# Build From Source
URL: https://usememos.com/docs/deploy/development

Build from source when you deploy a fork, a custom patch, or a build pinned to an exact revision. If you want to work on the Memos codebase itself, start with the [Development](/docs/development) section instead — this page only covers turning a source build into a deployment.

## Produce a release build [#produce-a-release-build]

Follow [Setup](/docs/development/setup) for the toolchain, then [Building](/docs/development/building) for the build commands. A release build embeds the frontend assets into a single binary, so the result deploys exactly like a downloaded release.

For deployments, always build from a tagged or pinned revision rather than `main`:

```bash
git clone https://github.com/usememos/memos.git
cd memos
git checkout v0.29.1  # pin the version you intend to run
```

## Run the result as a deployment [#run-the-result-as-a-deployment]

The self-built binary behaves like the official release binary. Memos listens on `http://localhost:8081` by default.

Follow the [Binary](/docs/deploy/binary) guide for the production concerns:

* process supervision (systemd or similar)
* data directory ownership and permissions
* reverse proxy and HTTPS

## Before production use [#before-production-use]

* set explicit environment variables for instance URL and database
* run a smoke test against the new binary before switching traffic
* keep a backup before deploying a new build — see [Backup & Restore](/docs/operations/backup-restore)