(If you have been using Freebase Gridworks 1.1, here are the upgrading instructions.)

Google Refine is a desktop application in that you download it, install it, and run it on your own computer. However, unlike most other desktop applications, it runs as a small web server on your own computer and you point your web browser at that web server in order to use Refine. So, think of Refine as a personal and private web application.

Release Version

1. Download Google Refine here.
2. Install it as detailed below for your operation system.
3. As long as Google Refine is running, you can point your browser at http://127.0.0.1:3333/ to use it, and you can even use it in several browser tabs and windows.

Development Version (Advanced users who can build from source)

If you want the latest and greatest version, see How to get the development version.

Windows

Install: Once you have downloaded the .zip file, uncompress it into a folder wherever you want (such as in C:\Google-Refine).

Run: In that folder, run the .exe file in that folder. You should see the Command window in which Google Refine runs. By default, the Command window has a black background and text in monospace font in it.

Shut down: When you need to shut down Google Refine, switch to that Command window, and press Ctrl-C. Wait until there's a message that says the shutdown is complete. That window might close automatically, or you can close it yourself. If you get asked, "Terminate all batch processes? Y/N", just press Y.

Mac OSX

Install: once you have downloaded the .dmg file, open it, and drag the Google Refine icon into the Applications folder icon (just like you would normally install Mac applications).

Run: to launch Google Refine, go to the Applications folder and double click the Google Refine app. You'll see the Google Refine app appear in your dock.

Shut down: You can switch to the Google Refine app (clicking on its icon in the dock) and invoke its Quit command.

Linux

Install / Run: Once you have downloaded the tar.gz file, open a shell and type

  tar xzf google-refine.tar.gz
  cd google-refine
  ./refine

this will start Google Refine and open your browser to its starting page.

Shut down: Press Ctrl-C in the shell.

Running & Configuration

By default (and for security reasons) Refine only listens to TCP requests coming from localhost (127.0.0.1). If you want to respond to TCP requests coming to any IP address the machine has, run refine like this from the command line

./refine -i 0.0.0.0