# Start

> Set up NatUI from source and open your first native desktop window.

Canonical: https://natui.dev/docs/start

NatUI is currently used directly from its repository. Clone the source, install the pnpm workspace, build the native host for your platform, then run one of the included examples.

1. Complete [source setup](/docs/start/source-setup).
2. Build the [macOS](/docs/start/macos) or [Windows](/docs/start/windows) host.
3. Read the [first app](/docs/start/first-app) walkthrough.
4. Explore the [kitchen sink](/docs/start/kitchen-sink) for a working app-shell and multi-component example.

The JavaScript runtime validates the protocol version and platform reported by the host during startup. Build both sides from the same checkout for the simplest known-compatible setup, although any host and renderer that both implement protocol version 1 can interoperate.