Self-hosting guide

Get Writtt running on your own PC.

You don't need to be a programmer. This guide walks you through two paths: the easy one (just download and install) and the nerdy one (build it yourself from the source code).

Pick the path that feels right for you. Both end with the same result: Writtt, running on your machine, owned by you.

Easiest path — recommended

Just download and install

We compile Writtt and make it available as a ready-to-use file for every operating system. Click the button for your system, run the installer, and you're done. No terminal, no commands.

🪟

Windows

.exe installer

🍎

macOS

.dmg (Apple Silicon + Intel)

🐧

Linux

.AppImage / .deb / .rpm

This is the same code that's on GitHub — we just pre-compiled it so you don't have to.

On Windows or macOS, your system may show a security warning the first time. That's normal for unsigned apps. Click 'More info' → 'Run anyway' (Windows) or right-click → 'Open' (macOS).

or, if you want to build it yourself

For the curious — build from source

Compile it yourself

Building from source means you read every line of code before running it. No surprises. This takes about 10–20 minutes if it's your first time.

First: what's a terminal?

A terminal (also called Command Prompt or console) is a text window where you type commands. Don't worry — you'll just copy and paste the commands below. Here's how to open it on your system:

🪟 Windows

Tecla Win + R

→ digita "cmd"

🍎 macOS

Cmd + Espaço

→ "Terminal"

🐧 Linux

Ctrl + Alt + T

ou busca "Terminal"

What you'll need to install first

Go≥ 1.21

The programming language Writtt is written in. Think of it as the engine.

baixar

Node.js≥ 18

Used to build the visual interface (buttons, fonts, layout). Downloads in seconds.

baixar

Wails CLIv2.x

The tool that glues Go and the interface together into a single app.

baixar

Install Wails (the build tool)

After installing Go, open your terminal and paste this. It downloads the Wails tool that will compile everything:

Terminal / Prompt de Comando

go install github.com/wailsapp/wails/v2/cmd/wails@latest

If you see 'wails: command not found' after this, close your terminal, reopen it, and try running 'wails version' again. Sometimes the terminal needs a restart to find new tools.

Download the Writtt source code

This command copies all the code from GitHub to your computer (into a folder called 'writtt'):

Terminal

git clone https://github.com/marcelomatz/writtt.git
cd writtt

No GitHub account needed. 'git' is a tool that comes pre-installed on macOS/Linux. On Windows, install Git for Windows from git-scm.com if needed.

Install the JavaScript dependencies

Writtt's visual interface is built with React. This step downloads the visual building blocks it needs (fonts, icons, layout tools). It may take 1–2 minutes:

Terminal (dentro da pasta writtt)

npm install

You'll see a lot of text scrolling — that's normal. It's just downloading packages. Wait for it to finish and return to a blank line.

Run Writtt (preview mode)

This launches Writtt directly from the source code. Use this to verify everything works before building the final file:

Terminal

wails dev

Writtt should open on your screen in a few seconds. This is the real, working app — not just a preview.

Build your own binary

When you're happy with the preview, run this to create a self-contained file you can copy anywhere:

Terminal

wails build

Done! Your file is at build/bin/writtt (macOS/Linux) or build/bin/writtt.exe (Windows). You can copy it to your Desktop, share it with friends, or keep it as a backup.

Why go through all this?

Pre-built binaries are convenient, but they require trust. When you build from source, you verify the binary instead of hoping it's clean.

Writtt has zero network calls at runtime — no telemetry, no pings, nothing. Building it yourself lets you confirm that claim directly in the code before you ever run it.

Questions, contributions, or issues — everything lives on GitHub.

View source on GitHub