Quick Start

By the end of this guide your DCC-EX CommandStation will be connected to DEJA.js and you'll be driving trains from any browser on your network.

What You Need

Confirm Node.js before continuing: node --version should print v20.x.x or higher.

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Step 1 — Sign Up

Create your free DEJA Cloud account. It takes one click.

1. Go to DEJA Cloud and click Sign Up.
2. Sign in with Google, GitHub, or email and password.
3. The onboarding wizard starts automatically.

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Step 2 — Choose a Plan

Pick the tier that fits your layout. You can always upgrade later.

• Hobbyist is completely free — no credit card required.
• Engineer and Conductor include a 14-day free trial. You won't be charged until the trial ends.

Select your plan and continue. If you chose a paid tier, enter your card details on the next screen to start your trial.

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Step 3 — Register Your Layout

Give your layout a name and a unique ID (lowercase letters, numbers, and hyphens only). This is how DEJA.js organizes your locomotives, turnouts, effects, and all other configuration.

After this step the wizard shows your LAYOUT_ID and Firebase credentials. Copy these values — you'll need them in Step 4.

You can find your credentials later in DEJA Cloud under Settings > View Local Environment Configuration.

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Step 4 — Install

Open a terminal on the machine connected to your DCC-EX CommandStation and run one command. It downloads the DEJA Server, installs dependencies, and walks you through configuration.

macOS / Linux / Raspberry Pi

curl -fsSL https://install.dejajs.com | bash

Windows

Windows users should install via WSL, then run the curl command above from a WSL terminal.

The install script will:

1. Check for Node.js 20+ (provides install instructions if missing)
2. Prompt for your account credentials (from Step 3)
3. Detect your serial ports for the DCC-EX CommandStation
4. Download the DEJA Server and install dependencies
5. Start the server

Looking for the full monorepo developer setup? See the Installation guide.

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Step 5 — Register Your CommandStation

Tell DEJA Cloud that a DCC-EX CommandStation will connect via USB from this computer.

1. In DEJA Cloud, open your layout.
2. Go to Devices and click Add.
3. Select DCC-EX CommandStation → connection type USB → click Submit.

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Step 6 — Manage the Server

The install script starts the server automatically. Use the deja CLI to manage it:

deja status     # Check server status and connection
deja logs       # View server logs
deja restart    # Restart the server
deja stop       # Stop the server
deja update     # Pull the latest server version

Verify: Run deja status to confirm the server is running. Open DEJA Monitor in a browser — you should see the server connected.

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Step 7 — Connect Hardware

1. Open DEJA Monitor on this computer.
2. Find the DCC-EX CommandStation device card.
3. Select the USB port from the dropdown and click Connect.

Finding your port:

• Linux / macOS — ls /dev/tty* and look for /dev/ttyUSB0 or /dev/ttyACM0
• Windows — Device Manager > Ports (COM & LPT) — note the COMx number

Verify: The device card shows a green "connected" status and displays DCC-EX firmware version information.

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Step 8 — Drive Trains

1. In DEJA Cloud, navigate to Roster and click Add Loco — enter the DCC address and a name.
2. Open DEJA Throttle in any browser on your network.
3. Click the track power button to energize the track.
4. Select your locomotive and use the speed slider and direction controls to drive.

Verify: The locomotive moves on the track and responds to speed, direction, and function controls.

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App URLs

Useful Commands

What's Next

Now that you're up and running, explore the individual app guides:

• Throttle App -- Full guide to the train control interface.
• Cloud App -- Layout configuration, roster management, and the DCC-EX console.
• Monitor App -- Diagnostics and real-time logging.
• Server -- Backend configuration, serial port management, and subsystem toggles.
• Tour App -- Scripted tours and effects sequences.
• Architecture -- Understand the data flow and system design.