From ed52b4a72b0b65872f9533158e9a5043ff2b48bd Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: "Calvin A. Allen" <calvin@dtvem.io>
Date: Tue, 27 Jan 2026 15:21:57 -0500
Subject: [PATCH] docs(install): document --user flag for non-admin Windows
 installation

- Add user installation section to getting-started with PowerShell
  and bash examples
- Document --user flag in init command reference
- Add section for switching between install types
- Include note about System vs User PATH priority on Windows

Closes #11
---
 .../content/docs/user-guide/commands/init.md  | 23 ++++++++++++++++++-
 .../docs/user-guide/getting-started.md        | 20 +++++++++++++++-
 2 files changed, 41 insertions(+), 2 deletions(-)

diff --git a/website/src/content/docs/user-guide/commands/init.md b/website/src/content/docs/user-guide/commands/init.md
index eea2dca..d608c39 100644
--- a/website/src/content/docs/user-guide/commands/init.md
+++ b/website/src/content/docs/user-guide/commands/init.md
@@ -15,18 +15,22 @@ Initialize dtvem on your system.
 ```bash
 > dtvem init
 > dtvem init --yes
+> dtvem init --user
 ```
 
 ## Flags
 
 | Flag | Description |
 |------|-------------|
+| `--user` | Use User PATH instead of System PATH (Windows: no admin required) |
 | `--yes, -y` | Skip confirmation prompts |
 
 ## Behavior
 
 1. Creates the dtvem directory structure
 2. Configures PATH to include `~/.dtvem/shims`
+   - **Standard:** Adds to System PATH (requires admin on Windows)
+   - **User (`--user`):** Adds to User PATH (no admin required)
 3. Updates shell configuration files as needed
 
 ## Directory Structure Created
@@ -53,7 +57,7 @@ Initialize dtvem on your system.
 ## Examples
 
 ```bash
-# Interactive initialization
+# Interactive initialization (standard)
 > dtvem init
 Creating dtvem directory structure...
 Add ~/.dtvem/shims to PATH? [Y/n] y
@@ -67,6 +71,9 @@ Restart your terminal, then run:
 
 # Non-interactive initialization
 > dtvem init --yes
+
+# User installation (no admin required on Windows)
+> dtvem init --user
 ```
 
 ## Post-Init Steps
@@ -77,6 +84,20 @@ After running `dtvem init`:
 2. **Install a runtime** — `dtvem install python 3.12.0`
 3. **Set global version** — `dtvem global python 3.12.0`
 
+## Switching Install Types
+
+You can switch between standard and user installation by running `dtvem init` again:
+
+```powershell
+# Switch to user install
+> dtvem init --user
+
+# Switch back to system install (requires admin)
+> dtvem init
+```
+
+When switching, dtvem will warn about cleaning up the old PATH entry.
+
 <hr class="my-8 border-primary-400" />
 
 ## See Also
diff --git a/website/src/content/docs/user-guide/getting-started.md b/website/src/content/docs/user-guide/getting-started.md
index 0b7297c..1affdf3 100644
--- a/website/src/content/docs/user-guide/getting-started.md
+++ b/website/src/content/docs/user-guide/getting-started.md
@@ -11,16 +11,34 @@ Get dtvem installed and managing your runtimes in just a few minutes.
 
 ## Installation (Preferred)
 
-**Windows (PowerShell):**
+### Standard Installation
+
+**Windows (PowerShell as Administrator):**
 ```powershell
 irm dtvem.io/install.ps1 | iex
 ```
+Requires administrator privileges. Adds dtvem to System PATH for all users.
 
 **macOS / Linux:**
 ```bash
 curl -fsSL dtvem.io/install.sh | bash
 ```
 
+### User Installation (No Admin Required)
+
+**Windows (PowerShell):**
+```powershell
+iex "& { $(irm dtvem.io/install.ps1) } -UserInstall"
+```
+Does not require administrator privileges. Adds dtvem to User PATH.
+
+**macOS / Linux:**
+```bash
+curl -fsSL dtvem.io/install.sh | bash -s -- --user-install
+```
+
+> **Note:** On Windows, System PATH is evaluated before User PATH. If you have system-installed runtimes (Node.js, Python, Ruby), they will take priority over dtvem-managed versions with user installation.
+
 ### Default Locations
 
 | Platform | Install Directory | Shims Directory |