Local Build
Validate changes locally with python deploy.py and the extension build commands.
Use a local build before opening a PR to confirm that the desktop app can still be packaged by Nuitka, Feature Packs are copied into the output, and the browser extension passes typecheck and build.
Online Build
Use GitHub Actions when you cannot reproduce a multi-platform environment locally.
Repository Map
Find deploy.py, workflow files, and extension sources quickly.
Desktop Build
Install Python dependencies.
pip install --timeout=300 -r requirements.txtRun the build script from the repository root.
python deploy.pyInspect the output directory.
| Platform | Main Output |
|---|---|
| Windows / Linux | dist/Ghost-Downloader-3.dist |
| macOS | dist/Ghost-Downloader-3.app |
What deploy.py Does
| Stage | Description |
|---|---|
| Generate Nuitka arguments | Chooses icons, Qt plugins, and platform-specific parameters for Windows, macOS, and Linux. |
| Compile entry point | Uses Ghost-Downloader-3.py as the desktop app entry. |
| Include dependencies | Bundles extra packages such as urllib3, qrcode, libtorrent, and aioftp. |
| Copy Feature Packs | Copies packs that contain manifest.toml into the build output. |
| Apply blacklist | jack_yao is currently listed in FEATURE_PACK_BLACKLIST. |
A Local Build Is Not a Full Release
python deploy.py only generates desktop build outputs and copies Feature Packs. Installers, signing, DMGs, .deb, .AppImage, and other platform-specific artifacts are completed by later GitHub Actions steps.
Browser Extension Build
cd browser_extension\app
npm install
npm run typecheck
npm run buildWhen you change the bridge protocol, review both app/services/browser_service.py and browser_extension/app/src/background/desktop-bridge.ts.