Installation Guide

Get RxFlow Pharmacy Assistant up and running in your environment with this comprehensive installation guide.

📋 Prerequisites

Before installing RxFlow, ensure you have the following prerequisites:

System Requirements

Python EnvironmentOperating SystemsHardware

• Python 3.8+ (Python 3.9+ recommended)
• pip package manager
• Git for version control

• Linux: Ubuntu 18.04+, CentOS 7+, Debian 9+
• macOS: 10.14+ (Mojave or newer)
• Windows: 10+ with WSL2 (recommended) or native

• RAM: 4GB minimum, 8GB recommended
• Storage: 2GB available space
• Network: Internet connection for API services

API Keys Required

API Configuration

RxFlow requires the following API keys for full functionality:

• OpenAI API Key - For LLM processing (GPT-4)
• RxNorm API - For medication verification (free NIH service)
• Optional: GoodRx API - For prescription pricing

🚀 Quick Installation

1. Clone the Repository

# Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/zarreh/rxflow-pharmacy-assistant.git
cd rxflow-pharmacy-assistant

2. Set Up Python Environment

Using Poetry (Recommended)Using pip + venvUsing conda

# Install Poetry if not already installed
curl -sSL https://install.python-poetry.org | python3 -

# Install dependencies
poetry install

# Activate the virtual environment
poetry shell

# Create virtual environment
python3 -m venv rxflow-env

# Activate virtual environment
# On Linux/macOS:
source rxflow-env/bin/activate
# On Windows:
# rxflow-env\Scripts\activate

# Install dependencies
pip install -r requirements.txt

# Create conda environment
conda create -n rxflow python=3.9
conda activate rxflow

# Install dependencies
pip install -r requirements.txt

3. Configure Environment Variables

# Copy example environment file
cp .env.example .env

# Edit the configuration file
nano .env  # or use your preferred editor

Required Configuration:

# OpenAI Configuration
OPENAI_API_KEY=your_openai_api_key_here

# Application Settings
APP_NAME=RxFlow Pharmacy Assistant
LOG_LEVEL=INFO

# Optional: Database Configuration
# DATABASE_URL=postgresql://user:pass@localhost/rxflow

# Optional: External APIs
# GOODRX_API_KEY=your_goodrx_key_here

4. Verify Installation

# Run basic tests
python -m pytest tests/ -v

# Start the application
streamlit run app.py

Navigate to http://localhost:8501 to verify the installation.

🔧 Advanced Installation Options

Docker Installation

For containerized deployment:

# Build the Docker image
docker build -t rxflow-pharmacy-assistant .

# Run the container
docker run -p 8501:8501 \
  -e OPENAI_API_KEY=your_key_here \
  rxflow-pharmacy-assistant

Development Installation

For contributors and developers:

# Install with development dependencies
poetry install --with dev

# Install pre-commit hooks
pre-commit install

# Run development server with auto-reload
streamlit run app.py --server.runOnSave=true

🛠️ Dependencies Overview

Core Dependencies

Package	Version	Purpose
streamlit	^1.28.0	Web interface framework
langchain	^0.0.350	AI agent orchestration
openai	^1.0.0	LLM integration
pydantic	^2.0.0	Data validation
requests	^2.31.0	HTTP client for APIs

Optional Dependencies

Package	Version	Purpose
pandas	^2.1.0	Data analysis and reporting
plotly	^5.17.0	Interactive visualizations
python-dotenv	^1.0.0	Environment management

📊 Installation Verification

After installation, verify everything is working:

1. Check System Health

# Run the system check script
python scripts/health_check.py

Expected output:

✅ Python version: 3.9.x
✅ Dependencies installed
✅ API keys configured
✅ Mock data loaded
✅ All systems operational

2. Test Core Functionality

# Test conversation manager
python -c "
from rxflow.workflow.conversation_manager import ConversationManager
cm = ConversationManager()
print('✅ Conversation manager initialized')
"

# Test patient tools
python -c "
from rxflow.tools.patient_history_tool import PatientHistoryTool
tool = PatientHistoryTool()
result = tool.get_medication_history('omeprazole')
print('✅ Patient tools working:', result.get('success', False))
"

3. Access the Web Interface

1. Start the application: streamlit run app.py
2. Open browser to http://localhost:8501
3. Try the quick action: "I need to refill my medication"
4. Verify you receive an AI response

🚨 Troubleshooting

Common Issues

Import ErrorsAPI Key ErrorsPort Already in Use

# Issue: ModuleNotFoundError
# Solution: Ensure virtual environment is activated
which python  # Should point to your venv
pip list | grep streamlit  # Verify installation

# Issue: Invalid API key
# Check environment variables
echo $OPENAI_API_KEY

# Verify .env file is loaded
python -c "from rxflow.config.settings import get_settings; print(get_settings().openai_api_key[:10])"

# Issue: Streamlit port 8501 busy
# Use different port
streamlit run app.py --server.port 8502

# Or kill existing process
pkill -f streamlit

Getting Help

If you encounter issues:

1. Check Logs: Look in logs/ directory for error details
2. GitHub Issues: Report bugs
3. Documentation: Review troubleshooting guide

⚡ Performance Optimization

For Production Deployment

# Install production dependencies
pip install gunicorn uvicorn

# Optimize Python
export PYTHONOPTIMIZE=1

# Configure logging
export LOG_LEVEL=WARNING

For Development

# Enable debug mode
export LOG_LEVEL=DEBUG

# Use development server
streamlit run app.py --server.runOnSave=true --server.address=0.0.0.0

🎉 Next Steps

Once installation is complete:

1. Quick Start Guide - Learn basic usage patterns
2. Configuration Guide - Customize your setup
3. User Guide - Master the interface
4. API Reference - Explore the APIs

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Installation Complete!

You're ready to start using RxFlow! Head to the Quick Start Guide to begin your first prescription refill workflow.