1. Lets start: Installing Mono Framework

In this guide we go through the steps of installing the Mono toolchain on your computer.

Download

First we begin with downloading the installer package, that will install the framework on your computer:

WindowsmacOSDebian/Ubuntu
Download Download Download

Download the installer package that fits your OS. Run the installer and follow the steps to install Mono’s developing tools on your system.

The installer contains all you need to install apps on mono, and to develop your own apps. The installer package contains:

  • Mono Framework code: The software library
  • GCC for embedded ARM: Compiler
  • Binutils (Windows only): The make tool
  • monoprog: Tool that uploads apps to Mono via USB
  • monomake: Tool that creates new mono application projects for you

Check installation

When the installer package has finished, you should check that have the toolchain installed. Open a terminal:

Mac & Linux

Open the Terminal application, and type this into it:

    $ monomake

If you have installed the toolchain successfully in your path, the monomake tool should respond this:

    ERR: No command argument given! You must provide a command
    Usage:
    monomake COMMAND [options]
    Commands:
      project [name]  Create a new project folder. Default name is: new_mono_project
      version         Display the current version of monomake
      path            Display the path to the Mono Environment installation dir

Congratulations, you have the tool chain running! Now, you are ready to crate your first Hello World project in the next tutorial.

Any problems?

If you do not get the excepted response, but instead something like:

-bash: monomake: command not found

It means monomake is not in your PATH. Check if you can see a mono reference in your PATH, by typing:

    $ echo $PATH

Look for references to something like /usr/local/openmono/bin. If you cannot find this, please restart the Terminal application to reload bash profile.

Windows

Open the Run command window (press Windows-key + R), type cmd and press Enter. The Command Prompt window should open. Check that the toolchain is correctly installed by typing:

    Microsoft Windows [Version 6.3.9600]
    (c) 2013 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

    C:\Users\stoffer> monomake

Like on Mac and Linux, monomake should respond with:

    ERR: No command argument given! You must provide a command
    Usage:
    monomake COMMAND [options]
    Commands:
      project [name]  Create a new project folder. Default name is: new_mono_project
      version         Display the current version of monomake
      path            Display the path to the Mono Environment installation dir

If you get this: Congratulations! You have the toolchain installed, and you can go ahead with creating your first Hello World app, in the next tutorial.

Any problems?

On the other hand, if you get:

    'monomake' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
    operable program or batch file.

It means monomake is not in the environment variable PATH. Check that you really did install the tool chain, and that your system environment variable PATH does indeed contain a path like this:

C:\Program Files\OpenMono\bin

You can see your PATH environment variable by typing:

    C:\Users\stoffer> echo %PATH%