---
description: Describes the software required to contribute to Docker
keywords: 'GitHub account, repository, Docker, Git, Go, make,  '
title: Get the required software for Linux or macOS
---

This page explains how to get the software you need to use a Linux or macOS
machine for Docker development. Before you begin contributing you must have:

*  a GitHub account
* `git`
* `make`
* `docker`

You'll notice that `go`, the language that Docker is written in, is not listed.
That's because you don't need it installed; Docker's development environment
provides it for you. You'll learn more about the development environment later.

## Task 1. Get a GitHub account

To contribute to the Docker project, you will need a <a
href="https://github.com" target="_blank">GitHub account</a>. A free account is
fine. All the Docker project repositories are public and visible to everyone.

You should also have some experience using both the GitHub application and `git`
on the command line.

## Task 2. Install git

Install `git` on your local system. You can check if `git` is on already on your
system and properly installed with the following command:

```bash
$ git --version
```

This documentation is written using `git` version 2.2.2. Your version may be
different depending on your OS.

## Task 3. Install make

Install `make`. You can check if `make` is on your system with the following
command:

```bash
$ make -v
```

This documentation is written using GNU Make 3.81. Your version may be different
depending on your OS.

## Task 4. Install or upgrade Docker

If you haven't already, install the Docker software using the
<a href="/engine/installation" target="_blank">instructions for your operating system</a>.
If you have an existing installation, check your version and make sure you have
the latest Docker.

To check if `docker` is already installed on Linux:

```bash
docker --version
Docker version 1.11.0, build 4dc5990
```

On macOS or Windows, you should have installed Docker Toolbox which includes
Docker. You'll need to verify both Docker Machine and Docker. This
documentation was written on macOS using the following versions.

```bash
$ docker-machine --version
docker-machine version 0.7.0, build a650a40

$ docker --version
Docker version 1.11.0, build 4dc5990
```

## Tip for Linux users

This guide assumes you have added your user to the `docker` group on your system.
To check, list the group's contents:

```
$ getent group docker
docker:x:999:ubuntu
```

If the command returns no matches, you have two choices. You can preface this
guide's `docker` commands with `sudo` as you work. Alternatively, you can add
your user to the `docker` group as follows:

```bash
$ sudo usermod -aG docker ubuntu
```

You must log out and log back in for this modification to take effect.


## Where to go next

In the next section, you'll [learn how to set up and configure Git for
contributing to Docker](set-up-git.md).