# Installing LBRY

If only the json-rpc API server is needed the recommended way to install LBRY is to use a pre-built binary. We provide binaries for all major operating systems. See the [README](README.md).

These instructions are for installing LBRY from source, which is recommended if you are interested in doing development work or LBRY is not available on your operating system (godspeed, TempleOS users).

## Prerequisites

Before starting, you'll need to install some additional libraries depending on your operating system.

### Python

Running `lbrynet` from source requires [Python 3.7](https://www.python.org/downloads/release/python-370/)


### OS X Prerequisites

Install [xcode command line tools](https://developer.xamarin.com/guides/testcloud/calabash/configuring/osx/install-xcode-command-line-tools/) and [homebrew](http://brew.sh/).

Remaining dependencies can then be installed by running:

```
brew install python3 protobuf
python3 -m pip install virtualenv
```

### Linux Prerequisites

On Ubuntu (we recommend 16.04), install the following:

```
sudo apt-get install build-essential python3.7 python3.7-dev git python-virtualenv libssl-dev python-protobuf
```

On Raspbian, you will also need to install `python-pyparsing`.

If you're running another Linux flavor, install the equivalent of the above packages for your system.

### Windows Prerequisites

Install [mingw32](http://www.mingw.org/) base and c++ compiler.

Add C:\MinGW\bin to the windows PATH.

Enable distutils to compile with mingw32 by creating a distutils.cfg file in *PYTHONPATH\Lib\distutils* containing:

```
[build]
compiler = mingw32
```

If using virtualenv, which is recommended, copy the *PYTHONPATH\Lib\distutils* directory to the virtualenv.

It's recommended to use [Unofficial Windows Binaries for Python Extension Packages](http://www.lfd.uci.edu/~gohlke/pythonlibs/) for as many of the required packages as possible.
Currently, available binaries include:
- Twisted
- Zope.interface
- pywin32

Install the above binaries with `pip install *.whl`

Install pywin32 system files by run `python.exe Scripts\pywin32_postinstall.py -install` from an elevated command prompt.

Finally, you'll need [miniupnpc](https://pypi.python.org/pypi/miniupnpc/1.9). Download the source and compile with MinGW by running `mingw32make.bat`. Then install the module by running `python setupmingw32.py install`.

## Installation

To install:

 ```
 git clone https://github.com/lbryio/lbry.git
 cd lbry
 
 virtualenv lbry-venv --python=python3.7
 source lbry-venv/bin/activate

 python --version # Python 2 is not supported. Make sure you're on Python 3.7

 pip install --editable .[test]  # [test] installs extras needed for running the tests
 ```

To run the unit tests from the repo directory:
 ```
 trial --reactor=asyncio tests.unit
 ```

To start the API server:
    `lbrynet start`

To verify your install, `which lbrynet` should return a path inside of the `lbry-venv` folder created by the `virtualenv` command.

## Making a Change

If you are not already inside the virtual environment, run:

```
source lbry-venv/bin/activate
```

Then run:

```
pip install --editable .
```

This will install `lbrynet` in such a way that the changes you make to the code will be used as soon as you restart the API server.

Happy hacking!