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Browser Installation

This guide covers installation options for the WTTP Browser, including pre-built Windows releases and development setup for all platforms.

Pre-built Release​

The easiest way to get started is with our pre-built Windows installer:

  1. Download the Latest Release

    • Visit the WTTP Browser Releases page
    • Download the latest Windows installer (.exe file)
    • Current version: v4.0.1 (Pre-alpha release)

  2. Install the Browser

    • Run the downloaded installer
    • Follow the installation wizard
    • The browser will be installed to your default applications folder

  3. Launch the Browser

    • Find "Min" in your Start Menu or desktop
    • Launch the application
    • Start browsing Web3 content immediately!

System Requirements​

  • Operating System: Windows 10 or later
  • Architecture: x64 (64-bit) or ARM64
  • Memory: 4GB RAM minimum, 8GB recommended
  • Storage: 200MB free space
  • Network: Internet connection for blockchain access

Development Installation​

For developers who want to build from source or contribute to the project:

Prerequisites​

  • Node.js: Version 16 or later (Download Node.js)
  • Git: For cloning the repository
  • Platform-specific tools (see below)

Clone and Setup​

  1. Clone the Repository

    git clone https://github.com/TechnicallyWeb3/min-web3.git
    cd min-web3

  2. Install Dependencies

    npm install

  3. Start Development Mode

    npm run start

Platform-Specific Setup​

Windows Development​

Required Tools:

  • Visual Studio: Install Visual Studio with C++ build tools
  • Python: Install Python 2.7 (required for native modules)

Setup Commands:

# Set Visual Studio version (adjust year as needed)
npm config set msvs_version 2019

# Install dependencies
npm install

# Start development
npm run start

macOS Development​

Required Tools:

  • Xcode: Install Xcode and command-line tools
  • macOS SDK: Version 11.0 or higher

Setup Commands:

# Set SDK path (adjust version as needed)
export SDKROOT=/Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/Developer/Platforms/MacOSX.platform/Developer/SDKs/MacOSX11.1.sdk

# Install dependencies
npm install

# Start development
npm run start

Linux Development​

Required Tools:

  • Build Essentials: sudo apt-get install build-essential
  • Python: sudo apt-get install python2.7
  • Node.js: Install via NodeSource repository

Setup Commands:

# Install build tools (Ubuntu/Debian)
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install build-essential python2.7

# Install dependencies
npm install

# Start development
npm run start

Building Binaries​

To create distributable binaries for your platform:

Windows Build​

npm run buildWindows

macOS Builds​

# Intel Macs
npm run buildMacIntel

# Apple Silicon Macs
npm run buildMacArm

Linux Builds​

# Debian/Ubuntu
npm run buildDebian

# Red Hat/CentOS
npm run buildRedhat

# AppImage (universal Linux)
npm run buildAppImage

Development Workflow​

  1. Make Changes: Edit the source code
  2. Reload UI: Press Alt+Ctrl+R (or Opt+Cmd+R on Mac) to reload the browser UI
  3. Test Changes: Your modifications will be reflected immediately
  4. Build Release: Use the appropriate build command when ready

Configuration​

Network Configuration​

The WTTP Browser uses Sepolia testnet by default. To configure different networks:

  1. Default Chain: Sepolia (11155111)
  2. Supported Networks: See the Modifications Guide for full list
  3. Custom RPC: Configure in the WTTP Handler settings

Environment Variables​

For development, you can set these environment variables:

# Custom RPC endpoint
export WTTP_RPC_URL=https://sepolia.infura.io/v3/YOUR_PROJECT_ID

# Custom chain ID
export WTTP_CHAIN_ID=11155111

# Debug mode
export WTTP_DEBUG=true

Troubleshooting​

Common Issues​

Installation Fails​

  • Windows: Ensure you have Visual Studio installed
  • macOS: Check Xcode command-line tools are installed
  • Linux: Install build-essential package

Protocol Not Working​

  • Check Network: Ensure you have internet connection
  • RPC Issues: Verify your RPC endpoint is working
  • Chain ID: Confirm the correct chain ID is configured

Build Errors​

  • Node Version: Ensure you're using Node.js 16+
  • Dependencies: Run npm install again
  • Clean Build: Try npm run build first

Getting Help​

Debug Mode​

Enable debug mode to see detailed logs:

# Windows
set DEBUG=wttp:*
npm run start

# macOS/Linux
DEBUG=wttp:* npm run start

Next Steps​

Once you have the WTTP Browser installed:

  1. Try Example Sites: Visit some Web3 examples
  2. Deploy Your Own: Learn how to deploy WTTP sites
  3. Develop Applications: Use the WTTP Handler in your projects

Security Notes​

Pre-built Releases​

  • Verification: Always download from official GitHub releases
  • Antivirus: Some antivirus software may flag the installer (false positive)
  • Permissions: The installer may require administrator privileges

Development Builds​

  • Code Review: Always review code before building
  • Dependencies: Keep dependencies updated for security patches
  • Network Security: Use HTTPS RPC endpoints in production

The WTTP Browser is designed to be secure by default, but always exercise caution when downloading and installing software from the internet.