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capa/doc/installation.md
2020-06-24 15:03:21 -06:00

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# Installation
You can install capa in a few different ways. First, if you simply want to use capa, just download the [standalone binary](https://github.com/fireeye/capa/releases). If you want to use capa as a Python library, you can install the package directly from GitHub using `pip`. If you'd like to contribute patches or features to capa, you can work with a local copy of the source code.
## Method 1: Standalone installation
If you simply want to use capa, use the standalone binaries we host on GitHub: https://github.com/fireeye/capa/releases. These binary executable files contain all the source code, Python interpreter, and associated resources needed to make capa run. This means you can run it without any installation! Just invoke the file using your terminal shell to see the help documentation.
We used PyInstaller to create these packages.
## Method 2: Using capa as a Python library
To install capa as a Python library, you'll need to install a few dependencies, and then use `pip` to fetch the capa module.
### 1. Install requirements
First, install the requirements.
`$ pip install https://github.com/williballenthin/vivisect/zipball/master`
### 2. Install capa module
Second, use `pip` to install the capa module to your local Python environment. This fetches the library code to your computer but does not keep editable source files around for you to hack on. If you'd like to edit the source files, see below.
`$ pip install https://github.com/fireeye/capa/archive/master.zip`
### 3. Use capa
You can now import the `capa` module from a Python script or use the IDA Pro plugins from the `capa/ida` directory. For more information please see the [usage](usage.md) documentation.
## Method 3: Inspecting the capa source code
If you'd like to review and modify the capa source code, you'll need to check it out from GitHub and install it locally. By following these instructions, you'll maintain a local directory of source code that you can modify and run easily.
### 1. Install requirements
First, install the requirements.
`$ pip install https://github.com/williballenthin/vivisect/zipball/master`
### 2. Check out source code
First, clone the capa git repository. We use submodules to separate code, rules, and test data. To get all data at once use the `--recurse-submodules` option shown below. To only get the source code and our provided rules, follow these steps:
- `$ git clone https://github.com/fireeye/capa.git /local/path/to/src` (HTTPS) or `$ git clone git@github.com:fireeye/capa.git /local/path/to/src` (SSH)
- `$ cd /local/path/to/src`
- `$ git submodule init`
- `$ git submodule update rules`
#### SSH
`$ git clone --recurse-submodules git@github.com:fireeye/capa.git /local/path/to/src`
#### HTTPS
`$ git clone --recurse-submodules https://github.com/fireeye/capa.git /local/path/to/src`
### 3. Install the local source code
Next, use `pip` to install the source code in "editable" mode. This means that Python will load the capa module from this local directory rather than copying it to `site-packages` or `dist-packages`. This is good, because it is easy for us to modify files and see the effects reflected immediately. But be careful not to remove this directory unless uninstalling capa.
`$ pip install -e ./local/path/to/src`
You'll find that the `capa.exe` (Windows) or `capa` (Linux) executables in your path now invoke the capa binary from this directory.
### 4. Setup hooks [optional]
If you plan to contribute to capa, you may want to setup the hooks.
Run `scripts/setup-hooks.sh` to set the following hooks up:
- The `post-commit` hook runs the linter after every `git commit`, letting you know if there are code style or rule linter offenses you need to fix.
- The `pre-push` hook runs the linter and the tests and block the `git push` if they do not succeed.
This way you realize if everything is alright without the need of sending a PR.