> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.prestd.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.prestd.com/get-prest.md).

# Get pREST

Download and run pREST to get instant REST and MCP APIs for your SQL database. PostgreSQL is the native adapter today — see [Databases](/databases.md). If this is your first install, start with [Start with Docker](/get-prest/start-with-docker.md) or [Deploying with Docker](/deployment/deploying-with-docker.md). Compare channels in [Distribution](/get-prest/distribution.md).

* Use the Docker Hub image
* Use the GitHub image
* [Homebrew](/get-prest/start-with-homebrew.md) — `prestd` (homebrew-core) and `prest-mcp` ([prest/tap](https://github.com/prest/homebrew-tap))
* Download from [source](/get-prest/start-with-golang.md) and run
* GitHub [releases](https://github.com/prest/prest/releases)
* [Distribution channels](/get-prest/distribution.md) — which method for server vs MCP adapter

## Latest: v2.4.2

[**v2.4.2**](/releases/v2.4.2.md) enforces minimum HMAC `jwt.key` sizes, adds bound values for custom query scripts, and removes SQL from logs — plus MCP `[expose]` enforcement from [v2.4.1](/releases/v2.4.1.md), OpenTelemetry and pgvector from [v2.4.0](/releases/v2.4.0.md), Studio from [v2.2.0](/releases/v2.2.0.md), and MCP from [v2.1.0](/releases/v2.1.0.md). See the [upgrade guide](/get-started/upgrading-to-v2.md), [pREST Studio](/get-started/prest-studio.md), [MCP over HTTP](/get-started/mcp-over-http.md), and [AI and MCP](/ai.md).

* **Binary:** [v2.4.2 assets](https://github.com/prest/prest/releases/tag/v2.4.2)
* **Docker:** `prest/prest:v2.4.2`
* **Go:** `go install github.com/prest/prest/v2/cmd/prestd@v2.4.2`

{% hint style="warning" %}
`jwt.key` must be at least 32 bytes for HS256 from v2.4.2 — a shorter key is discarded at startup and auth disables itself rather than failing the start. See [Auth — HMAC key requirements](/api-reference/auth.md#hmac-key-requirements-v242).
{% endhint %}

\* \*\*MCP adapter:\*\* \`brew install prest/tap/prest-mcp\` or see \[Install pREST MCP Adapter]\(../ai/install-prest-mcp.md)

Database support labels: [Databases](/databases.md).

## Related

* [Homepage](/readme.md)
* [Acronyms](/readme/acronyms.md) ([REST](/readme/acronyms.md#rest), [MCP](/readme/acronyms.md#mcp))
* [Databases](/databases.md)
* [Get Started](/get-started.md)
* [v2.4.2 release notes](/releases/v2.4.2.md)