Bee Native Messaging Host

A native messaging host application for the Browser's External Editor extension.

Supported Operating Systems

• Linux
• Windows
• macOS
• FreeBSD

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Installation

Prebuilt Packages

Packages are available from:

• SourceForge
• GitHub Releases page
• FreeBSD Port
• Fedora Copr

macOS

Download the latest .pkg package and install it:

sudo spctl --master-disable
sudo installer -pkg ./beectl-1.3.7-3.x86_64.pkg -target /
sudo spctl --master-enable

Note

Gatekeeper must be temporarily disabled because the package is not signed with an Apple Developer certificate.

Fedora / CentOS / openSUSE (RPM)

sudo dnf copr enable ruslan-osmanov/beectl
sudo dnf install --refresh beectl

Or install manually:

rpm -Uvh --nodeps beectl-<VERSION>.<ARCH>.rpm

Debian / Ubuntu (DEB)

dpkg -i beectl-<VERSION>.<ARCH>.deb

Arch Linux

Install from the AUR:

• Using yay:

yay -S beectl

• Using paru:

paru -S beectl

Alternatively,

sudo pacman -S --needed base-devel git
git clone https://aur.archlinux.org/beectl.git
cd beectl
makepkg -si

The package installs the binary and browser native messaging manifests automatically.

NixOS

Add BeeCtl to your configuration:

environment.systemPackages = [ pkgs.beectl ];

programs.firefox.nativeMessagingHosts.packages = [ pkgs.beectl ];

Nix Package Manager (non-NixOS)

Install:

nix profile install github:rosmanov/bee-host --extra-experimental-features "nix-command flakes"

Create browser manifest links:

mkdir -p ~/.mozilla/native-messaging-hosts
ln -sf ~/.nix-profile/lib/mozilla/native-messaging-hosts/com.ruslan_osmanov.bee.json \
       ~/.mozilla/native-messaging-hosts/com.ruslan_osmanov.bee.json

For Chrome:

mkdir -p ~/.config/google-chrome/NativeMessagingHosts
ln -sf ~/.nix-profile/etc/opt/chrome/native-messaging-hosts/com.ruslan_osmanov.bee.json \
       ~/.config/google-chrome/NativeMessagingHosts/com.ruslan_osmanov.bee.json

For Chromium:

mkdir -p ~/.config/chromium/NativeMessagingHosts
ln -sf ~/.nix-profile/etc/chromium/native-messaging-hosts/com.ruslan_osmanov.bee.json \
       ~/.config/chromium/NativeMessagingHosts/com.ruslan_osmanov.bee.json

Upgrade:

nix profile upgrade '.*bee.*' --refresh --extra-experimental-features "nix-command flakes"

The links do not need to be recreated after upgrades.

Windows

Download and run the latest .exe installer. It registers the native messaging host automatically.

During installation:

• enable adding beectl to PATH (recommended),
• keep both application and config components selected.

If SmartScreen blocks the installer, choose More info → Run anyway.

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Uninstallation

RPM

sudo rpm -e beectl

DEB

sudo apt purge beectl

Arch Linux

sudo pacman -R beectl

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Building from Source

The project uses CMake with platform-specific toolchains in CMake/Toolchain-*.cmake.

Automated Builds

GitHub Actions builds packages for supported platforms and architectures.

Builds run automatically on pushes and pull requests. They can also be triggered manually with workflow_dispatch.

Run locally with act:

act -b -j build-linux

Native Builds

Linux (amd64):

./build-linux-i386.sh -b Release

macOS:

./build-macos.sh -b Release

Windows (PowerShell):

First, install NSIS (for packaging) and ensure it is in your PATH (e.g., via Chocolatey: choco install nsis -y).

Then configure, build, and package:

cmake -B build -S . -DCPACK_GENERATOR="NSIS;ZIP" -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release -DCMAKE_MSVC_RUNTIME_LIBRARY=MultiThreaded
cmake --build build --config Release
cd build
cpack -C Release

Custom toolchain:

./build.sh /path/to/toolchain.cmake -b Release

Debug build:

./build.sh all -b Debug

Packaging

Build scripts generate CPack configuration automatically.

Create a package manually:

make package

CPack generates a platform-specific package (RPM, DEB, NSIS, etc.).

License

This project is licensed under the MIT License.

Copyright (C) 2019–2026 Ruslan Osmanov.