[Feature] Package up the sync server so the user can run it locally without needing to install node

[MikesGlitch]

Verified feature request does not already exist?

• I have searched and found no existing issue

💻

• Would you like to implement this feature?

Pitch: what problem are you trying to solve?

Currently users have to follow these instructions to run the server on their computers: https://actualbudget.org/docs/install/local

Users have to:

• install git to clone the code
• install node & make sure they check the native modules option
• yarn install
• run the command to start the server.

I think this is unnecessary - non technical users may not want to install all that/be comfortable with the scripts. If we had an easier way to do this it would save some people time.

Describe your ideal solution to this problem

We can use a packager like: https://github.com/nexe/nexe

The packager would package the sync-server into an executable that could be run on mac/windows/linux. It means the user's would no longer have to install Node/run any commands. They'd just run the executable.

I've never used nexe, there may be better alternatives.

Teaching and learning

No response

[github-actions]

✨ Thanks for sharing your idea! ✨

This repository uses lodash style issue management for enhancements. That means enhancement issues are automatically closed. This doesn’t mean we don’t accept feature requests, though! We will consider implementing ones that receive many upvotes, and we welcome contributions for any feature requests marked as needing votes (just post a comment first so we can help you make a successful contribution).

The enhancement backlog can be found here: https://github.com/actualbudget/actual/issues?q=label%3A%22needs+votes%22+sort%3Areactions-%2B1-desc+

Don’t forget to upvote the top comment with 👍!

[MikesGlitch]

On second thought, once we embed the sync server in the desktop it'll do the same thing.