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Installation

This guide walks you through installing Cerulion Graph Editor on your system. The installation process varies depending on your operating system and whether you’re installing from a pre-built package or building from source.

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Prerequisites

Before you begin, ensure you have:

Operating System

Linux, macOS, or Windows (with WSL2 recommended for Windows)

System Requirements

At least 4GB RAM, 2GB free disk space, and a modern CPU

Network Access

Internet connection for downloading dependencies

Admin Access

Administrator or sudo privileges for system-wide installation
Cerulion Graph Editor requires Cerulion Core to be installed. If you’re building from source, you’ll need to install Cerulion Core first. See the Cerulion Core installation guide for details.

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Installation Methods

You can install Cerulion Graph Editor in several ways:
  • Pre-built packages (recommended) - Fastest and easiest
  • Build from source - For development or custom configurations
  • Docker container - For isolated environments
Choose the method that best fits your needs.
1

Download the installer

Visit the Cerulion downloads page and download the installer for your operating system:
  • Linux: .deb (Debian/Ubuntu) or .rpm (Fedora/RHEL) package
  • macOS: .dmg disk image
  • Windows: .exe installer (or use WSL2 with Linux package)
Choose the latest stable version unless you need a specific feature from a newer release.
2

Install the package

Linux (Debian/Ubuntu):
sudo dpkg -i cerulion-graph-editor_*.deb
sudo apt-get install -f  # Install any missing dependencies
Linux (Fedora/RHEL):
sudo rpm -i cerulion-graph-editor_*.rpm
macOS:
  1. Open the downloaded .dmg file
  2. Drag Cerulion Graph Editor to your Applications folder
  3. Open Applications and double-click Cerulion Graph Editor
Windows:
  1. Run the downloaded .exe installer
  2. Follow the installation wizard
  3. Or use WSL2 and follow Linux instructions
3

Verify installation

Verify that Cerulion Graph Editor is installed correctly:
cerulion-graph-editor --version
You should see version information, for example: cerulion-graph-editor 1.0.0
4

Launch the editor

Start Cerulion Graph Editor:Linux/macOS:
cerulion-graph-editor
Windows:
  • Open from Start Menu, or
  • Run cerulion-graph-editor.exe from Command Prompt
The Graph Editor window should open, showing an empty canvas ready for you to create graphs.

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Method 2: Build from Source

If you need the latest features or want to customize the build, you can compile from source.
1

Install build dependencies

Linux:
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install build-essential cmake pkg-config \
    libssl-dev libasound2-dev libx11-dev libxrandr-dev \
    libxi-dev libgl1-mesa-dev
macOS:
xcode-select --install
brew install cmake pkg-config
Windows (WSL2): Follow Linux instructions within WSL2.
2

Clone the repository

git clone https://github.com/cerulion/cerulion-graph-editor.git
cd cerulion-graph-editor
3

Build the editor

mkdir build
cd build
cmake ..
make -j$(nproc)  # Use all CPU cores for faster build
The build process can take 10-30 minutes depending on your system. The -j$(nproc) flag uses all available CPU cores to speed up compilation.
4

Install the built binary

sudo make install
Or run directly from the build directory:
./cerulion-graph-editor
The editor should launch successfully. If you see errors, check the troubleshooting section below.

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Method 3: Docker Container

For isolated environments or CI/CD pipelines, use the Docker container.
1

Pull the Docker image

docker pull cerulion/graph-editor:latest
2

Run the container

docker run -it --rm \
    -e DISPLAY=$DISPLAY \
    -v /tmp/.X11-unix:/tmp/.X11-unix \
    -v $(pwd):/workspace \
    cerulion/graph-editor:latest
Docker requires X11 forwarding for GUI applications. On macOS, you may need additional setup for X11 support. Consider using the native installation method instead.

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Post-Installation Setup

1

Verify Cerulion Core is installed

Cerulion Graph Editor requires Cerulion Core. Verify it’s installed:
cerulion-core --version
If not installed, see the Cerulion Core installation guide.
2

Configure your workspace

  1. Launch Cerulion Graph Editor
  2. Go to File → Preferences
  3. Set your default project directory
  4. Configure your preferred language (Rust/Python/C++)
Setting up your workspace preferences now will save time later when creating projects.
3

Test with a sample project

Create a quick test to ensure everything works:
  1. Create a new project
  2. Add a simple node
  3. Generate and run
If you see any errors, check the troubleshooting section below.

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Troubleshooting Installation Issues

Symptoms: Double-clicking or running the command does nothing, or you see an error message.Solutions:
  • Check system requirements (RAM, disk space)
  • Verify all dependencies are installed
  • Check console/logs for error messages
  • Try running from terminal to see error output
  • On Linux, ensure X11/Wayland is properly configured
Symptoms: Error messages about missing libraries or packages.Solutions:
  • Linux: Run sudo apt-get install -f (Debian/Ubuntu) or sudo dnf install (Fedora)
  • macOS: Run brew install for missing packages
  • Check that Cerulion Core and its dependencies are installed
  • Verify your system’s package manager is up to date
Symptoms: make or cargo build fails with errors.Solutions:
  • Ensure all build dependencies are installed (see Method 2)
  • Check that your compiler is up to date
  • Verify you have sufficient disk space
  • Try a clean build: make clean && make
  • Check the GitHub issues for known build problems
Symptoms: Cannot write to installation directory or run the editor.Solutions:
  • Use sudo for system-wide installation
  • Or install to a user directory (no sudo needed)
  • Check file permissions: ls -l /usr/local/bin/cerulion-graph-editor
  • On macOS, check System Preferences → Security & Privacy
Symptoms: GUI doesn’t appear when running Docker container.Solutions:
  • Install and configure X11 forwarding properly
  • On macOS, consider using native installation instead
  • Use --network host flag for Linux: docker run --network host ...
  • Check DISPLAY environment variable: echo $DISPLAY

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Next Steps

Now that Cerulion Graph Editor is installed, you’re ready to start building:

Quickstart

Build your first graph in 10 minutes with our step-by-step tutorial.

UI Tour

Take a guided tour of the Graph Editor interface.

Overview

Learn what Cerulion Graph Editor can do and when to use it.

Core Concepts

Understand the fundamental building blocks of Cerulion graphs.