Installation
Nexus runs from source today. Clone the repo, install dependencies, and start the dev build — no system Git required, because dugite bundles it.
Prerequisites
| Requirement | Version | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Node.js | 20+ | LTS recommended. |
| npm | 10+ | Ships with Node 20. |
| Agent CLI | optional | Claude Code or Copilot — only needed when you actually launch a run. |
You do not need a system Git install. Nexus bundles Git through dugite, so all branch, worktree, and history operations work out of the box.
Development
Clone the repository, install, and start the dev server. The dev build runs the Electron main process and the Vite-powered renderer with hot reload.
git clone https://github.com/brendankowitz/nexus-ide.git
cd nexus-ide
npm install
npm run devBuilding
For type checks and a packaged build:
# Type-check the whole project
npm run typecheck
# Production build (main + renderer)
npm run build
# Package a Windows installer (NSIS)
npm run package:winTesting
npm testRun npm run typecheck before packaging — it catches IPC contract drift between the main and renderer processes that a plain build may not surface.
Next
With the app running, add your first project and dispatch a run.