# How to build VTK for Linux if you are a new user

**URL:** https://discourse.vtk.org/t/how-to-build-vtk-for-linux-if-you-are-a-new-user/8256
**Category:** Support
**Created:** [April 10, 2022, 11:10pm UTC](https://discourse.vtk.org/t/how-to-build-vtk-for-linux-if-you-are-a-new-user/8256 "2022-04-10T23:10:06Z")
**Posts on this page:** 4
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![amaclean](https://discourse.vtk.org/user_avatar/discourse.vtk.org/amaclean/32/224_2.png) [@amaclean](https://discourse.vtk.org/u/amaclean)
#### Post date: [April 10, 2022, 11:10pm UTC](https://discourse.vtk.org/t/how-to-build-vtk-for-linux-if-you-are-a-new-user/8256/1 "2022-04-10T23:10:06Z")

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These instructions will will lead you step by step through the process of setting up VTK in your home folder. They were developed on a recent version of Kubuntu (21.10) so you may need to modify parts of it for your own particular implementation.

The directory structure in your home folder will be:

```nohighlight
Kitware
|-- Kitware
  |-- build
  |-- src
  |-- test

```

There will be a `VTK` folder in each of `build`, `src`, `test`. The advantage of this structure is a clear functional separation which also allows adding future sources and builds such as for **ParaView** and the **vtk-examples** in their own sub-folders.

It is hoped that this will be a good foundation for you to build on when you develop your own applications.

Here are the instructions:  
[BuildingVTKforLinux.md](https://discourse.vtk.org/uploads/short-url/bTF6Psw999T3A74Wqa6Vxui3sZe.md) (5.5 KB)

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### Author: ![mwestphal](https://discourse.vtk.org/user_avatar/discourse.vtk.org/mwestphal/32/19_2.png) [@mwestphal](https://discourse.vtk.org/u/mwestphal)
#### Post date: [April 11, 2022, 7:46am UTC](https://discourse.vtk.org/t/how-to-build-vtk-for-linux-if-you-are-a-new-user/8256/2 "2022-04-11T07:46:05Z")

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Hi @amaclean

Great guide !

I think this work should be included into the build.md of VTK that you can find here:  
[https://gitlab.kitware.com/vtk/vtk/-/blob/master/Documentation/dev/build.md](https://gitlab.kitware.com/vtk/vtk/-/blob/master/Documentation/dev/build.md)

One thing I’ve done in ParaView is to have a “Getting Started Guide” at the begining, similar to your guide, and the complete guide below:

[https://gitlab.kitware.com/paraview/paraview/-/blob/master/Documentation/dev/build.md](https://gitlab.kitware.com/paraview/paraview/-/blob/master/Documentation/dev/build.md)

I think a similar approach could be added into the VTK build guide. Would you like to try and integrate that in VTK ?

Best,

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### Author: ![amaclean](https://discourse.vtk.org/user_avatar/discourse.vtk.org/amaclean/32/224_2.png) [@amaclean](https://discourse.vtk.org/u/amaclean)
#### Post date: [April 11, 2022, 11:07am UTC](https://discourse.vtk.org/t/how-to-build-vtk-for-linux-if-you-are-a-new-user/8256/3 "2022-04-11T11:07:04Z")

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@mwestphal thanks. I actually refer to the VTK build.md so I’ll look at the ParaView one and see how to integrate it.

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### Author: ![amaclean](https://discourse.vtk.org/user_avatar/discourse.vtk.org/amaclean/32/224_2.png) [@amaclean](https://discourse.vtk.org/u/amaclean)
#### Post date: [April 13, 2022, 12:51am UTC](https://discourse.vtk.org/t/how-to-build-vtk-for-linux-if-you-are-a-new-user/8256/4 "2022-04-13T00:51:58Z")

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Please see [https://gitlab.kitware.com/vtk/vtk/-/merge\_requests/9070](https://gitlab.kitware.com/vtk/vtk/-/merge_requests/9070)