# How to compile a vala app?

**URL:** <https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/how-to-compile-a-vala-app/1553>\
**Category:** Development\
**Created:** [February 10, 2019, 9:24am UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/how-to-compile-a-vala-app/1553 "2019-02-10T09:24:01Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![costales](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/costales/32/314_2.png) [@costales](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/costales)\
**Post date:** [February 10, 2019, 9:24am UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/how-to-compile-a-vala-app/1553/1 "2019-02-10T09:24:02Z")

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Hi,

I’m trying to compile [this vala file](https://github.com/solus-project/budgie-desktop/blob/master/src/panel/settings/settings_wm.vala), but I’m getting this error:

```
costales@T410:~/Desktop/budgie-desktop-master/src/panel/settings$ valac --pkg gtk+-3.0 settings_wm.vala
settings_wm.vala:17.28-17.46: error: The type name `Budgie.SettingsPage' could not be found
public class WindowsPage : Budgie.SettingsPage {
                           ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Compilation failed: 1 error(s), 0 warning(s)
costales@T410:~/Desktop/budgie-desktop-master/src/panel/settings$ 

```

I’m new with vala. Any help please? Thanks in advance!

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**Author:** ![fossfreedom](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/fossfreedom/32/1405_2.png) [@fossfreedom](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/fossfreedom)\
**Post date:** [February 10, 2019, 9:35am UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/how-to-compile-a-vala-app/1553/2 "2019-02-10T09:35:57Z")

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Compiling individual budgie files will be hard work since there are so many dependencies and file interdependencies involved.

Its easier to compile the desktop as a project and make changes within the project structure

> [@How to hack the budgie desktop on ubuntu](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/how-to-hack-the-budgie-desktop-on-ubuntu/574):
>
> Often the hardest part for budding new developers is how to start. So here are a few notes I made on how to start changing code in budgie-desktop itself. Make sure your package management system is up-to-date and install the dev scripts sudo apt update sudo apt install devscripts now run to enable the source code files from the repo: software-properties-gtk Click on the “Source code” checkbox Click Close, Reload Install all the development package dependencies: sudo apt build-dep budgie…

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![costales](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/costales/32/314_2.png) [@costales](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/costales)\
**Post date:** [February 10, 2019, 10:02am UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/how-to-compile-a-vala-app/1553/3 "2019-02-10T10:02:38Z")

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Awesome tuto @fossfreedom ! Thanks!!