SYSTEM INITIALIZATION

Build and run Crono Desktop from source code

SOURCE CODE BUYERS: This guide is for developers who purchased the source code. You'll need to build the application yourself - no pre-built executables are provided.

STANDARD INSTALLATION PROCESS

Extract Source Code

Extract the provided source code archive to your development directory. You'll receive all source files but no built executables.

Run Environment Check

npm run diagnose

This verifies your build environment and provides specific setup commands for your platform.

Install Build Requirements

Follow the platform-specific commands shown by the diagnostic tool. This typically includes:

# Python setuptools (REQUIRED)
# macOS: /opt/homebrew/opt/python@3.13/bin/python3.13 -m pip install setuptools --break-system-packages
# Windows: pip install setuptools
# Linux: sudo apt-get install python3-setuptools

# Build tools
# macOS: xcode-select --install
# Windows: Install Visual Studio Build Tools
# Linux: sudo apt-get install build-essential

Install Dependencies

npm install

This installs all required Node.js dependencies and compiles native modules.

Test Installation

npm run dev

This launches the application in development mode to verify everything is working.

Build for Production

npm run build-all

This creates executable files for all platforms in the dist/ folder.

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

These are the standard requirements for building from source:

Node.js: Version 18.0.0 or higher
npm: Version 8.0.0 or higher
Python: Version 3.x with setuptools (automatically checked)
Build Tools: Platform-specific compilers (automatically checked)

AUTOMATIC SETUP: Run npm run diagnose to automatically check your system and get the exact setup commands for your platform.

PLATFORM-SPECIFIC SETUP

macOS Setup

Install Build Tools

xcode-select --install

Install Python setuptools

# For Homebrew Python (most common issue)
/opt/homebrew/opt/python@3.13/bin/python3.13 -m pip install setuptools --break-system-packages

# Or for system Python
python3 -m pip install setuptools --user

Verify Installation

python3 -c "import setuptools; print('OK')"

Windows Setup

Install Build Tools

Install Visual Studio Build Tools or Visual Studio Community with C++ workload

Install Python setuptools

pip install setuptools

Verify Installation

python -c "import setuptools; print('OK')"

Linux Setup

Install Build Tools

# Ubuntu/Debian
sudo apt-get install build-essential python3-dev python3-setuptools

# CentOS/RHEL/Fedora
sudo dnf install gcc gcc-c++ make python3-devel python3-setuptools

Verify Installation

python3 -c "import setuptools; print('OK')"

BUILD REQUIREMENT: You must build the application yourself. The source code archive contains no pre-built executables.

VERIFICATION COMMANDS

Use these commands to verify your installation:

# Check overall build environment
npm run diagnose

# Verify Python setuptools specifically
python3 -c "import setuptools; print('setuptools OK')"

# Test the application
npm run dev

AUTOMATED SETUP: The diagnostic tool provides the exact commands needed for your system. No guesswork required!

FIRST RUN

Once built and launched, Crono will automatically:

Create the database directory structure
Initialize the SQLite database
Set up default categories (Documents, Images, Videos, etc.)
Create the files storage directory

DATA LOCATION: All data is stored in ~/.crono/ (or your custom directory name if rebranded). This includes the database file and all copied files.

TESTING THE APPLICATION

Click "Upload Data" Button

Use the green "UPLOAD DATA" button in the top-right corner of the interface.

Select Your File

Click "SCAN" to browse and select a file, or drag and drop it directly onto the interface.

Add Description and Categories

Enter a description and assign data types (categories) to help organize and find your file later.

Execute Upload

Click "EXECUTE UPLOAD" to test the file archiving functionality.

SECURITY CONSIDERATIONS

Crono Desktop prioritizes your data security:

Local Storage: All files remain on your local machine
No Network Access: Crono doesn't send data to external servers
Encrypted Exports: Backup archives are password-protected
File Permissions: Uses standard operating system file permissions

BACKUP RECOMMENDATION: While Crono creates local copies of your files, it's still recommended to maintain regular backups using the export feature.

QUICK START TIPS

Drag & Drop

The fastest way to add files is to drag them directly from your file manager onto the Crono interface.

Use Categories

Assign meaningful categories to your files from the start - it makes searching and organization much easier later.

Learn Shortcuts

Use Ctrl/Cmd+N for quick uploads and Ctrl/Cmd+F to focus the search box for faster navigation.

Regular Exports

Set up a regular export schedule to create encrypted backups of your entire archive for peace of mind.

NEXT STEPS

Now that you have Crono Desktop building and running, explore these areas:

Developer Guide: Customize, rebrand, and modify the application
Features: Understand all capabilities for potential customization
User Guide: Learn the interface to better customize it
System Requirements: Optimize builds for your target platforms

STANDARD BUILD PROCESS

The standard workflow for any changes or fresh installs:

Environment check: npm run diagnose
Install/update: npm install
Test changes: npm run dev
Build release: npm run build-all

DEVELOPER TIP: Always run npm run diagnose first to check your build environment. This saves time by catching setup issues early. Test the application thoroughly in development mode before building for production.