# Prerequisites (/docs/start/prerequisites)



You need a Mac. iOS builds require macOS and Xcode; Android builds also work best on the same machine, so all instructions here assume macOS.

The toolchain (Node, pnpm, Ruby, Java) is managed by [mise](https://mise.jdx.dev). Your repo ships a `mise.toml` that pins the exact versions the app is built with, so you never install Node or pnpm by hand or match version numbers from a doc.

## 1. Install mise [#1-install-mise]

```bash
brew install mise
```

Activate it in your shell if you haven't before. Follow the [activation step](https://mise.jdx.dev/getting-started.html) for zsh or bash.

## 2. Install the pinned toolchain [#2-install-the-pinned-toolchain]

From the root of your cloned repo:

```bash
mise trust      # first time only, if prompted
mise install
```

This reads `mise.toml` and installs the pinned Node, pnpm, Ruby, and JDK. It also exports the environment the build expects, including `ANDROID_HOME` pointing at the standard SDK location (`~/Library/Android/sdk`).

Some repos also define a one-shot task that combines toolchain install with dependency install:

```bash
mise run bootstrap
```

## 3. iOS: Xcode and CocoaPods [#3-ios-xcode-and-cocoapods]

Install **Xcode** from the Mac App Store and make sure at least one **iOS simulator runtime** is downloaded (Xcode → Settings → Components). `run-ios` fails if no iPhone simulator exists. Then accept the license:

```bash
sudo xcodebuild -license accept
```

CocoaPods is installed through Bundler using the `Gemfile` in your repo. **Never install it globally**: the repo's Podfile carries patches that only apply through the pinned version. The `pnpm run-ios` script runs pod install for you; to run it manually:

```bash
pnpm pod-install
```

## 4. Android: Android Studio and SDK [#4-android-android-studio-and-sdk]

Install **Android Studio** from [developer.android.com](https://developer.android.com/studio) and let it set up the Android SDK at the default location (`~/Library/Android/sdk`). In **SDK Manager**, make sure these are installed:

* the **SDK Platform** matching the repo's `compileSdk` (currently API 36)
* **Platform-Tools** (`adb`) and **Build-Tools**
* **Android Emulator**, plus **NDK** and **CMake** (the build downloads the pinned NDK if missing)

Accept the SDK licenses (`sdkmanager --licenses`) and create at least one emulator in **Device Manager**. You do not need to install a JDK separately; mise pins and installs it.

## 5. Verify [#5-verify]

Inside the repo, every version should resolve to the pinned one:

```bash
mise ls           # all tools installed and active
node --version
pnpm --version
ruby --version
java --version
```

If a command prints a different version than `mise.toml` pins, mise isn't activated in your shell. Revisit step 1.

<Callout type="warn" title="Use mise, not a version manager you already have">
  If nvm, rbenv, or SDKMAN is active in your shell, it can shadow the mise
  toolchain and produce builds with the wrong Node or Ruby. Let mise own the
  versions inside Appbrew repos.
</Callout>

## Next [#next]

* [Merchant quickstart](/docs/start/merchant-quickstart) — clone and run your store's app
* [Partner quickstart](/docs/start/partner-quickstart) — clone and run your host app
* [Run on a physical device](/docs/start/run-on-device) — when you're ready to test on hardware