> 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 — Docker, Homebrew, or Go — for instant REST and MCP APIs on SQL databases (PostgreSQL native today).

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)