> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.joinbase.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Install the validator

> Install the platform CLI with the bittensor extra needed to submit weights.

The validator ships as part of the `platform-network` package. Installing it
gives you the `platform` CLI (`pyproject.toml:43`).

## Requirements

* Python **3.12 or newer** (`pyproject.toml:5`).
* A Bittensor wallet (coldkey + hotkey) for signing on-chain submissions.

## Install

<Steps>
  <Step title="Install with the validator extra">
    The validator extra installs `bittensor>=9`, which is required to submit
    weights (`pyproject.toml:40`).

    ```bash theme={"dark"}
    pip install 'platform-network[validator]'
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="Confirm the bittensor extra">
    Submitting weights needs the bittensor dependency. If it is missing, the
    runtime raises a clear error telling you to install the extra
    (`src/platform_network/bittensor/factory.py:27-28`):

    ```bash theme={"dark"}
    pip install 'platform-network[bittensor]'
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="Verify the CLI">
    Check that the `platform` command resolves.

    ```bash theme={"dark"}
    platform --help
    ```
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Validator node install (Docker Swarm)

For the submit-only deployment used on the validator node, the supervisor venv
provides the Python interpreter, and the wallet lives under
`/var/lib/platform/wallets/<wallet_name>/hotkeys/<wallet_hotkey>`
(`deploy/swarm/submitter/run_submitter.py:24-28`). See
[The submitter](/validators/submitter) for that path.

<Tip>
  The validator node holds the hotkey. Keep the private key off shared hosts and
  out of logs. The submitter logs only the public hotkey SS58 address
  (`deploy/swarm/submitter/run_submitter.py:65-87`).
</Tip>

## Next steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Validator quickstart" icon="rocket" href="/validators/quickstart">
    Configure and run in five steps.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Configuration" icon="sliders" href="/validators/configuration">
    Fill out your validator config.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>