Apache Maka Build Dependencies: Complete Guide to Compiling from Source

To build Apache Maka from source, you need Node.js ≥22.19, npm 11, Rust stable ≥1.98, Git, ripgrep, and platform-specific linker tools (Xcode Command Line Tools on macOS, MSVC Build Tools on Windows, or gcc/clang on Linux).

Apache Maka is a multi-workspace TypeScript monorepo that powers peer-to-peer collaboration through Desktop, TUI, and CLI interfaces. Before you can compile the project or run the development server, you must install the Apache Maka build dependencies documented in the repository’s README.md and enforced by the workspace configuration in packages/*/package.json.

Core Runtime Dependencies

The foundation of the build system relies on modern JavaScript tooling and essential Unix utilities.

Node.js and npm

Apache Maka requires Node.js ≥22.19 (the CI pipeline currently uses Node 24) to provide the JavaScript runtime and execute the npm scripts that drive compilation, testing, and packaging. The project uses npm 11 (specified implicitly by the lockfile and workspace scripts) as its package manager to resolve inter-dependent packages across the packages/* directories.

All JavaScript dependencies—including TypeScript, React, and SQLite bindings—are declared in the individual workspace package.json files (such as packages/core/package.json) and installed automatically when you run npm ci.

Git and ripgrep

Git is required for cloning the repository, fetching submodules, and supporting the gitoxide Rust helper used by the native addon for git operations. ripgrep (rg) is used by the Runtime's Grep tool to perform fast text searches inside workspaces, making it a mandatory binary for full functionality.

Native Compilation Toolchain

Because Apache Maka includes a Rust-based native addon for direct-peer communication, you need a complete Rust toolchain and system linkers.

Rust Toolchain

Install Rust stable 1.98 or newer to compile the native peer addon located in the native/ directory. This addon powers the gitoxide helper and enables direct-peer communication protocols. You can manage versions via rustup:

rustup default stable
rustc --version  # verify 1.98+

Platform-Specific Linkers

The Rust compiler requires platform-native linker tools to produce binaries:

• macOS: Xcode Command Line Tools (xcode-select --install)
• Windows: MSVC Build Tools (Visual Studio Build Tools or full Visual Studio)
• Linux: System C linker (gcc or clang)

These tools are invoked automatically when building the Rust sources in the native/ workspace.

Desktop Application Dependencies

For the Desktop GUI workspace, Apache Maka relies on Electron as its runtime shell.

Electron Binary

Electron is installed automatically by npm unless you explicitly skip the download. If you set ELECTRON_SKIP_BINARY_DOWNLOAD=1 (useful for offline builds or CI caching), you must manually fetch the binary afterward:

ELECTRON_SKIP_BINARY_DOWNLOAD=1 npm ci
node node_modules/electron/install.js

If the environment variable is not set, the post-install scripts handle this automatically.

Step-by-Step Installation Guide

Follow this sequence to satisfy all Apache Maka build dependencies on macOS (adapt package manager commands for Linux or Windows):

# 1. Install system dependencies

brew install node git ripgrep rustup
rustup default stable   # activates Rust 1.98+

xcode-select --install  # macOS linker tools

# 2. Clone and install JavaScript dependencies

git clone https://github.com/apache/maka.git
cd maka
npm ci                  # resolves all workspace packages

# 3. Build the workspaces

npm run build           # TypeScript compilation for all packages

npm run dev:full        # Desktop in development mode with full build

# OR for CLI/TUI only:

npm run cli:dev

The build process compiles TypeScript across the monorepo and triggers the Rust compiler for the native addon in native/.

Verifying Your Build Environment

Before attempting a full build, verify that all Apache Maka build dependencies meet the minimum versions:

node --version    # should report v22.19.0 or higher

npm --version     # should report 11.x

rustc --version   # should report 1.98.0 or higher

rg --version      # any recent release

git --version     # any recent release

If any command fails or reports an outdated version, the build will fail at the npm run build or npm ci stage.

Summary

• Node.js ≥22.19 and npm 11 power the JavaScript runtime and workspace management.
• Rust ≥1.98 and platform linkers compile the native/ addon for peer communication.
• Git and ripgrep are required for repository operations and the Runtime's search functionality.
• Electron provides the Desktop GUI runtime, fetched automatically unless skipped via environment variable.
• All other dependencies (TypeScript, React, etc.) are resolved automatically via npm ci across the workspace package.json files.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the minimum Node.js version for Apache Maka?

Apache Maka requires Node.js version 22.19 or newer, though the CI system currently targets Node 24 for consistency. The package.json files across the packages/ directory assume modern Node features, and the build scripts rely on npm 11 for workspace resolution.

Why does Apache Maka require Rust?

The project includes a native addon in the native/ directory that implements direct-peer communication and integrates with gitoxide for high-performance git operations. According to the source code, Rust stable 1.98 or newer is required to compile these components, which are linked against the Node.js runtime via NAPI.

Can I skip the Electron binary download during installation?

Yes. Set the environment variable ELECTRON_SKIP_BINARY_DOWNLOAD=1 before running npm ci to prevent automatic downloads. This is useful for offline builds or when caching binaries separately. If you skip the download, you must manually run node node_modules/electron/install.js before starting the Desktop application.

What package manager does Apache Maka use?

Apache Maka uses npm exclusively. The repository relies on npm workspaces (configured in the root package.json) to manage the monorepo structure under packages/*, and the lockfile format assumes npm 11. While yarn or pnpm might work, the official build scripts and CI are tested only with npm.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "instagit": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "instagit@latest"]
    }
  }
}