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noentropy/docs/INSTALLATION.md
glitchySid 02b450865b Refactor cache API and expand installation docs
- Remove CacheCheckResult and simplify Cache::check_cache to return
  Option<OrganizationPlan>
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- Expand README/docs/INSTALLATION.md with detailed per-OS install and
  PATH instructions
2026-01-10 22:24:05 +05:30

8.2 KiB

Installation Guide

This guide covers different ways to install and set up NoEntropy on your system.

Prerequisites

Before installing NoEntropy, ensure you have:

Option 1: Download Pre-built Binary

The easiest way to get started is to download a pre-built binary for your operating system.

Step 1: Download the Binary

Visit the releases page and download the appropriate archive for your system:

Operating System Architecture File to Download
Linux x86_64 noentropy-x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu.tar.gz
macOS x86_64 (Intel) noentropy-x86_64-apple-darwin.tar.gz
macOS arm64 (Apple Silicon) noentropy-aarch64-apple-darwin.tar.gz
Windows x86_64 noentropy-x86_64-pc-windows-msvc.zip

Or download directly from the command line:

Linux:

curl -LO https://github.com/glitchySid/noentropy/releases/latest/download/noentropy-x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu.tar.gz

macOS (Intel):

curl -LO https://github.com/glitchySid/noentropy/releases/latest/download/noentropy-x86_64-apple-darwin.tar.gz

macOS (Apple Silicon):

curl -LO https://github.com/glitchySid/noentropy/releases/latest/download/noentropy-aarch64-apple-darwin.tar.gz

Windows (PowerShell):

Invoke-WebRequest -Uri "https://github.com/glitchySid/noentropy/releases/latest/download/noentropy-x86_64-pc-windows-msvc.zip" -OutFile "noentropy.zip"

Step 2: Extract the Archive

Linux/macOS:

tar -xzf noentropy-x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu.tar.gz

Windows: Right-click the downloaded zip file and select "Extract All..." or use PowerShell:

Expand-Archive -Path "noentropy.zip" -DestinationPath "noentropy"

Step 3: Add to PATH

You need to add the folder containing noentropy to your system's PATH so you can run it from anywhere.

Linux/macOS

Option A: User-level (recommended, no sudo required)

# Create local bin directory if it doesn't exist
mkdir -p ~/.local/bin

# Move the binary to a location in your PATH
mv noentropy ~/.local/bin/

# Add to PATH temporarily for this session
export PATH="$HOME/.local/bin:$PATH"

# Verify it works
noentropy --help

To make this permanent, add this line to your shell configuration file:

For bash (~/.bashrc or ~/.bash_profile):

echo 'export PATH="$HOME/.local/bin:$PATH"' >> ~/.bashrc
source ~/.bashrc

For zsh (~/.zshrc):

echo 'export PATH="$HOME/.local/bin:$PATH"' >> ~/.zshrc
source ~/.zshrc

Option B: System-wide (requires sudo)

# Move to system bin (requires sudo on most systems)
sudo mv noentropy /usr/local/bin/

# Verify it works
noentropy --help

Windows

Option A: User-level (recommended)

  1. Move the extracted noentropy.exe to a folder, for example:

    C:\Users\<YourUsername>\AppData\Local\NoEntropy
    
  2. Add to User PATH:

    • Press Win + R, type sysdm.cpl, press Enter
    • Click "Environment Variables"
    • Under "User variables", select "Path", click "Edit"
    • Click "New" and add:
      C:\Users\<YourUsername>\AppData\Local\NoEntropy
      
    • Click "OK" on all dialogs
  3. Alternative using PowerShell (Admin):

    # Create installation directory
    New-Item -ItemType Directory -Force -Path "$env:USERPROFILE\AppData\Local\NoEntropy"
    
    # Move the binary
    Move-Item -Path ".\noentropy.exe" -Destination "$env:USERPROFILE\AppData\Local\NoEntropy\"
    
    # Add to PATH (User level)
    $path = [Environment]::GetEnvironmentVariable("PATH", "User")
    $newPath = "$path;$env:USERPROFILE\AppData\Local\NoEntropy"
    [Environment]::SetEnvironmentVariable("PATH", $newPath, "User")
    
    # Verify
    noentropy --help
    
  4. Restart your terminal or start a new Command Prompt/PowerShell window for the PATH changes to take effect.

Option B: System-wide (requires Administrator)

# Run PowerShell as Administrator
Move-Item -Path ".\noentropy.exe" -Destination "C:\Program Files\NoEntropy\noentropy.exe"

# Add to system PATH
$path = [Environment]::GetEnvironmentVariable("PATH", "Machine")
$newPath = "$path;C:\Program Files\NoEntropy"
[Environment]::SetEnvironmentVariable("PATH", $newPath, "Machine")

# Verify
noentropy --help

Step 4: Verify Installation

noentropy --help

You should see the help message with available options.


Option 2: Build from Source

If you prefer to build from source or want the latest development version:

Prerequisites

  • Rust 2024 Edition or later - Install from rustup.rs
  • Git - For cloning the repository

Step 1: Clone the Repository

git clone https://github.com/glitchySid/noentropy.git
cd noentropy

Step 2: Build the Application

cargo build --release

The binary will be located at target/release/noentropy.

Step 3: Install Globally (Optional)

Linux/macOS:

# User-level installation
mkdir -p ~/.local/bin
cp target/release/noentropy ~/.local/bin/
noentropy --help

Windows:

# Create installation directory
New-Item -ItemType Directory -Force -Path "$env:USERPROFILE\AppData\Local\NoEntropy"

# Copy the binary
Copy-Item -Path ".\target\release\noentropy.exe" -Destination "$env:USERPROFILE\AppData\Local\NoEntropy\"

# Add to PATH (see Windows instructions above)

First-Run Setup

On first run, NoEntropy will guide you through an interactive setup process:

Interactive Setup

NoEntropy provides an interactive setup if configuration is missing:

  • Missing API key? → You'll be prompted to enter it
  • Missing download folder? → You'll be prompted to specify it (with default suggestion)
  • Both missing? → You'll be guided through complete setup

Configuration is automatically saved to:

OS Path
Linux/macOS ~/.config/noentropy/config.toml
Windows %APPDATA%\NoEntropy\config.toml

Manual Configuration

Alternatively, you can manually create the configuration file:

Linux/macOS:

mkdir -p ~/.config/noentropy
cp config.example.toml ~/.config/noentropy/config.toml
nano ~/.config/noentropy/config.toml

Windows:

# Create config directory
New-Item -ItemType Directory -Force -Path "$env:APPDATA\NoEntropy"

# Copy example config
Copy-Item -Path ".\config.example.toml" -Destination "$env:APPDATA\NoEntropy\config.toml"

# Edit with Notepad
notepad "$env:APPDATA\NoEntropy\config.toml"

See the Configuration Guide for detailed configuration options.


Getting Your Gemini API Key

  1. Visit Google AI Studio
  2. Sign in with your Google account
  3. Create a new API key
  4. Copy the key to your configuration file or enter it during interactive setup

Verification

To verify your installation works correctly:

noentropy --help

If you see the help output, installation was successful!

To test file organization:

# Organize your downloads folder (or configured folder)
noentropy --dry-run

You should see NoEntropy scan your folder and display an organization plan without moving any files.


Next Steps


Troubleshooting

If you encounter issues during installation, check the Troubleshooting Guide.

Common installation issues:

  • "noentropy: command not found": The folder is not in your PATH. Restart your terminal or run source ~/.bashrc (or source ~/.zshrc).
  • Permission denied (Linux/macOS): Make sure the binary has execute permissions: chmod +x noentropy
  • Windows PATH not updating: Restart your terminal or computer after adding to PATH.
  • Rust not installed: Install Rust from rustup.rs
  • Build errors: Ensure you have the latest Rust toolchain: rustup update

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