How to install DreamUp on Windows

DreamUp does what Stella does, and Stella costs Paid. This guide gets you the free one.

What you end up with

DreamUp running in your browser, on your own computer. It is free, and it stays free — there is no account, no trial and no subscription at the end of this.

Time
About 28 minutes
Steps
11
Cost
Free

Before you start

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

  1. Install Git

    Run the installer, then reopen PowerShell.

    Open installer

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

  2. Install Node LTS

    Run the LTS installer, then reopen PowerShell.

    Open download

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

Install DreamUp

  1. Open PowerShell

    Keep it open beside this page.

    You know this worked when: PowerShell is open

  2. Check Git and Node

    Git and the current Node LTS are required.

    Type this into PowerShell, then press Enter.

    git --version
    node --version

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

  3. Copy DreamUp to this PC

    Type this into PowerShell, then press Enter.

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

    You know this worked when: A DreamUp folder appears

  4. Open the DreamUp folder

    Type this into PowerShell, then press Enter.

    cd DreamUp

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

  5. Use the reviewed version

    Type this into PowerShell, then press Enter.

    git checkout 201b88610c2d73075d2f1af2a2085525d4fbea64

    You know this worked when: Git reports the reviewed commit

  6. Install dependencies

    Type this into PowerShell, then press Enter.

    npm.cmd install

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

  7. Run DreamUp

    Keep PowerShell open.

    Type this into PowerShell, then press Enter.

    npm.cmd run dev

    You know this worked when: localhost:1420 responds

  8. Open it in your browser

    If a different port was picked, open that one instead.

    Open localhost:1420

    You know this worked when: The app loads in the browser

  9. Try it

    DreamUp should be open in your browser.

    You know this worked when: DreamUp works

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?

This guide follows Jemycan/DreamUp at the reviewed version 201b886. Pinning the version is why the commands here keep working after the project changes.

Back to DreamUp