# CodeWhale Prebuilt Binaries Supported Platforms: Complete OS and Architecture Guide

> Explore CodeWhale prebuilt binaries supported platforms including Linux x64 ARM64 RISC-V64 macOS x64 ARM64 and Windows x64. Get swift installation via npm or GitHub releases.

- Repository: [Hunter Bown/CodeWhale](https://github.com/Hmbown/CodeWhale)
- Tags: architecture
- Published: 2026-06-02

---

**CodeWhale provides official prebuilt binaries for Linux (x64, ARM64, RISC-V64), macOS (x64, ARM64), and Windows (x64), with automated distribution via npm, manual downloads from GitHub Releases, and fallback compilation via cargo for unsupported targets.**

CodeWhale ships matched pairs of prebuilt binaries—the dispatcher (`codewhale`) and the TUI runtime (`codewhale-tui`)—for major operating systems and CPU architectures. Understanding which platforms are supported by CodeWhale prebuilt binaries ensures you can install via package managers or direct downloads without compiling from source. The release assets are defined in [`.github/workflows/release.yml`](https://github.com/Hmbown/CodeWhale/blob/main/.github/workflows/release.yml) and published through [`scripts/release/publish-crates.sh`](https://github.com/Hmbown/CodeWhale/blob/main/scripts/release/publish-crates.sh).

## Officially Supported Platforms

The project targets Tier 1 Rust platforms, with prebuilt assets available for the following OS and CPU combinations:

### Linux Variants

Linux receives the broadest architecture support among all platforms:

- **x64 (x86_64)**: `codewhale-linux-x64` and `codewhale-tui-linux-x64`
- **ARM64**: `codewhale-linux-arm64` and `codewhale-tui-linux-arm64` (available from **v0.8.8**; earlier releases such as `v0.8.7` do not provide these)
- **RISC-V64**: `codewhale-linux-riscv64` and `codewhale-tui-linux-riscv64`

According to the source analysis, Linux ARM64 binaries were introduced in version 0.8.8, making earlier versions incompatible with ARM64 servers and modern cloud instances without compilation.

### macOS Variants

CodeWhale supports both Intel and Apple Silicon Macs:

- **x64**: `codewhale-macos-x64` and `codewhale-tui-macos-x64`
- **ARM64 (M-series)**: `codewhale-macos-arm64` and `codewhale-tui-macos-arm64`

### Windows Support

Windows support is limited to 64-bit architectures:

- **x64**: `codewhale-windows-x64.exe` and `codewhale-tui-windows-x64.exe`

## Binary Distribution Methods

The project provides three primary installation pathways, as documented in `README.md#quickstart` and `docs/INSTALL.md#supported-platforms`:

1. **npm wrapper**: The `npm i -g codewhale` command automatically downloads the correct binary pair from the matching GitHub release and verifies them against a SHA-256 manifest.
2. **GitHub Releases**: Direct downloads are available on the releases page, with asset names following the pattern `codewhale-{os}-{arch}` and `codewhale-tui-{os}-{arch}`.
3. **cargo install**: The [`Cargo.toml`](https://github.com/Hmbown/CodeWhale/blob/main/Cargo.toml) declares two crates (`codewhale-cli` and `codewhale-tui`) that compile into the binaries, enabling support for any Tier-1 Rust target not shipped as prebuilt assets.

## Installation Examples by Platform

### Automated Installation via npm

The recommended method uses the npm wrapper to handle platform detection:

```bash
npm install -g codewhale

# The post-install step pulls the right pre-built pair for your OS/arch.

```

### Manual Download for Linux ARM64

For systems where npm is unavailable or for specific version pinning:

```bash
mkdir -p ~/.local/bin
curl -L -o ~/.local/bin/codewhale \
    https://github.com/Hmbown/CodeWhale/releases/latest/download/cewhale-linux-arm64
curl -L -o ~/.local/bin/cewhale-tui \
    https://github.com/Hmbown/CodeWhale/releases/latest/download/codewhale-tui-linux-arm64
chmod +x ~/.local/bin/codewhale ~/.local/bin/codewhale-tui
codewhale --version

```

### Windows Installation via Scoop

Windows users can install via Scoop, which utilizes the prebuilt binaries:

```powershell
scoop update
scoop install codewhale
codewhale --version

```

## Source Compilation for Unsupported Platforms

Platforms not listed in the official release assets—such as musl-based Linux distributions or FreeBSD—require building from source. As noted in `docs/INSTALL.md#supported-platforms`, you must compile manually for these targets:

```bash

# Build dispatcher from source

cargo install codewhale-cli --locked

# Build TUI runtime from source  

cargo install codewhale-tui --locked

codewhale --version

```

The `cargo install` workflow compiles the crates defined in [`Cargo.toml`](https://github.com/Hmbown/CodeWhale/blob/main/Cargo.toml) for any Tier-1 Rust target, providing a fallback when prebuilt binaries are unavailable.

## Summary

- **CodeWhale prebuilt binaries** support Linux (x64, ARM64, RISC-V64), macOS (x64, ARM64), and Windows (x64).
- **Linux ARM64 support** began with version 0.8.8; earlier versions require source compilation for ARM64.
- **Distribution channels** include npm (automatic), GitHub Releases (manual), and cargo (source compilation).
- **Unsupported platforms** such as musl Linux or FreeBSD must build from source using the crates defined in [`Cargo.toml`](https://github.com/Hmbown/CodeWhale/blob/main/Cargo.toml).
- **CI pipeline** in [`.github/workflows/release.yml`](https://github.com/Hmbown/CodeWhale/blob/main/.github/workflows/release.yml) generates the official assets automated by [`scripts/release/publish-crates.sh`](https://github.com/Hmbown/CodeWhale/blob/main/scripts/release/publish-crates.sh).

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Which Linux architectures receive official prebuilt binaries?

CodeWhale provides prebuilt binaries for Linux x64 (x86_64), ARM64, and RISC-V64. However, ARM64 binaries were only introduced in version 0.8.8, meaning releases prior to v0.8.7 do not include ARM64 support and require manual compilation for those older versions.

### Can I install CodeWhale on Apple Silicon Macs?

Yes. CodeWhale ships native ARM64 binaries for macOS specifically targeting Apple Silicon (M-series) chips. The asset names follow the pattern `codewhale-macos-arm64` and `codewhale-tui-macos-arm64`, and these are available alongside traditional x64 builds for Intel-based Macs.

### What should I do if my platform is not listed in the supported binaries?

If your platform—such as musl-based Linux or FreeBSD—is not covered by the official prebuilt assets, you must build from source using `cargo install codewhale-cli --locked` and `cargo install codewhale-tui --locked`. The Rust compiler supports any Tier-1 target, though you will compile locally rather than downloading prebuilt artifacts.

### How does the npm package determine which binary to download?

The npm wrapper (`codewhale`) detects your operating system and CPU architecture during the post-install phase, then downloads the matching binary pair from the corresponding GitHub release. It verifies the downloaded files against a SHA-256 manifest before installation completes, ensuring integrity and platform compatibility.