Electron App (GUI) Installation

Process for installing the Electron App (GUI) for eVOLVER.

For all operating systems, navigate to the releases section of the Electron App GitHub page.

1. Mac

2. Windows

3. Linux

For instructions on updating the GUI on the RPi, see Updating the eVOLVER Server.

Mac Installation

1. Download the evolver-electron-X.X.X.dmg file, where X denotes the version number in the latest release. The latest release should be the first one you see at the top of the page.

2. When the download finishes, open the file (it should be in your Downloads directory) and drag the eVOLVER app into your Applications directory.

FIRST TIME INSTALLATION - DO THE FOLLOWING NEXT STEPS!

3. Open the eVOLVER app from the Applications directory.

4. Using an editor of your choice (TextEdit, Nano, Vim, TextWrangler, etc.) open the file config.json located at /Users/<your username>/Library/Application Support/eVOLVER/config.json

You may need to enable the ability to view hidden files if you are trying to find this file in a Finder window. With a Finder window open, press Command + Shift + . (period) to make hidden files appear. You can press the keys again afterwards to make them disappear.

If you are attempting to modify this file via a terminal, be sure to escape the space character in Application Support with a \. It should look like this: /Users/<your username>/Library/Application\ Support/eVOLVER/config.json

5. Add a line in this file between the braces: "dpu-env": "/Users/<your username>/Document/dpu/venv"

If you add this line to the beginning of the block, be sure to add a comma at the end! If you add it to the end, put a comma on the line before it.

If you installed the DPU in a different location, be sure to reflect that in this line. The electron app uses this to find the correct python binary/venv to run the DPU

6. Save the file and you're done!

Windows Installation

1. Download the evolver-electron-X.X.X.exe file, where X denotes the version number in the latest release. The latest release should be the first one you see at the top of the page.

Chrome may flag the download, just select "Keep".

2. Open the .exe file.

In Windows 10, Microsoft Defender prevents the app from starting immediately. Simply click "More info" and then "Run Anyway" to get around this.

FIRST TIME INSTALLATION - DO THE FOLLOWING NEXT STEPS!

3. Using an editor of your choice open the file config.json located at C:\Users\<Your-UserName>\AppData\Roaming\eVOLVER\

You may need to enable the ability to view hidden files if you are trying to find this file in a File Explorer window.

4. Add a line in this file between the braces: "dpu-env": "C:\\Users\\<Your-UserName>\\Desktop\\dpu\\venv"

Note the escaped \ , be sure to put double \\ throughout the path.

If you add this line to the beginning of the block, be sure to add a comma at the end! If you add it to the end, put a comma on the line before it.

If you installed the DPU in a different location, be sure to reflect that in this line. The electron app uses this to find the correct python binary/venv to run the DPU.

5. Save the file and you're done!

Linux Installation

1. Download the evolver-electron-X.X.X.AppImage or evolver-electron-X.X.X.deb file, where X.X.X denotes the version number in the latest release. The latest release should be the first one you see at the top of the page.

Selection of either .deb or .AppImage is largely based on personal preference and computer environment, each presenting slight pros and cons. If you are unfamiliar with installing Linux packaged software, use this link to learn more about what is applicable to you. Briefly, .deb files are natively designed for Ubuntu and will compile the entire application, along with necessary dependecies, onto the local machine. An AppImage file contains everything necessary to run the program, requiring you to execute the file when you want to run program.

2. If downloading evolver-electron-X.X.X.deb, open your Downloads directory and right-click evolver-electron-X.X.X.deb to open the file with Software Install .

3. A new window should open, allowing you to install the eVOLVER GUI. Click Install and follow the onscreen instructions to install the eVOLVER GUI.

FIRST TIME INSTALLATION - DO THE FOLLOWING NEXT STEPS!

4. Open the eVOLVER app by either clicking Show Applications from the home screen or through the command line. To open via command line, open Terminal and enter to access installed applications:

cd ~/usr/bin

Run the eVOLVER GUI by entering:

evolver

5. Using an editor of your choice, open the file ~/.config/eVOLVER/config.json .

6. Add a line in this file between the braces to denote the location of the installed DPU virtual environment:

"dpu-env": <path_to_dpu>

If you add this line to the beginning of the block, be sure to add a comma at the end! If you add this line to the end, put a comma on the line before it.

7. Save the file and you're done!