How to set up the Firefox OS desktop build
Revision Information
- Revision id: 30964
- Created:
- Creator: Michael Verdi
- Comment: Added mac update instructions, Added note about home button for windows
- Reviewed: Yes
- Reviewed:
- Reviewed by: Verdi
- Is approved? Yes
- Is current revision? No
- Ready for localization: No
Revision Source
Revision Content
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. :(
Table of Contents
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.
- Install XCode from the Mac App store.
- Once it's "installed" from the App store, open the app to finish the installation.
- Then, open the XCode preferences and install the Command Line Tools.
- Finally, download and install Git from http://git-scm.com/downloads
Get the Boot2Gecko app
- Download the latest nightly build from ftp.mozilla.org. You want the latest mac64.dmg file.
- Double-click the .dmg file you just downloaded to open it and then drag the B2G.app to your Applications folder.
Get Gaia
- First, create a folder to hold everything. For these instructions, we'll create a "FirefoxOS" folder in your Documents folder.
- Open up the Terminal application. You automatically start in your Home folder (username:~).
- In the Terminal window, switch to the FirefoxOS folder you created in step 1 by typing, cd Documents/FirefoxOS and then hit
- 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
- 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.
.
- Now you need to create a profile by typing, DEBUG=1 make -C gaia profile and then hit
- 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 .
Note: Use the
or + buttons on your keyboard to simulate the home button on the device.Update
This desktop version doesn't auto-update. To update it manually:
- Download and install the latest nightly build from ftp.mozilla.org.
- Open the Terminal, navigate to the FirefoxOS folder (see step 3 under Get Gaia above) and type, git pull.
Get the Boot2Gecko app
- Download the pre-built installer for b2g-desktop with pre-compiled gaia.
- Start the installer and follow the instructions. Be sure to leave the two checkboxes checked.
Start Firefox OS
Simply click the
application shortcut from the Windows Start menu to launch Firefox OS.Note: Use the
button on your keyboard to simulate the home button on the device.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
and follow the instructions. The installer will detect your previous install and ask to remove it before upgrading -- say to that too.