docs

md/6_1_developing_cables/1_setup_dev_env/setup_dev_env.md

@@ -39,5 +39,5 @@ But let's get started:
 - IMPORTANT: make sure your current shell has the proper node version by running `node --version` before the next step
     - if not, open a new terminal before you start the server, and check again
 - change directory to `cables_electron/`
-- continue with the [cables electron](https://github.com/cables-gl/cables_electron/blob/develop/README.md#Development) development steps
-- if you forked any of the above repos, check out [how to work with forks](../3_working_with_forks)
+- continue with the step on ["Using standalone to develop cables"](../5_standalone_as_devenv/standalone_as_devenv)
+- if you forked any of the above repos, check out [how to work with forks](../3_working_with_forks/working_with_forks)

md/6_1_developing_cables/5_standalone_as_devenv/standalone_as_devenv.md

@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+# Using standalone to develop cables
+
+## Set Up
+
+* the preferred way of developing cables locally is using the `cables_dev` repository: https://github.com/cables-gl/cables_dev
+* that repo contains scripts that will set up everything for you to get started
+* Read up about setting up everything for you to start contributing to cables in the section on how to ["Set up local environment"](../1_setup_dev_env/setup_dev_env)
+  of the official cables documentation.
+
+<a id="dev"></a>
+## Build / Dev
+
+Once the above steps are done, continue below, deciding beforehand if you want to improve your local version of cables standalone,
+develop on cables core or editor, or would like to build and package a finished executable.
+
+### Local Build
+
+- set up your local environment (see above)
+- change to `cables_electron` directory (`cd cables_electron`)
+- run `npm install --no-save`
+- run `npm run build` to build the standalone version
+- run `npm run start` to start the standalone from the checked out sources
+
+### Local Development
+
+- set up your local environment (see above)
+- change to `cables_electron` directory (`cd cables_electron`)
+- run `npm install --no-save`
+- run `npm run build`
+- use `npm run start` to start the app
+    - this will start watchers for changes in client-side javascript dirs (e.g. `src_client` and `../shared/client/`
+    - when making changes to files in these directories, a reload of the electron app is enough to see the changes (Cmd/Ctrl+R)
+- if you want to develop on ops and/or the ui, change to cables_dev (`cd ..`) and run `npm run watch:standalone`
+    - this will create watchers on files in `cables` and `cables_ui` that trigger a rebuild on change
+    - when making changes to files in these directories, a reload of the electron app is enough to see the changes (Cmd/Ctrl+R)
+
+### Building an executable
+
+- take the steps that are described in "Local Build" above
+- use `npm run pack` or `npm run dist` (will try to sign the exe)  - add `:mac`, `:win`, `:linux` to only build one architecture
+- find the executable in `dist/`

md/6_1_developing_cables/developing_cables.md

@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 # Developing Cables
 
-setup your local enviroment to contribute to cables-development
+setup your local environment to contribute to cables-development
 
 __TOC__