theJayTea · saurondark22 · Jun 4, 2026
diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
@@ -10,4 +10,9 @@ Windows_and_Linux/config.json
 
 # Xcode user-specific data
 **/xcuserdata/
-**/project.xcworkspace/xcuserdata/
+**/project.xcworkspace/xcuserdata/
+
+Windows_and_Linux/.venv/
+Windows_and_Linux/packaging/
+Windows_and_Linux/dist/
+Windows_and_Linux/Writing Tools.spec
diff --git a/README's Linked Content/To Compile the Application Yourself.md b/README's Linked Content/To Compile the Application Yourself.md
@@ -3,32 +3,59 @@
 ### Windows and Linux Version build instructions:
 Here's how to compile it with PyInstaller and a virtual environment:
 
-1. First, create and activate a virtual environment:
+1. Open Terminal (or Command Prompt) and enter the Windows/Linux app folder:
 ```bash
-# Install virtualenv if you haven't already
-pip install virtualenv
+cd /path/to/WritingTools/Windows_and_Linux
+```
 
-# Create a new virtual environment
-virtualenv myvenv
+2. Create and activate a virtual environment:
+```bash
+python3 -m venv .venv
 
-# Activate it
-# On Windows:
-myvenv\Scripts\activate
-# On Linux:
-source myvenv/bin/activate
-```
+# Linux:
+source .venv/bin/activate
 
-2. Once activated, install the required packages:
+# Windows (PowerShell):
+.venv\Scripts\Activate.ps1
+
+# Windows (cmd):
+.venv\Scripts\activate.bat
+```
 
+3. Install dependencies:
 ```bash
+python -m pip install --upgrade pip
 pip install -r requirements.txt
 ```
 
-3. Build Writing Tools:
+4. Build Writing Tools:
 ```bash
 python pyinstaller-build-script.py
 ```
 
+The compiled binary is written to: ~/Windows_and_Linux/dist/Writing Tools
+
+5. Linux only (optional, recommended): install locally with launcher icon:
+```bash
+bash build-and-install-local-linux.sh
+```
+
+This creates:
+- `~/.local/bin/writing-tools`
+- `~/.local/share/applications/writing-tools.desktop`
+
+Optional autostart:
+```bash
+bash build-and-install-local-linux.sh --enable-autostart
+```
+
+After local install, you can launch Writing Tools with:
+```bash
+writing-tools
+```
+
+No daily recompilation is needed unless you changed source code and want a newer build.
+
 ### macOS Version (by [Aryamirsepasi](https://github.com/Aryamirsepasi)) build instructions:
 
 1. **Install Xcode**

diff --git a/README's Linked Content/To Run Writing Tools Directly from the Source Code.md b/README's Linked Content/To Run Writing Tools Directly from the Source Code.md
@@ -34,5 +34,13 @@ Of course, you'll need to have [Python installed](https://www.python.org/downloa
    python3 main.py
    ```
 
+If you want a launcher icon in your app menu and a reusable local install (so you do not need to run from terminal every day), use:
+
+```bash
+bash build-and-install-local-linux.sh
+```
+
+from the `Windows_and_Linux` folder.
+
 
 ### [**◀️ Back to main page**](https://github.com/theJayTea/WritingTools)
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
@@ -90,6 +90,8 @@ Aside from being the only Windows/Linux program like Apple's Writing Tools, and
 ### **🐧 Linux (work-in-progress)**:
 [Run it from the source code](https://github.com/theJayTea/WritingTools/blob/main/README's%20Linked%20Content/To%20Run%20Writing%20Tools%20Directly%20from%20the%20Source%20Code.md)
 
+[Compile and install locally with launcher icon](https://github.com/theJayTea/WritingTools/blob/main/README's%20Linked%20Content/To%20Compile%20the%20Application%20Yourself.md)
+
 Writing Tools works well on x11. On Wayland, there are a few caveats:
 - [it works on XWayland apps](https://github.com/theJayTea/WritingTools/issues/34#issuecomment-2461633556)
 - [and it works if you disable Wayland for individual Flatpaks with Flatseal.](https://github.com/theJayTea/WritingTools/issues/93#issuecomment-2576511041)
@@ -220,7 +222,7 @@ These instructions are for any Writing Tools version, using the OpenAI-Compatibl
 
 ## 👨‍💻 To Compile the Application Yourself:
 
-[Instructions here!](https://github.com/theJayTea/WritingTools/blob/8713e5a5de63a7892b05a43b9753172e692768fb/README's%20Linked%20Content/To%20Compile%20the%20Application%20Yourself.md)
+[Instructions here!](https://github.com/theJayTea/WritingTools/blob/main/README's%20Linked%20Content/To%20Compile%20the%20Application%20Yourself.md)
 
 ## 🌟 Contributors
 

diff --git a/Windows_and_Linux/build-and-install-local-linux.sh b/Windows_and_Linux/build-and-install-local-linux.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,75 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+set -euo pipefail
+
+SCRIPT_DIR="$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")" && pwd)"
+AUTOSTART_FLAG=""
+SKIP_BUILD="no"
+
+print_usage() {
+  cat <<'USAGE'
+Usage:
+  bash build-and-install-local-linux.sh [--enable-autostart|--disable-autostart] [--skip-build]
+
+Builds Writing Tools with PyInstaller, then installs it locally with:
+- Launcher command: ~/.local/bin/writing-tools
+- App menu entry: ~/.local/share/applications/writing-tools.desktop
+
+Options:
+  --enable-autostart   Enable autostart after install
+  --disable-autostart  Disable autostart after install
+  --skip-build         Skip PyInstaller build and only run local install
+  -h, --help           Show this help message
+USAGE
+}
+
+while [[ $# -gt 0 ]]; do
+  case "$1" in
+    --enable-autostart|--disable-autostart)
+      AUTOSTART_FLAG="$1"
+      ;;
+    --skip-build)
+      SKIP_BUILD="yes"
+      ;;
+    -h|--help)
+      print_usage
+      exit 0
+      ;;
+    *)
+      echo "ERROR: Unknown option: $1"
+      print_usage
+      exit 1
+      ;;
+  esac
+  shift
+done
+
+if ! command -v python3 >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+  echo "ERROR: python3 is required but was not found."
+  exit 1
+fi
+
+INSTALL_SCRIPT="${SCRIPT_DIR}/install-local-linux.sh"
+if [[ ! -f "${INSTALL_SCRIPT}" ]]; then
+  echo "ERROR: Missing installer script at ${INSTALL_SCRIPT}"
+  exit 1
+fi
+
+pushd "${SCRIPT_DIR}" >/dev/null
+
+if [[ "${SKIP_BUILD}" != "yes" ]]; then
+  echo "Building with PyInstaller..."
+  python3 pyinstaller-build-script.py
+else
+  echo "Skipping build as requested."
+fi
+
+echo "Installing locally for current user..."
+install_args=(--app-source "${SCRIPT_DIR}")
+if [[ -n "${AUTOSTART_FLAG}" ]]; then
+  install_args+=("${AUTOSTART_FLAG}")
+fi
+bash "${INSTALL_SCRIPT}" "${install_args[@]}"
+
+popd >/dev/null
+
+echo "Done. Launch via: writing-tools"
diff --git a/Windows_and_Linux/install-local-linux.sh b/Windows_and_Linux/install-local-linux.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,176 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+set -euo pipefail
+
+SCRIPT_DIR="$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")" && pwd)"
+APP_SOURCE="${SCRIPT_DIR}"
+ENABLE_AUTOSTART=""
+
+print_usage() {
+  cat <<'USAGE'
+Usage:
+  bash install-local-linux.sh [--app-source <dir>] [--enable-autostart|--disable-autostart]
+
+Installs Writing Tools for the current Linux user:
+- App files: ~/.local/share/writingtools/app
+- Launcher command: ~/.local/bin/writing-tools
+- App menu entry: ~/.local/share/applications/writing-tools.desktop
+
+Options:
+  --app-source <dir>   Source directory containing app assets and dist output
+  --enable-autostart   Create ~/.config/autostart/writing-tools.desktop
+  --disable-autostart  Remove ~/.config/autostart/writing-tools.desktop
+  -h, --help           Show this help message
+USAGE
+}
+
+while [[ $# -gt 0 ]]; do
+  case "$1" in
+    --app-source)
+      shift
+      if [[ $# -eq 0 ]]; then
+        echo "ERROR: --app-source requires a value"
+        exit 1
+      fi
+      APP_SOURCE="$1"
+      ;;
+    --enable-autostart)
+      ENABLE_AUTOSTART="yes"
+      ;;
+    --disable-autostart)
+      ENABLE_AUTOSTART="no"
+      ;;
+    -h|--help)
+      print_usage
+      exit 0
+      ;;
+    *)
+      echo "ERROR: Unknown option: $1"
+      print_usage
+      exit 1
+      ;;
+  esac
+  shift
+done
+
+if [[ "${EUID}" -eq 0 ]]; then
+  echo "ERROR: Please run this as your regular desktop user, not root."
+  exit 1
+fi
+
+if [[ ! -d "${APP_SOURCE}" ]]; then
+  echo "ERROR: App source directory not found: ${APP_SOURCE}"
+  exit 1
+fi
+
+DIST_EXE=""
+if [[ -x "${APP_SOURCE}/Writing Tools" ]]; then
+  DIST_EXE="${APP_SOURCE}/Writing Tools"
+elif [[ -x "${APP_SOURCE}/dist/Writing Tools" ]]; then
+  DIST_EXE="${APP_SOURCE}/dist/Writing Tools"
+else
+  echo "ERROR: Compiled binary not found in ${APP_SOURCE}"
+  echo "Build first with: python3 pyinstaller-build-script.py"
+  exit 1
+fi
+
+for required_dir in icons locales; do
+  if [[ ! -d "${APP_SOURCE}/${required_dir}" ]]; then
+    echo "ERROR: Missing required directory: ${APP_SOURCE}/${required_dir}"
+    exit 1
+  fi
+done
+
+for required_file in background.png background_dark.png background_popup.png background_popup_dark.png Latest_Version_for_Update_Check.txt options.json; do
+  if [[ ! -f "${APP_SOURCE}/${required_file}" ]]; then
+    echo "ERROR: Missing required file: ${APP_SOURCE}/${required_file}"
+    exit 1
+  fi
+done
+
+DATA_HOME="${XDG_DATA_HOME:-${HOME}/.local/share}"
+CONFIG_HOME="${XDG_CONFIG_HOME:-${HOME}/.config}"
+INSTALL_ROOT="${DATA_HOME}/writingtools"
+APP_DIR="${INSTALL_ROOT}/app"
+BIN_DIR="${HOME}/.local/bin"
+APPS_DIR="${DATA_HOME}/applications"
+AUTOSTART_DIR="${CONFIG_HOME}/autostart"
+LAUNCHER_PATH="${BIN_DIR}/writing-tools"
+DESKTOP_PATH="${APPS_DIR}/writing-tools.desktop"
+AUTOSTART_PATH="${AUTOSTART_DIR}/writing-tools.desktop"
+
+mkdir -p "${APP_DIR}" "${BIN_DIR}" "${APPS_DIR}" "${AUTOSTART_DIR}"
+
+install -m 0755 "${DIST_EXE}" "${APP_DIR}/Writing Tools"
+
+rm -rf "${APP_DIR}/icons" "${APP_DIR}/locales"
+cp -a "${APP_SOURCE}/icons" "${APP_DIR}/icons"
+cp -a "${APP_SOURCE}/locales" "${APP_DIR}/locales"
+
+for file_name in background.png background_dark.png background_popup.png background_popup_dark.png Latest_Version_for_Update_Check.txt; do
+  install -m 0644 "${APP_SOURCE}/${file_name}" "${APP_DIR}/${file_name}"
+done
+
+# Preserve user-customized options on upgrades.
+if [[ ! -f "${APP_DIR}/options.json" ]]; then
+  install -m 0644 "${APP_SOURCE}/options.json" "${APP_DIR}/options.json"
+fi
+
+cat > "${LAUNCHER_PATH}" <<'EOF'
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+set -euo pipefail
+
+APP_DIR="${XDG_DATA_HOME:-${HOME}/.local/share}/writingtools/app"
+if [[ -d "${APP_DIR}/lib" ]]; then
+  export LD_LIBRARY_PATH="${APP_DIR}/lib${LD_LIBRARY_PATH:+:${LD_LIBRARY_PATH}}"
+fi
+if [[ -d "${APP_DIR}/bin" ]]; then
+  export PATH="${APP_DIR}/bin:${PATH}"
+fi
+cd "${APP_DIR}"
+exec "${APP_DIR}/Writing Tools" "$@"
+EOF
+chmod 0755 "${LAUNCHER_PATH}"
+
+cat > "${DESKTOP_PATH}" <<EOF
+[Desktop Entry]
+Type=Application
+Name=Writing Tools
+Comment=AI-powered writing helper with global hotkey popup
+Exec=${LAUNCHER_PATH}
+Icon=${APP_DIR}/icons/app_icon.png
+Terminal=false
+Categories=Office;Utility;
+StartupNotify=false
+EOF
+chmod 0644 "${DESKTOP_PATH}"
+
+if [[ "${ENABLE_AUTOSTART}" == "yes" ]]; then
+  cat > "${AUTOSTART_PATH}" <<EOF
+[Desktop Entry]
+Type=Application
+Name=Writing Tools
+Comment=Start Writing Tools in background at login
+Exec=${LAUNCHER_PATH}
+Icon=${APP_DIR}/icons/app_icon.png
+Terminal=false
+X-GNOME-Autostart-enabled=true
+EOF
+  chmod 0644 "${AUTOSTART_PATH}"
+  echo "Autostart enabled at: ${AUTOSTART_PATH}"
+elif [[ "${ENABLE_AUTOSTART}" == "no" ]]; then
+  rm -f "${AUTOSTART_PATH}"
+  echo "Autostart disabled."
+fi
+
+echo "Install complete for user: ${USER}"
+echo "Launcher command: writing-tools"
+echo "Desktop entry: ${DESKTOP_PATH}"
+
+if ! command -v xclip >/dev/null 2>&1 && ! command -v xsel >/dev/null 2>&1 && ! command -v wl-copy >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+  echo "WARNING: No clipboard backend detected (xclip/xsel/wl-copy)."
+  echo "         Install one to ensure copy/replace flow works."
+fi
+
+if [[ "${XDG_SESSION_TYPE:-}" == "wayland" ]]; then
+  echo "NOTICE: Running in Wayland session; global hotkey/focus behavior may be limited."
+fi