Installing the Virtual Wiring System

This page explains how to install the Virtual Wiring System software on a host system. If you haven't chosen a host system and would like some guidance, read the Choosing a Host page.

Installation

• Make sure you have Ruby installed on your system. We recommend using Ruby version 1.9.3 or higher.

  Most Macs come with Ruby installed. Linux machines often do not. To check, open a command line window and type:

  ruby -v

  You should get back a Ruby version number (and no squawking about ruby being an unknown command). If Ruby is not installed, look here

• Go to the software download page, read the licensing agreement, and if you agree to it, click the "I agree" button. You will then see the software files available. Find the most recent vw_application_xxxxxxxx.zip file and click the "Download" button next to it (xxxxxxxx is an 8 digit date code).

• Unzip the vw_application_xxxxxxxx.zip file by typing (fill in xxxxxxxx with your date code):

  unzip vw_application_xxxxxxxx.zip

• Open a command window and go to your new "vw_application_xxxxxxxx" directory. In your new directory, there should a directory named "vw_app_server". Go to the "vw_app_server" directory (cd vw_app_server). Then type:

  bundle install

  You host will chew and churn on this for a while, and then your system should be ready to go. If you see error messages, read the next section. If bundle completes successfully, you can run the Virtual Wiring application.

Possible Bundler Installation Problems

• Permission denied. If after typing bundle install, you get a response like Permission denied, you need to do your install as root. Type:

  sudo bundle install

  When the system prompts you for your password, type in your login password.

• Bundle not found. If after typing bundle install, you get a response like bundle: command not found, you need to install the "bundler" gem. To install the bundler gem, type:

  sudo gem install bundler -N

• Missing header files. If after you run the bundle command, it complains about missing header files, you need to install "ruby-dev". See Installing Ruby.

• If your installation is failing on a Mac and you see messages about "Xcode" or missing C compilers, you need to install Apple's development tools (Xcode). See https://developer.apple.com/xcode.