Install GrigDesk

Download GrigDesk from the site and open the application. It prepares its server and data directories automatically.

A ready-made bundle has not yet been published on this site. Build from source.

1. Download the Linux x64 bundle and extract the archive.
2. Open the GrigDesk file in the extracted directory. Wait for the first launch; the application offers to add itself to your applications menu.

That is all. The ~/.grigdesk directory, server state, cache and window settings are created automatically. You do not need to create directories, copy .env, install Node.js or register a service manually. Keep the GrigDesk file and the bundle's bin/ directory together.

The bundle targets desktop Linux x64 with glibc 2.28+. If missing system packages prevent it from opening, use the commands below.

Commands for Linux distributions

Skip this section if GrigDesk already opens. These commands install FUSE 2 for the window, Python for the terminal and OpenSSL for server keys. Open a terminal in the extracted bundle directory, select your system and run the commands.

Ubuntu 24.04+ / Debian 13 / Mint 22

sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y libfuse2t64 python3 openssl
./GrigDesk

Ubuntu 22.04 / Debian 12 / Mint 21

sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y libfuse2 python3 openssl
./GrigDesk

Fedora Workstation

sudo dnf install -y fuse fuse-libs python3 openssl
./GrigDesk

Rocky Linux 9 / AlmaLinux 9

sudo dnf install -y fuse fuse-libs python3 openssl
./GrigDesk

Arch Linux / Manjaro

sudo pacman -Syu --needed fuse2 python openssl
./GrigDesk

openSUSE Leap / Tumbleweed

sudo zypper install -y fuse libfuse2 python3 openssl
./GrigDesk

ALT Linux p10 / p11

su -c 'apt-get update && apt-get install -y fuse libfuse python3 openssl'
./GrigDesk

For Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora or Arch derivatives, choose the commands for their base system and version. These install dependencies for the shared bundle; separate GrigDesk .deb or .rpm packages are not required.

Build from source

Run the standard builder from the repository root:

bin/grigdesk-ctl build

It builds and installs the server, interface and window, then offers to open GrigDesk. The builder downloads the server runtime and creates its working directories. When updating a build, close the previous window before opening the new one.

First build: prepare the environment and source

A fresh clone needs Git, Node.js 24 with npm and build dependencies. Complete this preparation before your first bin/grigdesk-ctl build.

System packages:

Ubuntu 24.04+ / Debian 13 / Mint 22

sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y git curl ca-certificates build-essential binutils python3 xz-utils unzip libfuse2t64 openssl

Ubuntu 22.04 / Debian 12 / Mint 21

sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y git curl ca-certificates build-essential binutils python3 xz-utils unzip libfuse2 openssl

Fedora Workstation

sudo dnf install -y git curl ca-certificates gcc gcc-c++ make binutils python3 xz unzip fuse fuse-libs openssl

Rocky Linux 9 / AlmaLinux 9

sudo dnf install -y git curl ca-certificates gcc gcc-c++ make binutils python3 xz unzip fuse fuse-libs openssl

Arch Linux / Manjaro

sudo pacman -Syu --needed base-devel git curl ca-certificates python xz unzip fuse2 openssl

openSUSE Leap / Tumbleweed

sudo zypper install -y git curl ca-certificates gcc gcc-c++ make binutils python3 xz unzip fuse libfuse2 openssl

ALT Linux p10 / p11

su -c 'apt-get update && apt-get install -y git curl ca-certificates gcc gcc-c++ make binutils python3 xz unzip fuse libfuse openssl'

Node.js 24, if it is not installed yet:

export NVM_DIR="${NVM_DIR:-$HOME/.nvm}"
curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nvm-sh/nvm/v0.40.8/install.sh | bash
. "$NVM_DIR/nvm.sh"
nvm install 24

Source and initial npm dependencies:

git clone https://github.com/EvilDevRu/grigdesk.git &&
cd grigdesk &&
npm --prefix server ci &&
npm --prefix desktop ci

Then run bin/grigdesk-ctl build from this directory. The server and window need their initial dependencies before the builder starts; it prepares web dependencies itself. See the build guide.

After launch

Open settings, select a runner and sign in to your account or enter an API key. Then start your first conversation. For coding, connect a project.

A phone or another computer connects to a running server; see connection options.

If startup stops

Executable permission or FUSE error

Open a terminal in the bundle directory. For a permission error:

chmod +x ./GrigDesk
./GrigDesk

If the error mentions libfuse.so.2, install the packages from your distribution's block above. The library is named libfuse2t64 on Ubuntu 24.04+ and Debian 13, and libfuse2 on Ubuntu 22.04 and Debian 12.

The server is waiting for a VPN

By default, local server startup checks the VPN route. Enable your VPN. If your environment does not need this check, add the line below to ~/.grigdesk/.env and restart the local server. Keep the file's other settings.

GRIGDESK_REQUIRE_VPN=0

An earlier installation or a server connection problem

Close the previous window before launching another copy. Check the selected machine: a saved remote connection is not automatically replaced by a local one. The window shows the connection reason; the default local log is ~/.grigdesk/state/grigdesk-server.log. Do not start a second server on the same data directory.