Building the DNA Viewer

Follow these instructions to create a single executable file that you can share with others.

Requesting Data

1. Request your DNA data
   • Go to your Ancestry Settings
   • Click on your name
   • Scroll to the bottom
   • Click on "Download DNA data"
   • Click through requesting the data
2. Wait for the email from Ancestry
   • Wait about 30 minutes
   • Click the link in the email
   • Click "Download DNA data"
3. Extract the zip file
4. Run the DNAViewer.exe program

Prerequisites

• Go 1.16 or later installed

Step 1: Set Up Your Project Structure

Create the following project structure:

dnaviewer/
├── main.go              # Main server file
├── go.mod               # Go module file
├── model/               # DNA data models
│   └── dna.go           
├── parser/              # File parser
│   └── parser.go        
├── search/              # Search algorithms
│   └── search.go        
└── web/                 # Web interface files (embedded in the executable)
    ├── index.html       # HTML interface
    ├── style.css        # CSS styling
    └── app.js           # JavaScript code

Step 2: Update Dependencies

Update your go.mod file:

go mod init github.com/yourusername/dnaviewer
go mod tidy

Step 3: Build the Executable

Run the following command to build a single executable file:

For Windows

go build -ldflags="-s -w -H=windowsgui" -o DNAViewer.exe

The flags explained:

• -s -w: Reduces the binary size by removing debug information
• -H=windowsgui: Hides the terminal window when running the application

To compile for Windows on an alternate system:

GOOS=windows GOARCH=amd64 go build -ldflags="-s -w" -o DNAViewer.exe

For MacOS

GOOS=darwin GOARCH=amd64 go build -ldflags="-s -w" -o DNAViewer

For Linux

GOOS=linux GOARCH=amd64 go build -ldflags="-s -w" -o DNAViewer

Step 4: Test the Executable

Run the executable by double-clicking it. It should:

1. Start a local web server
2. Automatically open your default browser
3. Display the DNA Viewer interface

Step 5: Distribution

You can now distribute the single executable file (DNAViewer.exe for Windows) to others. When they run it:

• No installation is required
• The application will open in their default browser
• All functionality works without any additional dependencies

Important Notes

1. Security Settings: On Windows, the executable might trigger SmartScreen on first run. The recipient may need to click "More info" and "Run anyway".

2. Firewall Access: The application needs to access localhost, which most firewalls allow by default. However, if users encounter issues, they may need to allow the application through their firewall.

3. File Size: The executable will be 10-15 MB due to the embedded web resources and Go runtime.

4. Browser Requirement: A modern web browser is required (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or Safari).