diff --git a/doc/MacInstallation.md b/doc/MacInstallation.md
index f3470170..8d10eda5 100644
--- a/doc/MacInstallation.md
+++ b/doc/MacInstallation.md
@@ -15,9 +15,10 @@ Now install homebrew.
 
     ruby -e "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/master/install)"
 
-Then install nodejs
+Then install nodejs and frontend code
 
     brew install nodejs
+    (cd frontend && npm install && npm run build)
 
 And postgresql:
 
diff --git a/doc/UbuntuInstallation.md b/doc/UbuntuInstallation.md
index 12aacacd..4df4762f 100644
--- a/doc/UbuntuInstallation.md
+++ b/doc/UbuntuInstallation.md
@@ -50,6 +50,12 @@ Install the specific version of ruby needed this will take some time
 
     rvm install $(cat metamaps/.ruby-version)
 
+While that is running, you can open another terminal and install the npm frontend code
+
+    cd frontend
+    npm install
+    npm run build
+
 Now we also need to copy .example-env to a new file named .env. Review the
 configuration in here to see if you need any changes.
 
diff --git a/doc/WindowsInstallation.md b/doc/WindowsInstallation.md
index f7617260..7580fe7f 100644
--- a/doc/WindowsInstallation.md
+++ b/doc/WindowsInstallation.md
@@ -20,6 +20,13 @@ Now you are ready to clone the Metamaps git repository:
 The third `bundle install` command downloads and installs the rubygem
 dependencies of Metamaps.
 
+You also need to install the Javascript frontend code from the nodejs repositories:
+
+    cd frontend
+    npm install
+    npm run build
+    cd ..
+
 At this point you should be in C:\git\metamaps, or whatever equivalent
 directory you've chosen. The next step is to set up your database
 configuration. From the metamaps directory, run
diff --git a/doc/production/first-deploy.md b/doc/production/first-deploy.md
index b46f9c47..8c350a08 100644
--- a/doc/production/first-deploy.md
+++ b/doc/production/first-deploy.md
@@ -55,12 +55,23 @@ Run this in the metamaps directory, still as metamaps:
     # Set up environment variables in your current session
     source .env
     export RAILS_ENV=production
+    export NODE_ENV=production
 
     # create, load schema, seed
     rake db:setup
 
-Now set up nginx - config stored on Linode, including relevant environment 
-variables.
+#### Install js frontend code
+
+    sudo aptitude install nodejs npm
+    sudo ln -s /usr/bin/nodejs /usr/bin/node
+    cd frontend
+    npm install
+    npm run build
+
+#### Nginx and SSL
+
+Now set up nginx - config stored on Linode, including relevant 
+environment variables.
 
 Get an SSL certificate and encrypt it for the realtime video.
 
@@ -75,8 +86,6 @@ server to see what problems show up:
 
 #### Realtime server:
 
-    sudo aptitude install nodejs npm
-    sudo ln -s /usr/bin/nodejs /usr/bin/node
     sudo npm install -g forever
     (crontab -u metamaps -l 2>/dev/null; echo "@reboot $(which forever) --append -l /home/metamaps/logs/forever.realtime.log start /home/metamaps/metamaps/realtime/realtime-server.js") | crontab -u metamaps -
 
diff --git a/doc/production/pull-changes.md b/doc/production/pull-changes.md
index 1586e6e0..9d58ce57 100644
--- a/doc/production/pull-changes.md
+++ b/doc/production/pull-changes.md
@@ -19,9 +19,11 @@ OR
 Now that you have the code, run these commands:
 
     export RAILS_ENV=production
+    export NODE_ENV=production
     source .env
 
     bundle install
+    (cd frontend && npm install && npm run build)
     rake db:migrate
     rake assets:precompile
     rake perms:fix