How do I make a GitHub repository into an exe?

Question

I know this is going to sound so dumb because I am new into software developing. I have found this GitHub repository which I plan to modify. Let's just say I fork this repository and modify it. How would I then be able to export it from there. By export it I meant turn all of those files into one windows executable file. Thanks.

Solution

There is no universal solution. There are too many programming languages, frameworks and build systems.

Since this is a JavaScript project that comes with a package.json, let’s take look:

  "scripts": {
    "start": "electron src/index.js",
    "pack": "electron-builder --dir",
    "dist": "electron-builder -mwl"
  },

We’re in luck: The author has defined some sensible scripts for testing the application and packing it for distribution. It appears this project uses electron-builder.

If you run...

• npm start, you can test the application.
• npm run pack, you get a directory with the contents of the package without really packing it.
• npm run dist, redistributable packages are created.

When creating the package, you receive, ...

• a macOS .dmg file with an app.
• a macOS .zip file with an app.
• a Linux self-contained .AppImage file.
• a Windows installer (NSIS).

It may not be possible to build for all platforms on all platforms.

Comments

[harrymc]

Executable or zipped?

[Biswapriyo]

Please be familiar with JavaScript, NodeJS and Electron framework first.

[fhzt]

One question. Do I enter the npm commands in cmd?

[fhzt]

Thanks. What I want to do is though make a modified version of the software and then turn all of those files into one windows executable file.

[Daniel B]

Yes. But if you don’t know that, you should probably start a lot smaller. Get to know JavaScript and NodeJS first, then use some NPM modules and then maybe start hacking away at this project.

[fhzt]

When I enter the following npm commands I am just getting a bunch of errors. Do you know why this is happening?

[Daniel B]

You probably didn’t run npm install or npm ci. Like I said: If you have no experience, get familiar with the field first.

[fhzt]

Thanks it is working now.