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Tested on Windows 10 (21H2+) and Windows 11. All commands are for PowerShell. Open a new terminal after each installer to pick up PATH changes.
1

Install Visual Studio Build Tools

Download and run the Visual Studio Build Tools installer.In the installer, check the “Desktop development with C++” workload. Make sure these optional components are selected:
  • MSVC Build Tools for x64/x86 (Latest)
  • Windows 10/11 SDK
  • C++ CMake tools for Windows
Verify:
& "${env:ProgramFiles(x86)}\Microsoft Visual Studio\Installer\vswhere.exe" -products * -requires Microsoft.VisualStudio.Workload.VCTools -property displayName
# Expected: Visual Studio Build Tools 2022
2

Install Node.js 22

Option A - nvm-windows (recommended):Download and run the latest nvm-setup.exe, then open a new terminal:
nvm install 22
nvm use 22
Option B - Download the LTS 22.x MSI installer from nodejs.org.Verify (in a new terminal):
node -v
# Expected: v22.x.x
3

Install Python

Python is required by node-gyp to compile native Node.js modules.
winget install Python.Python.3.12 --source winget
Or download from python.org - make sure “Add to PATH” is checked.Verify (in a new terminal):
python --version
# Expected: Python 3.x.x
4

Install the Rust toolchain

Download and run rustup-init.exe. Accept the defaults (installs stable-msvc).Verify (in a new terminal):
rustc --version
# Expected: rustc 1.xx.x (...)
rustup default stable-msvc
5

Install GStreamer (MSVC)

Download the MSVC x86_64 installer from gstreamer.freedesktop.org/download - click Windows → MSVC x86_64 (VS 2022, Release CRT).Run with default settings. After installation, verify (open a new terminal):
echo $env:GSTREAMER_1_0_ROOT_MSVC_X86_64
# Expected: C:\gstreamer\1.0\msvc_x86_64\ (or similar)
The installer didn’t set it. Find where GStreamer was installed and set it manually:
[Environment]::SetEnvironmentVariable("GSTREAMER_1_0_ROOT_MSVC_X86_64", "C:\Program Files\gstreamer\1.0\msvc_x86_64\", "User")
Then restart your terminal.
6

Install CMake

winget install Kitware.CMake --source winget
Or download from cmake.org/download - make sure “Add to PATH” is checked.Verify (in a new terminal):
cmake --version
# Expected: cmake version 3.x.x
7

Clone the repo and install dependencies

git clone https://github.com/Laxcorp-Research/project-raven.git
cd project-raven
npm install
Verify:
Test-Path node_modules\.package-lock.json
# Expected: True

# Fix 1: Set the version hint for node-gyp
npm config set msvs_version 2022
Remove-Item -Recurse -Force node_modules
npm install

# Fix 2: Environment variable (works on all npm versions)
$env:GYP_MSVS_VERSION = "2022"
Remove-Item -Recurse -Force node_modules
npm install
8

Build the GStreamer echo-cancellation addon

First, check the Electron version:
node -e "console.log(require('./node_modules/electron/package.json').version)"
Then build targeting that version:
cd src\native\aec
npm install
npx cmake-js compile --runtime electron --runtime-version <ELECTRON_VERSION>
cd ..\..\..
Replace <ELECTRON_VERSION> with the version from the previous command.
The --runtime electron --runtime-version flags are required. Without them, the addon is built for Node.js instead of Electron and will crash when loaded.
Verify:
Test-Path src\native\aec\build\Release\raven-aec.node
# Expected: True
9

Build the Windows audio capture module

cd src\native\windows
npm install
npx napi build --platform --release
cd ..\..\..
Verify:
Test-Path src\native\windows\raven-windows-audio.win32-x64-msvc.node
# Expected: True
10

Run the app

npm run dev
The Electron app opens. On first launch you’ll see a 6-step onboarding flow - enter your API keys.
If audio capture doesn’t work, check Settings → Sound and make sure the correct playback and recording devices are set as default.

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Troubleshooting

SymptomFix
Could not find any Python installationInstall Python 3.x and add to PATH (Step 3)
Could not find any Visual Studio installationSet $env:GYP_MSVS_VERSION = "2022", delete node_modules, re-run npm install
cmake-js: “CMake is not installed”Install CMake (Step 6)
cmake-js: “GStreamer not found”Set GSTREAMER_1_0_ROOT_MSVC_X86_64 and restart terminal (Step 5)
AEC addon crashes Electron on startupRebuild with --runtime electron --runtime-version (Step 8)
napi build linker errorsrustup default stable-msvc and ensure VS Build Tools C++ workload is installed