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How to install Beaver on iPhone using a Mac

Beaver does what Otter does, and Otter costs Paid. This guide gets you the free one.

What you end up with

Beaver running on your iPhone. It is free, and it stays free — there is no account, no trial and no subscription at the end of this.

Time
About 56 minutes
Steps
15
Cost
Free

Before you start

These are one-time installs. If you have used Terminal before, you may have them already — the first step checks.

  1. Install Git

    Apple opens a small installer.

    Type this into Terminal, then press Return.

    xcode-select --install

    You know this worked when: Git responds with a version number

  2. Install Node LTS

    Choose the macOS Installer (.pkg).

    Open download

    You know this worked when: Node responds with a version number

Install Beaver

  1. Open Terminal

    Keep it open beside this page.

    You know this worked when: Terminal is open

  2. Check Git and Node

    Git and the current Node LTS are required.

    Type this into Terminal, then press Return.

    git --version
node --version

    You know this worked when: Git and Node respond with version numbers

  3. Copy Beaver to this Mac

    Type this into Terminal, then press Return.

    cd ~
if [ ! -d BeaverClone/.git ]; then
git clone https://github.com/mwelford2/BeaverClone.git
fi

    You know this worked when: A BeaverClone folder appears

  4. Open the Beaver folder

    Type this into Terminal, then press Return.

    cd BeaverClone

    You know this worked when: Your terminal prompt is inside the BeaverClone folder

  5. Use the reviewed version

    Type this into Terminal, then press Return.

    git checkout 172943b5cd1da65d41e8618a3ee9b7df0fa9a21b

    You know this worked when: Git reports the reviewed commit

  6. Build the native project

    This can take a few minutes the first time.

    Type this into Terminal, then press Return.

    cargo build --release

    You know this worked when: The command finishes without an error

  7. Install Xcode

    Large — start it early. Open it once afterwards so it finishes installing.

    Open the App Store page

    You know this worked when: Xcode opens without asking to finish setup

  8. Open the iPhone project

    In Xcode choose Open, then pick the ios folder inside Beaver.

    You know this worked when: Xcode opens with the Beaver project

  9. Sign the app with your Apple ID

    Signing & Capabilities, then Team. A free Apple ID works.

    You know this worked when: Signing & Capabilities shows no red error

  10. Plug in your iPhone

    Unlock it, tap Trust, then pick it from the device menu.

    You know this worked when: Your iPhone is selected as the run destination

  11. Press Run

    The ▶ button. The first build takes a few minutes.

    You know this worked when: Xcode finishes with Build Succeeded

  12. Trust yourself on the iPhone

    Settings, General, VPN & Device Management, your Apple ID, then Trust.

    You know this worked when: Your Apple ID shows as trusted

  13. Open Beaver on your phone

    You know this worked when: Beaver opens on your phone

If something goes wrong

Nothing here can damage your computer, and every step can be run again safely. If a command fails, the usual cause is the step before it not having finished.

Still stuck? Tell us what happened and we will fix the guide. Include the step number and we can usually reproduce it.

Have a different setup?