We’ve taken the time to make building Zen Browser as easy as possible, independent of your operating system or technical knowledge.
Failure
We cannot provide support if a build fails. Please understand this before proceeding with the following steps.
Step 1: Clone the Project
First, you need to clone the Zen Browser repository to your local machine. This will create a local copy of the project that you can work on.
git clone https://github.com/zen-browser/desktop.git --recurse-submodules
cd desktop--recurse-submodules: This flag ensures that all submodules are cloned along with the main project. Zen Browser relies on several submodules, so this step is essential.
Step 2: Install Dependencies
Once you have cloned the project, navigate to the project directory and install the necessary dependencies using npm:
npm iThis command will install all the packages listed in the package.json file, which are required for building and running Zen Browser.
Step 3: Download and Bootstrap the Browser
To set up the browser, you need to download additional files and prepare the environment:
npm run initThis command handles all the necessary bootstrapping tasks, such as setting up configuration files and downloading essential resources.
Step 4: Update Language Packs
Before building the browser, it’s recommended to update the American English language packs to ensure that all localization files are up-to-date:
sh ./scripts/update-en-US-packs.shThis script updates the “en-US” localization files, which are necessary for proper language support in Zen Browser. Running this step ensures that your build includes the latest translations and language resources.
Step 5: Build the Browser
Now that everything is set up, you can build the browser:
npm run buildThis command compiles the source code and creates the necessary files for running Zen Browser.
Step 6: Run the Browser
After building the browser, you can start it using:
npm startThis command launches the browser, allowing you to see your changes in action.