How to set up the Firefox OS desktop build

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  • Revision id: 30962
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  • Creator: David Tenser
  • Comment: added the missing installer link
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  • Reviewed by: Verdi
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Here's how to get Firefox OS running on your desktop computer. These instructions are based on those by Staś Małolepszy. For more info, see his blog post.

Note: These instructions are for Windows or Mac. :(

Prepare your computer

If you don't have these things already installed, you'll need to do this before you can get Firefox OS running.

  1. Install XCode from the Mac App store.
  2. Once it's "installed" from the App store, open the app to finish the installation.
  3. Then, open the XCode preferences and install the Command Line Tools.
    Command line tools
  4. Finally, download and install Git from http://git-scm.com/downloads

Get the Boot2Gecko app

  1. Download the latest nightly build from ftp.mozilla.org. You want the latest mac64.dmg file.
  2. Double-click the .dmg file you just downloaded to open it and then drag the B2G.app to your Applications folder.

Get Gaia

  1. First, create a folder to hold everything. For these instructions, we'll create a "FirefoxOS" folder in your Documents folder.
  2. Open up the Terminal application. You automatically start in your Home folder (username:~).
    Terminal home
  3. In the Terminal window, switch to the FirefoxOS folder you created in step 1 by typing, cd Documents/FirefoxOS and then hit return.
    Terminal FirefoxOS
  4. Next, clone the Gaia repository (in English that means, download a copy to your computer) by typing, git clone https://github.com/mozilla-b2g/gaia gaia and then hit return.
    Tip: You can copy and paste commands from this article into your Terminal.
    • A bunch of stuff will happen and you'll see a download progress. When everything is done and you have a prompt again (username:FirefoxOS username$), continue with the next step.
  5. Now you need to create a profile by typing, DEBUG=1 make -C gaia profile and then hit return.
    • Again, a bunch of stuff will happen. When you have a prompt again you'll be done.

Start Firefox OS

  • To start Firefox OS, open the Terminal and type, /Applications/B2G.app/Contents/MacOS/b2g -profile ~/Documents/FirefoxOS/gaia/profile and hit return.
Note: Use the home or fn+left arrow buttons on your keyboard to simulate the home button on the device.

Get the Boot2Gecko app

  1. Download the pre-built installer for b2g-desktop with pre-compiled gaia.
  2. Start the installer and follow the instructions. Be sure to leave the two checkboxes checked.

Start Firefox OS

Simply click the b2g-gaia-desktop application shortcut from the Windows Start menu to launch Firefox OS.

Auto update

This pre-built installer includes an automatic update feature. The second time you launch the app, it will check for updates and ask you if you want to upgrade. Simply click Yes and follow the instructions. The installer will detect your previous install and ask to remove it before upgrading -- say Yes to that too.