.ai
2. Log in (Google Sign-in; no credit card required)
3. Search for Qwen 3 72B and note it’s free to use
4. Generate an API Key from your profile
5. In your running Bolt.diy instance:
   • Click the ⚙️ Settings icon
   • Paste your API key in the input field
   • Select “Qwen 3” from the dropdown

Tip: You can also enter a custom base URL (for local models like Ollama or LM Studio) in the settings under the “Providers” tab.

Advanced: Docker Setup (Optional)

Prefer a containerized setup?

1. Install Docker

Download Docker

2. Build the Image

npm run dockerbuild
# OR
docker build . --target bolt-ai-development

3. Run the Container

docker compose --profile development up

Feature Showcase

1. Full Project Generation from Prompt

Example Prompt:

Build a to-do app in React with Tailwind CSS

Features:

• Add/remove task functionality
• Dark/light mode
• Modular component layout

2. Supabase Integration

• Paste your Supabase token in settings
• Instantly enable real-time database & auth

3. Mobile App Support

• Generate React Native + Expo apps (still experimental)
• Works for basic prototypes and learning

4. One-Click Deployment

Supports:

• Vercel
• Netlify
• Cloudflare Pages

Paste your tokens in settings and deploy in seconds.

Developer Commands

Keeping Bolt.diy Up to Date

# Save changes if needed
git stash

# Pull latest updates
git pull
pnpm install

# Restore stashed work
git stash pop

Final Thoughts

Bolt.diy isn’t flawless — expect occasional bugs or rough edges — but it’s free, evolving fast, and highly customizable. Combined with free LLM access like Qwen 3 via OpenRouter, it’s a fantastic playground for:

• Developers
• Students
• Indie Hackers
• Anyone avoiding monthly AI coding tool fees