diff --git a/scripts/install.sh b/scripts/install.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..3643e8c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/install.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,72 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+#
+# gelectron install script
+#
+# Builds the native gelectron binary and installs it plus the JS compat
+# layer so `gelectron <app>` works from anywhere.
+#
+# Install layout (binary looks up compat/ next to itself):
+#   <PREFIX>/gelectron          native binary
+#   <PREFIX>/compat/*.js        Electron API compat layer
+#
+# Usage:
+#   ./scripts/install.sh                install to ~/.local/bin
+#   PREFIX=~/bin ./scripts/install.sh   install elsewhere
+#   ./scripts/install.sh --uninstall    remove the installed files
+#
+
+set -euo pipefail
+
+REPO_DIR="$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")/.." && pwd)"
+PREFIX="${PREFIX:-$HOME/.local/bin}"
+
+if [[ "${1:-}" == "--uninstall" ]]; then
+  rm -f "$PREFIX/gelectron"
+  rm -rf "$PREFIX/compat"
+  echo "Removed $PREFIX/gelectron and $PREFIX/compat"
+  exit 0
+fi
+
+if ! command -v cargo >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+  echo "error: cargo not found. Install Rust first: https://rustup.rs/" >&2
+  exit 1
+fi
+
+if ! command -v node >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+  echo "error: node not found. Gelectron needs Node.js to run apps." >&2
+  exit 1
+fi
+
+echo "==> Building gelectron (release)..."
+cargo build --release -p gelectron
+BIN="$REPO_DIR/target/release/gelectron"
+if [[ ! -f "$BIN" ]]; then
+  echo "error: build finished but $BIN is missing" >&2
+  exit 1
+fi
+
+mkdir -p "$PREFIX/compat"
+
+echo "==> Installing binary to $PREFIX/gelectron"
+install -m 755 "$BIN" "$PREFIX/gelectron"
+
+echo "==> Installing compat layer to $PREFIX/compat"
+install -m 644 "$REPO_DIR"/src/electron/*.js "$PREFIX/compat/"
+
+echo "==> Done."
+echo
+
+if ! command -v gelectron >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+  echo "warning: $PREFIX is not on your PATH."
+  case "$SHELL" in
+    *zsh)  RC="$HOME/.zshrc" ;;
+    *bash) RC="$HOME/.bashrc" ;;
+    *)     RC="$HOME/.profile" ;;
+  esac
+  echo "Add this line to $RC:"
+  echo "  export PATH=\"$PREFIX:\$PATH\""
+else
+  echo "gelectron is on your PATH."
+fi
+
+"$PREFIX/gelectron" --version 2>/dev/null || echo "Run: gelectron <path-to-app>"