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This document is for Linux users who do not want to use Docker to run the Blockstack Browser. Instructions are tailored for Ubuntu, but are similar on other distributions.
Setting up Blockstack Browser Node Application
Install NodeJS through NodeSource PPA
curl -sL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_7.x | sudo -E bash -
sudo apt install -y nodejs
Download Blockstack Browser and install its dependencies
git clone https://github.com/blockstack/blockstack-browser.git
cd blockstack-browser
npm install node-sass
npm install
Note that blockstack-browser depends on node-sass which can sometimes install strangely on Linux, running npm install node-sass before trying to install the other dependencies solves that problem.
Running Blockstack Browser
Start the CORS proxy.
npm run dev-proxy &
Start the Node Application
npm run dev
Then you can open http://localhost:3000/ in your browser to get to the Blockstack Browser.
Setting up a protocol handler
If you'd like your browser to automatically handle links with the blockstack: protocol specifier, you will need to register a protocol handler with your desktop environment. In Ubuntu/Gnome, this can be done by creating a file
~/.local/share/applications/blockstack.desktop
With the following contents:
[Desktop Entry]
Type=Application
Terminal=false
Exec=bash -c 'xdg-open http://localhost:3000/auth?authRequest=$(echo "%u" | sed s,blockstack:////*,,)'
Name=Blockstack-Browser
MimeType=x-scheme-handler/blockstack;
Then you need to make this file executable, and register it as a protocol handler.
$ chmod +x ~/.local/share/applications/blockstack.desktop
$ xdg-mime default blockstack.desktop x-scheme-handler/blockstack
Now, blockstack: protocol URLs should get handled by your Blockstack Browser. If you're running Browser in your browser's private mode, you may have to copy and paste the link, as this protocol handler will try to open in a regular browser window.