Windows Deployment Plan

Overview

NornicDB on Windows supports multiple distribution methods:

MSI Installer + Windows Service - Enterprise/end-user, GUI installation
Chocolatey - Developer-focused, command-line installation
winget - Microsoft's official package manager
Portable ZIP - No installation required

All methods can optionally install NornicDB as a Windows Service that runs in the background.

Build Variants

NornicDB offers 5 Windows build variants to match different deployment needs:

Variant	Binary	Size	Embeddings	GPU	Use Case
`cpu`	`nornicdb-cpu.exe`	~15MB	None	No	Smallest, use external embedding service
`cpu-localllm`	`nornicdb-cpu-localllm.exe`	~25MB	BYOM	No	Resource-constrained, bring own model
`cpu-bge`	`nornicdb-cpu-bge.exe`	~425MB	Built-in	No	Resource-constrained, ready to run
`cuda`	`nornicdb-cuda.exe`	~30MB	BYOM	Yes	GPU-accelerated, bring own model
`cuda-bge`	`nornicdb-cuda-bge.exe`	~430MB	Built-in	Yes	GPU-accelerated, ready to run

BYOM = Bring Your Own Model (place .gguf file in models/ directory)

Quick Build Guide

All builds use build.bat on Windows:

batch

REM === FIRST TIME SETUP ===
REM Download pre-built llama.cpp libraries (for localllm/cuda variants)
build.bat download-libs

REM Download BGE model (for bge variants, ~400MB)
build.bat download-model

REM === BUILD VARIANTS ===
REM CPU-only (smallest, no embeddings)
build.bat cpu

REM CPU + local embeddings (bring your own model)
build.bat cpu-localllm

REM CPU + local embeddings + BGE model embedded
build.bat cpu-bge

REM CUDA + local embeddings (requires NVIDIA GPU)
build.bat cuda

REM CUDA + local embeddings + BGE model embedded  
build.bat cuda-bge

REM Build headless variant (no web UI)
build.bat cuda headless

REM Build ALL variants
build.bat all

Prerequisites by Variant

Variant	Go	llama.cpp libs	CUDA Toolkit	BGE Model
`cpu`	Yes	No	No	No
`cpu-localllm`	Yes	Yes	No	No
`cpu-bge`	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
`cuda`	Yes	✅ (CUDA)	Yes	No
`cuda-bge`	Yes	✅ (CUDA)	Yes	Yes

Pre-Built llama.cpp Libraries

For fast builds, use pre-built llama.cpp libraries instead of compiling from source (~15 min saved).

Option 1: Download Pre-Built (Recommended)

batch

build.bat download-libs

Option 2: Build Locally (requires VS2022 + CUDA)

powershell

# Build CUDA-enabled llama.cpp libraries
.\scripts\build-llama-cuda.ps1

# Output: lib\llama\libllama_windows_amd64.lib

Pre-Built Library Artifacts

Available from GitHub Releases:

URL: timothyswt/nornicdb/releases/download/libs-v1/
Files: libllama_windows_amd64.lib, headers

Method 1: MSI Installer (Recommended)

User Experience

Download NornicDB-1.0.0.msi from releases
Double-click to install
Follow installation wizard
Service starts automatically
Access at http://localhost:7474

Implementation

1. Directory Structure

packaging/windows/
├── wix/
│   ├── Product.wxs           # Main WiX definition
│   ├── Service.wxs           # Windows Service config
│   └── UI.wxs                # Installer UI
├── service/
│   ├── nornicdb-service.xml  # WinSW configuration
│   └── WinSW.exe             # Service wrapper
├── scripts/
│   ├── install.ps1           # Post-install script
│   └── uninstall.ps1         # Pre-uninstall script
└── build-msi.ps1             # Build script

2. WiX Installer Definition (`Product.wxs`)

xml

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<Wix xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/wix/2006/wi">
    <Product Id="*" 
             Name="NornicDB" 
             Language="1033" 
             Version="1.0.0.0" 
             Manufacturer="NornicDB" 
             UpgradeCode="YOUR-GUID-HERE">
        
        <Package InstallerVersion="200" 
                 Compressed="yes" 
                 InstallScope="perMachine" />

        <MajorUpgrade DowngradeErrorMessage="A newer version is already installed." />
        <MediaTemplate EmbedCab="yes" />

        <Feature Id="ProductFeature" Title="NornicDB" Level="1">
            <ComponentGroupRef Id="ProductComponents" />
            <ComponentGroupRef Id="ServiceComponents" />
        </Feature>

        <!-- Properties -->
        <Property Id="WIXUI_INSTALLDIR" Value="INSTALLFOLDER" />
        <Property Id="INSTALL_SERVICE" Value="1" />
        
        <!-- Custom Actions -->
        <CustomAction Id="InstallService" 
                      Directory="INSTALLFOLDER"
                      ExeCommand="[INSTALLFOLDER]nornicdb-service.exe install"
                      Execute="deferred"
                      Impersonate="no"
                      Return="check" />
                      
        <CustomAction Id="StartService" 
                      Directory="INSTALLFOLDER"
                      ExeCommand="[INSTALLFOLDER]nornicdb-service.exe start"
                      Execute="deferred"
                      Impersonate="no"
                      Return="ignore" />
                      
        <CustomAction Id="StopService" 
                      Directory="INSTALLFOLDER"
                      ExeCommand="[INSTALLFOLDER]nornicdb-service.exe stop"
                      Execute="deferred"
                      Impersonate="no"
                      Return="ignore" />
                      
        <CustomAction Id="UninstallService" 
                      Directory="INSTALLFOLDER"
                      ExeCommand="[INSTALLFOLDER]nornicdb-service.exe uninstall"
                      Execute="deferred"
                      Impersonate="no"
                      Return="ignore" />

        <InstallExecuteSequence>
            <Custom Action="StopService" Before="InstallFiles">
                REMOVE="ALL"
            </Custom>
            <Custom Action="UninstallService" After="StopService">
                REMOVE="ALL"
            </Custom>
            <Custom Action="InstallService" After="InstallFiles">
                NOT REMOVE AND INSTALL_SERVICE
            </Custom>
            <Custom Action="StartService" After="InstallService">
                NOT REMOVE AND INSTALL_SERVICE
            </Custom>
        </InstallExecuteSequence>
    </Product>

    <Fragment>
        <Directory Id="TARGETDIR" Name="SourceDir">
            <Directory Id="ProgramFiles64Folder">
                <Directory Id="INSTALLFOLDER" Name="NornicDB">
                    <Directory Id="DataFolder" Name="data" />
                    <Directory Id="LogFolder" Name="logs" />
                </Directory>
            </Directory>
            <Directory Id="ProgramMenuFolder">
                <Directory Id="ApplicationProgramsFolder" Name="NornicDB" />
            </Directory>
        </Directory>
    </Fragment>

    <Fragment>
        <ComponentGroup Id="ProductComponents" Directory="INSTALLFOLDER">
            <Component Id="MainExecutable" Guid="YOUR-GUID-1">
                <File Id="NornicDBExe" 
                      Source="$(var.BuildDir)\nornicdb.exe" 
                      KeyPath="yes" />
                      
                <!-- Add to PATH -->
                <Environment Id="PATH" 
                             Name="PATH" 
                             Value="[INSTALLFOLDER]" 
                             Permanent="no" 
                             Part="last" 
                             Action="set" 
                             System="yes" />
            </Component>
            
            <Component Id="ServiceWrapper" Guid="YOUR-GUID-2">
                <File Id="ServiceExe" 
                      Source="$(var.BuildDir)\nornicdb-service.exe" />
                <File Id="ServiceConfig" 
                      Source="$(var.BuildDir)\nornicdb-service.xml" />
            </Component>
        </ComponentGroup>
        
        <ComponentGroup Id="ServiceComponents" Directory="INSTALLFOLDER">
            <!-- Data directory -->
            <Component Id="DataDir" Guid="YOUR-GUID-3">
                <CreateFolder Directory="DataFolder">
                    <Permission User="SYSTEM" GenericAll="yes" />
                    <Permission User="Administrators" GenericAll="yes" />
                </CreateFolder>
            </Component>
            
            <!-- Log directory -->
            <Component Id="LogDir" Guid="YOUR-GUID-4">
                <CreateFolder Directory="LogFolder">
                    <Permission User="SYSTEM" GenericAll="yes" />
                    <Permission User="Administrators" GenericAll="yes" />
                </CreateFolder>
            </Component>
        </ComponentGroup>
    </Fragment>
</Wix>

3. WinSW Service Configuration (`nornicdb-service.xml`)

xml

<service>
    <id>NornicDB</id>
    <name>NornicDB Graph Database</name>
    <description>Lightweight graph database with vector search and AI memory</description>
    <executable>%BASE%\nornicdb.exe</executable>
    <arguments>serve --data-dir "%BASE%\data"</arguments>
    
    <!-- Logging -->
    <log mode="roll-by-size">
        <sizeThreshold>10240</sizeThreshold>
        <keepFiles>8</keepFiles>
    </log>
    <logpath>%BASE%\logs</logpath>
    
    <!-- Service behavior -->
    <startmode>Automatic</startmode>
    <delayedAutoStart>true</delayedAutoStart>
    
    <!-- Recovery -->
    <onfailure action="restart" delay="10 sec"/>
    <onfailure action="restart" delay="20 sec"/>
    <onfailure action="restart" delay="30 sec"/>
    <resetfailure>1 hour</resetfailure>
    
    <!-- Environment -->
    <env name="NORNICDB_LOG_LEVEL" value="info"/>
    
    <!-- Run as LocalService for security -->
    <serviceaccount>
        <username>LocalService</username>
    </serviceaccount>
    
    <!-- Dependencies -->
    <depend>Tcpip</depend>
</service>

4. Build Script (`build-msi.ps1`)

powershell

param(
    [string]$Version = "1.0.0"
)

$ErrorActionPreference = "Stop"

Write-Host "Building NornicDB MSI v$Version" -ForegroundColor Cyan

# Paths
$BuildDir = "build\windows"
$DistDir = "dist"
$WixDir = "packaging\windows\wix"

# Create build directory
New-Item -ItemType Directory -Force -Path $BuildDir | Out-Null
New-Item -ItemType Directory -Force -Path $DistDir | Out-Null

# Build Windows binary (cross-compile from Mac/Linux or native)
Write-Host "Building nornicdb.exe..."
$env:GOOS = "windows"
$env:GOARCH = "amd64"
$env:CGO_ENABLED = "0"
go build -o "$BuildDir\nornicdb.exe" .\cmd\nornicdb

# Download WinSW
$WinSWUrl = "https://github.com/winsw/winsw/releases/download/v2.12.0/WinSW-x64.exe"
if (-not (Test-Path "$BuildDir\nornicdb-service.exe")) {
    Write-Host "Downloading WinSW..."
    Invoke-WebRequest -Uri $WinSWUrl -OutFile "$BuildDir\nornicdb-service.exe"
}

# Copy service config
Copy-Item "packaging\windows\service\nornicdb-service.xml" $BuildDir

# Build MSI with WiX
Write-Host "Building MSI installer..."
$WixBin = "C:\Program Files (x86)\WiX Toolset v3.11\bin"

& "$WixBin\candle.exe" `
    -dBuildDir="$BuildDir" `
    -dVersion="$Version" `
    -out "$BuildDir\Product.wixobj" `
    "$WixDir\Product.wxs"

& "$WixBin\light.exe" `
    -ext WixUIExtension `
    -cultures:en-us `
    -out "$DistDir\NornicDB-$Version.msi" `
    "$BuildDir\Product.wixobj"

Write-Host "✓ Built: $DistDir\NornicDB-$Version.msi" -ForegroundColor Green

Method 2: Chocolatey

User Experience

powershell

# Install
choco install nornicdb

# Start service
Start-Service NornicDB

# Check status
Get-Service NornicDB

# Uninstall
choco uninstall nornicdb

Implementation

Package Structure

chocolatey/
├── nornicdb.nuspec
├── tools/
│   ├── chocolateyinstall.ps1
│   ├── chocolateyuninstall.ps1
│   └── LICENSE.txt
└── legal/
    └── VERIFICATION.txt

`nornicdb.nuspec`

xml

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<package xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/packaging/2015/06/nuspec.xsd">
  <metadata>
    <id>nornicdb</id>
    <version>1.0.0</version>
    <title>NornicDB</title>
    <authors>NornicDB Team</authors>
    <owners>timothyswt</owners>
    <licenseUrl>https://github.com/timothyswt/nornicdb/blob/main/LICENSE</licenseUrl>
    <projectUrl>https://github.com/timothyswt/nornicdb</projectUrl>
    <iconUrl>https://raw.githubusercontent.com/timothyswt/nornicdb/main/icon.png</iconUrl>
    <requireLicenseAcceptance>false</requireLicenseAcceptance>
    <description>Lightweight graph database with vector search and AI memory</description>
    <summary>A Neo4j-compatible graph database optimized for AI/LLM memory</summary>
    <tags>database graph neo4j vector-search ai llm</tags>
    <releaseNotes>Initial release</releaseNotes>
  </metadata>
  <files>
    <file src="tools\**" target="tools" />
  </files>
</package>

`chocolateyinstall.ps1`

powershell

$ErrorActionPreference = 'Stop'

$packageName = 'nornicdb'
$toolsDir = "$(Split-Path -Parent $MyInvocation.MyCommand.Definition)"
$url64 = 'https://github.com/timothyswt/nornicdb/releases/download/v1.0.0/nornicdb-windows-amd64.zip'
$checksum64 = 'PLACEHOLDER_SHA256'

# Install to Program Files
$installDir = Join-Path $env:ProgramFiles 'NornicDB'

Install-ChocolateyZipPackage `
    -PackageName $packageName `
    -Url64bit $url64 `
    -Checksum64 $checksum64 `
    -ChecksumType64 'sha256' `
    -UnzipLocation $installDir

# Add to PATH
Install-ChocolateyPath -PathToInstall $installDir -PathType 'Machine'

# Install as Windows Service
$serviceName = 'NornicDB'
$serviceExe = Join-Path $installDir 'nornicdb.exe'

# Download and configure WinSW
# ... (similar to MSI approach)

Write-Host "NornicDB installed successfully!" -ForegroundColor Green
Write-Host "Start the service with: Start-Service NornicDB"

Method 3: winget

User Experience

powershell

winget install NornicDB.NornicDB

Implementation

Submit a PR to microsoft/winget-pkgs:

yaml

# manifests/n/NornicDB/NornicDB/1.0.0/NornicDB.NornicDB.yaml
PackageIdentifier: NornicDB.NornicDB
PackageVersion: 1.0.0
PackageName: NornicDB
Publisher: NornicDB
License: MIT
ShortDescription: Lightweight graph database with vector search
Installers:
  - Architecture: x64
    InstallerType: msi
    InstallerUrl: https://github.com/timothyswt/nornicdb/releases/download/v1.0.0/NornicDB-1.0.0.msi
    InstallerSha256: PLACEHOLDER
ManifestType: singleton
ManifestVersion: 1.0.0

Service Management

After installation, users can manage the service:

powershell

# PowerShell commands
Start-Service NornicDB
Stop-Service NornicDB
Restart-Service NornicDB
Get-Service NornicDB

# Command Prompt
net start NornicDB
net stop NornicDB

# Service Control (sc)
sc query NornicDB
sc start NornicDB
sc stop NornicDB

Or use the Services GUI: services.msc

Data Locations

Type	Path
Binary	`C:\Program Files\NornicDB\nornicdb.exe`
Data	`C:\Program Files\NornicDB\data\`
Logs	`C:\Program Files\NornicDB\logs\`
Config	`C:\ProgramData\NornicDB\config.yaml` (optional)
Service	Windows Service: "NornicDB"

Firewall Configuration

The installer should add a firewall rule:

powershell

# Add during installation
New-NetFirewallRule `
    -DisplayName "NornicDB" `
    -Direction Inbound `
    -Protocol TCP `
    -LocalPort 7474,7687 `
    -Action Allow `
    -Program "C:\Program Files\NornicDB\nornicdb.exe"

# Remove during uninstallation
Remove-NetFirewallRule -DisplayName "NornicDB"

Code Signing

For trusted installation without warnings:

Obtain a code signing certificate (DigiCert, Sectigo, etc.)
Sign the executable and MSI:

powershell

# Sign executable
signtool sign /fd SHA256 /tr http://timestamp.digicert.com /td SHA256 `
    /f certificate.pfx /p PASSWORD nornicdb.exe

# Sign MSI
signtool sign /fd SHA256 /tr http://timestamp.digicert.com /td SHA256 `
    /f certificate.pfx /p PASSWORD NornicDB.msi

Windows Deployment Plan ​

Overview ​

Build Variants ​

Quick Build Guide ​

Prerequisites by Variant ​

Pre-Built llama.cpp Libraries ​

Option 1: Download Pre-Built (Recommended) ​

Option 2: Build Locally (requires VS2022 + CUDA) ​

Pre-Built Library Artifacts ​

Method 1: MSI Installer (Recommended) ​

User Experience ​

Implementation ​

1. Directory Structure ​

2. WiX Installer Definition (Product.wxs) ​

3. WinSW Service Configuration (nornicdb-service.xml) ​

4. Build Script (build-msi.ps1) ​

Method 2: Chocolatey ​

User Experience ​

Implementation ​

Package Structure ​

nornicdb.nuspec ​

chocolateyinstall.ps1 ​

Method 3: winget ​

User Experience ​

Implementation ​

Service Management ​

Data Locations ​

Firewall Configuration ​

Code Signing ​

Implementation Checklist ​

Windows Deployment Plan

Overview

Build Variants

Quick Build Guide

Prerequisites by Variant

Pre-Built llama.cpp Libraries

Option 1: Download Pre-Built (Recommended)

Option 2: Build Locally (requires VS2022 + CUDA)

Pre-Built Library Artifacts

Method 1: MSI Installer (Recommended)

User Experience

Implementation

1. Directory Structure

2. WiX Installer Definition (`Product.wxs`)

3. WinSW Service Configuration (`nornicdb-service.xml`)

4. Build Script (`build-msi.ps1`)

Method 2: Chocolatey

User Experience

Implementation

Package Structure

`nornicdb.nuspec`

`chocolateyinstall.ps1`

Method 3: winget

User Experience

Implementation

Service Management

Data Locations

Firewall Configuration

Code Signing

Implementation Checklist