Getting started · novolis-apps

Prerequisites

.NET SDK 10.0.100+ (global.json)
GitHub CLI for GPR restore (configure-gpr-user-nuget.ps1)
Desktop environment for Avalonia

Build

cd novolis-apps
..\novolis-governance\scripts\configure-gpr-user-nuget.ps1
dotnet restore
dotnet build --no-restore

Install (Windows)

Download only from official GitHub Releases (Novolis-Platform/novolis-apps):

Asset	Use
`BooksWriterStudioSetup-*-win-x64.exe`	Books Writer Studio installer
`BooksMobileSetup-*-win-x64.exe`	Books Mobile installer — `%LOCALAPPDATA%\Programs\Novolis\Books Mobile`
`BooksMobile-*-win-x64.zip`	Books Mobile portable
`DraftStudioSetup-*-win-x64.exe`	Draft Studio installer — `%LOCALAPPDATA%\Programs\Novolis\Draft Studio`
`DraftStudio-*-win-x64.zip`	Draft Studio portable
`SketchStudioSetup-*-win-x64.exe`	Sketch Studio installer — `%LOCALAPPDATA%\Programs\Novolis\Sketch Studio`
`SketchStudio-*-win-x64.zip`	Sketch Studio portable
`SinsOfACapitalismTycoonSetup-*-win-x64.exe`	Sins of a Capitalism Tycoon installer
`LiveStudioSetup-*-win-x64.exe`	Live Studio installer
`SHA256SUMS.txt`	SHA-256 hashes for all zip and setup exe files on each release

Verify downloads

Before running the installer, verify the SHA-256 hash:

Get-FileHash .\DraftStudioSetup-*-win-x64.exe -Algorithm SHA256
# Compare with the matching line in SHA256SUMS.txt from the same release

SmartScreen (unsigned installer)

Installers are not yet Authenticode-signed. Windows SmartScreen may show "Windows protected your PC" on first download. This is expected until code signing is added. To proceed: More info → Run anyway. Only install builds downloaded from the official releases page above.

New releases are created automatically when changes merge to main (see Merge workflow).

Build installer locally (requires Inno Setup 6 for the setup exe):

pwsh -File scripts/build-installer.ps1 -App All
# Single app:
pwsh -File scripts/build-installer.ps1 -App DraftStudio
# Skip Inno compile (publish + zip only):
pwsh -File scripts/build-installer.ps1 -App All -SkipInstaller

Draft Studio

dotnet run --project src/DraftStudio
# Headless pipeline check (DSL → .cadjson → .cadphys.json):
dotnet run --project src/DraftStudio -- --smoke

Command-driven CAD-light: type Line(0,0,2,0), Circle(0,0,5), Spline(0,0,1,1,2,0), Box(1,1,1) in the command bar, or use Line / Circle / Rect / Spline tools (same commands). Toggle Draft (XZ plan canvas) and Model (Raylib orbit). Export Phys writes draft.cadphys.json.

Workspace: %LocalAppData%\Novolis\Draft Studio\default-workspace\draft.cadjson
Formats: cadjson.md
Shortcuts: Ctrl+S save, Ctrl+Z / Ctrl+Y undo/redo, Del delete, F fit, Esc cancel tool, Enter finish spline

Books Writer Studio

dotnet run --project src/BooksWriterStudio

Sketch Studio

dotnet run --project d:\novolis\novolis-apps\src\SketchStudio
dotnet run --project d:\novolis\novolis-apps\src\SketchStudio -- --smoke

Freehand sketch studio (SketchControl) with full toolbar chrome. Hover tips + F1 shortcuts.

App docs (interconnected): `docs/sketch-studio/README.md`

Guide	Topic
[getting-started](./sketch-studio/getting-started.html)	Install, run, first five minutes
[tools](./sketch-studio/tools.html)	Drawing tools
[shortcuts](./sketch-studio/shortcuts.html)	Keys + tooltips
[documents](./sketch-studio/documents.html)	`.sketchjson`, MRU, dirty close
[export](./sketch-studio/export.html)	PNG / SVG
[architecture](./sketch-studio/architecture.html)	Host vs Controls.Sketch

Wire format: `sketchjson.md` Installer / portable: SketchStudioSetup-*-win-x64.exe / SketchStudio-*-win-x64.zip → %LOCALAPPDATA%\Programs\Novolis\Sketch Studio.

Sins of a Capitalism Tycoon

dotnet run --project src/SinsOfACapitalismTycoon -- --mode headless
dotnet run --project src/SinsOfACapitalismTycoon -- --mode avalonia

Capitalist Simulator

dotnet run --project d:\novolis\novolis-apps\src\CapitalistSimulator -p:NovolisUseProjectReferences=true -- --mode avalonia

Starts with a stocked Corner Market in Metropolis and a coach card. Press Advance month, watch cash / P&L, then follow the coach.

Headless smoke (same starter store):

dotnet run --project d:\novolis\novolis-apps\src\CapitalistSimulator -p:NovolisUseProjectReferences=true -- --mode headless --days 36

Full first-session walkthrough: `src/CapitalistSimulator/docs/gameplay.md`.

Live Studio

dotnet run --project src/LiveStudio/studio