{
 "schema_version": 1,
 "generated": "2026-10-20",
 "id": "starling-build-starling--build-and-run-starling-desktop",
 "repo": "starling-build/starling",
 "repo_url": "https://github.com/starling-build/starling",
 "repo_slug": "starling-build-starling",
 "title": "Build and run the Starling desktop from source",
 "page_title": "How to build and run the Starling desktop from source with Starling",
 "summary": "Compile the Swift shell and run the Starling desktop from a staged tree on Linux.",
 "who": "A Linux developer who wants to test changes to the Starling shell or compositor before they ship.",
 "problem": "Running the desktop from a source checkout needs the shell, the engine, and the libraries laid out in the right places, which is easy to get wrong by hand.",
 "outcome": "The shell is built and the desktop starts from a self-contained staged tree that matches the installed layout.",
 "steps": [
  "git clone https://github.com/starling-build/starling-engine next to this repo, then build it following its README (inferred, check the README)",
  "Run `./bootstrap.sh` in the Starling repo to create the engine symlink",
  "Run `cd shell && swift build -c release`",
  "Run `build/run-desktop.sh` with the GPU free of other display software"
 ],
 "agent_prompt": "Clone the starling repo and its starling-engine sibling, then run ./bootstrap.sh and build/run-desktop.sh on this Linux machine. Expected output: the Starling desktop session starts from the .stage/ tree. Verify that the .stage/ directory exists and that the desktop process is running before reporting success.",
 "agents": [
  "any"
 ],
 "difficulty": "Advanced",
 "time": "4 hours",
 "basis": "readme",
 "caveat": "The README says the desktop needs the GPU free and points to docs/BUILDING.md for toolchains, apt packages, and Ubuntu 26.04 workarounds, so setup takes more than the short commands shown.",
 "category": "Software and DevOps",
 "tags": [
  "Software and DevOps"
 ],
 "lang": "swift",
 "requirements": [
  "A Linux machine, ideally Ubuntu, since the desktop is developed and tested on Ubuntu and docs/BUILDING.md covers its setup",
  "A Swift toolchain, needed for the swift build commands",
  "A built starling-engine checkout placed next to this repo",
  "A free GPU with no display manager or compositor running, for the desktop run step"
 ],
 "risk": "none",
 "seen_in_the_wild": false,
 "mentioned_publicly": false,
 "risks": [],
 "best": true,
 "score": 1.0,
 "evidence": [],
 "url": "https://dedupedai.com/use-cases/starling-build-starling/build-and-run-starling-desktop/",
 "md": "https://dedupedai.com/use-cases/starling-build-starling/build-and-run-starling-desktop/index.md",
 "disclaimer": "Deduped lists open-source repositories that belong to other people. We do not own, maintain, audit, or vouch for any of them, and a repo appearing here is not an endorsement or a safety check. The use cases, steps, and prompts are written by AI and may be incomplete, outdated, or just wrong. Where a use case is marked \"Seen in the wild\", we link to public posts where someone described something similar, but we have not verified those posts and the use case itself is still our AI's own write-up. Use all of this at your own risk. Only run code, commands, or agents on systems and accounts you are authorized to use, and read the code and every command before you run it, especially anything that touches credentials, files, or the network. Nothing here is professional, security, legal, or financial advice. All trademarks and project names belong to their respective owners, and their use here does not imply affiliation. Content is provided as is, without warranties of any kind. Found a mistake, a safety problem, or something you want removed? Email hello@dedupedai.com and we will look at it promptly.",
 "api": "https://dedupedai.com/api/v1/usecases/starling-build-starling--build-and-run-starling-desktop.json",
 "api_version": "v1"
}