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Installation

The fastest way to get started. Download skewer-render and loom from the Releases page.

Pre-built archives are available for Linux (x86_64), macOS (ARM64 / Intel), and Windows (x64). They are self-contained — no dependencies to install.

See the Pre-built Binaries guide for full instructions.

Option 2: Build from Source

If you need to modify the source, run tests, or develop, build from source.

Prerequisites (all platforms)

  • CMake 3.21+
  • Clang++ 17 (or higher)
  • Git LFS — pull only what's needed to build: git lfs install && git lfs pull --include="skewer/src/core/spectral/srgb_spec_data.cc"
  • Go 1.25+ (for CLI and coordinator)
  • Protocol Buffer compiler (protoc)
  • Go protobuf plugins: 
    go install google.golang.org/protobuf/cmd/protoc-gen-go@latest
go install google.golang.org/grpc/cmd/protoc-gen-go-grpc@latest
  • Python 3 (for formatting and utility scripts)

Clone & Setup

git clone https://github.com/skewer-project/skewer.git
cd skewer

# Pull large files tracked by Git LFS (required for sRGB spectral data)
git lfs install                    # only needed once
git lfs pull --include="skewer/src/core/spectral/srgb_spec_data.cc"

If you plan to run tests, also pull the test fixtures:

git lfs pull  # pulls everything (golden images, test assets)

Platform Dependencies

Choose the section that matches your platform:

Linux (Ubuntu / Debian)

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install -y \
  cmake \
  clang-17 \
  libopenexr-dev \
  libimath-dev \
  zlib1g-dev \
  libpng-dev \
  protobuf-compiler \
  libgrpc++-dev \
  ninja-build

macOS (Homebrew)

brew install cmake ninja openexr libpng protobuf grpc

Windows

Install the base toolchain with winget (built into Windows 10/11):

winget install Kitware.CMake LLVM.LLVM Git.Git Ninja-build.Ninja

Then use vcpkg for C++ libraries (the CMake presets are configured for it):

git clone https://github.com/microsoft/vcpkg.git C:\vcpkg
cd C:\vcpkg
.\bootstrap-vcpkg.bat
.\vcpkg.exe install openexr libpng zlib protobuf grpc --triplet x64-windows

Set the environment variable so CMake can find vcpkg:

[Environment]::SetEnvironmentVariable('VCPKG_ROOT', 'C:\vcpkg', 'User')

Cross-platform: conda

If you prefer a single package manager across all platforms, conda (via conda-forge) can install everything:

# Create and activate a conda environment
conda create -n skewer -c conda-forge \
  cmake ninja clang openexr libpng zlib protobuf grpc-cpp
conda activate skewer

Then configure CMake pointing at the conda environment:

cmake --preset relwithdebinfo \
  -DCMAKE_PREFIX_PATH="$CONDA_PREFIX"

Cross-platform: vcpkg (standalone)

You can also use vcpkg on Linux and macOS if you prefer a unified C++ package manager instead of system packages:

# Install vcpkg (one-time)
git clone https://github.com/microsoft/vcpkg.git /path/to/vcpkg
cd /path/to/vcpkg
./bootstrap-vcpkg.sh

# Set the environment variable
export VCPKG_ROOT=/path/to/vcpkg

When VCPKG_ROOT is set, pass the vcpkg toolchain to any CMake preset:

cmake --preset relwithdebinfo \
  -DCMAKE_TOOLCHAIN_FILE="$VCPKG_ROOT/scripts/buildsystems/vcpkg.cmake"

See Building for all available presets.

Verify Installation

# Check C++ compiler
clang++ --version   # or g++ --version

# Check CMake
cmake --version

# Check Go
go version

# Check protobuf
protoc --version

# Check Python
python3 --version

Also see