> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.chainloop.dev/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Evaluate Chainloop Platform

> Different ways to evaluate the Chainloop Platform - SaaS, Kubernetes, or Docker Compose

## Overview

There are different ways to evaluate the Chainloop Platform:

1. **Software as a Service** - Use our hosted instance (quickest way to get started)
2. **Kubernetes** - Deploy using the Enterprise Edition Helm chart (easiest transition to production)
3. **Local Docker Compose** - Deploy locally in development mode for quick evaluation

## Software as a Service

The quickest way to evaluate the Chainloop Platform is to use our hosted instance:

1. [Request access](https://app.chainloop.dev/request-access) to the platform
2. Once approved, you can immediately start using the Chainloop Platform without any local setup

## Kubernetes

Kubernetes is the recommended self-hosted evaluation path since it maps directly to a production setup. The Enterprise Edition Helm chart includes a development mode for easy evaluation.

To get started:

1. Visit the [Chainloop contact page](https://chainloop.dev/contact) to request access credentials for the Enterprise Edition container images
2. Follow the [Enterprise Edition Deployment](/guides/deployment/chainloop-ee) guide, using the **development mode** section for a quick evaluation setup

## Local Docker Compose

If you prefer a lightweight local evaluation without Kubernetes, you can use Docker Compose:

1. Visit the [Chainloop contact page](https://chainloop.dev/contact)
2. In your message, mention that you are **interested in running an evaluation lab environment locally**
3. The Chainloop team will send you the lab environment package, which includes:
   * Complete setup instructions
   * Credentials to pull the container images
   * All necessary configuration files

## Evaluate Open Source

If you are only interested in the open source Chainloop Evidence Store, you can deploy it directly using the [Helm chart on GitHub](https://github.com/chainloop-dev/chainloop/blob/main/deployment/chainloop/README.md).

## Additional Resources

* [Getting Started Guide](/get-started/overview) - Learn the basics after setup
* [Enterprise Edition Deployment](/guides/deployment/chainloop-ee) - Full Kubernetes deployment
* [Open Source Evidence Store](/guides/deployment/oss) - OSS-only deployment
* [Contact Chainloop Team](https://chainloop.dev/contact) - Request access or get help