[](https://github.com/bitwarden/clients/actions/workflows/build-desktop.yml?query=branch:master)
- To compile the native node modules used in the app you will need the _Visual C++ toolset_, available through the standard Visual Studio installer. You will also need to install the _Microsoft Build Tools 2015_ and _Windows 10 SDK 17134_ as additional dependencies in the Visual Studio installer.
- Linux:
- The following packages `build-essential libsecret-1-dev libglib2.0-dev`
Native Messaging (communication with the browser extension) works by having the browser start a lightweight proxy application baked into our desktop binary. To setup an environment which allows
for easy debugging you will need to build the application for distribution, i.e. `npm run dist:<platform>`, start the dist version and enable desktop integration. This will write some manifests
to disk, Consult the [native manifests](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Mozilla/Add-ons/WebExtensions/Native_manifests#Manifest_location) documentation for more details of the manifest
format, and the exact locations for the different platforms. _Note_ that disabling the desktop integration will delete the manifests, and the files will need to be updated again.
The generated manifests are pre-configured with the production ID for the browser extensions. In order to use them with the development builds, the browser extension ID of the development build
needs to be added to the `allowed_extensions` section of the manifest. These IDs are generated by the browser, and can be found in the extension settings within the browser.
It will then be possible to run the desktop application as usual using `npm run electron` and communicate with the browser.
