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Getting MaweJS

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Markus Koskimies edited this page Mar 5, 2026 · 1 revision

Getting MaweJS

MaweJS is an independent open-source project distributed directly via GitHub. Ready-to-run packages are available for Windows and Linux.

You do not need an account. The application runs locally, and your files stay on your own machine.

Binaries

Open the latest release and expand Assets. In the filenames below, x.y.z is the release version. You do not need Git or Node.js to use these packages.

Windows

  • Try without installing: Download the portable version, mawejs.x.y.z.exe, and run it.
  • Install MaweJS: Download mawejs.Setup.x.y.z.exe and run the NSIS installer.

Windows security warnings

The Windows packages are not digitally signed. Windows may show an unknown publisher or a Microsoft Defender SmartScreen warning that the app is unrecognized. The portable version can trigger these warnings too.

A SmartScreen reputation warning means Windows does not have enough reputation information to trust the download; it is not by itself a malware detection. Download MaweJS from this project's GitHub releases, and continue only if you trust the source.

For the usual Windows protected your PC SmartScreen dialog, select More info, then Run anyway, if that option is available and you choose to proceed. A malware detection is a different warning; these instructions do not apply to it.

Some computers block the app without offering that choice. Windows 11's Smart App Control can block untrusted unsigned apps and does not provide an exception for an individual app. A work or school computer may also have policies that prevent running it. You do not need to turn off Windows security protections to try to resolve this: ask your administrator on a managed computer, or start a discussion if you are unsure what the message means.

See Microsoft's explanations of SmartScreen reputation and Smart App Control.

Linux

Download mawejs-x.y.z.AppImage. Open a terminal in the download folder, make the file executable, and run it. Replace x.y.z with the version you downloaded:

chmod +x mawejs-x.y.z.AppImage
./mawejs-x.y.z.AppImage

If the AppImage reports a sandbox error, this workaround disables Chromium's sandbox:

./mawejs-x.y.z.AppImage --no-sandbox

macOS

There is currently no macOS download. See below for running from source.

Running from source

To run MaweJS from source, install Git and Node.js with npm. On Windows, Git Bash is a convenient shell for these commands. Check that the tools are available:

$ git -v
$ node --version
$ npm -v

Once the tools are available, clone the repository, install dependencies and run MaweJS:

$ git clone https://github.com/mkoskim/mawejs.git
$ cd mawejs
mawejs$ npm install
mawejs$ npm run dev

Linux: Some newer Ubuntu versions require adjusting the Chromium sandbox permissions. There is a helper target:

mawejs$ npm run fix

It uses sudo and will ask for your password. Manual commands:

mawejs$ sudo chown root node_modules/electron/dist/chrome-sandbox
mawejs$ sudo chmod 4755 node_modules/electron/dist/chrome-sandbox

After launching MaweJS

See Thinking about trying MaweJS? for first steps and ways to try the editor with your writing.

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