UNIX for Dummies Questions & Answers

Hi,

I have a series of BASH shell scripts that I would like to package and distribute. I would like to make it as easy as possible users to install the package on their system.

The only tasks that need to be performed for installation are 1) unzip the package, 2) modify the user's ~/.bashrc config file, and 3) make the scripts executable.

I have written an install script that will accomplish steps 2 and 3. However, users still have to unzip the package, make the install script executable, and execute the install script. This seems a bit sloppy to me.

Any tips regarding the installation of scripts would be appreciated. Of course I am a fan this process on say OS X, where you download a package, double click on it, and then are led through the installation process. I understand however that I am more limited regarding bash.

My ultimate solution would involve the user issuing just 1 command, which would accomplish steps 1 - 3 above. However, any advice about how to distribute scripts that maintain file permissions (ie. executable) would be welcomed too.

Thanks!

Mike

Make it a tar, cpio, or other kind of UNIX archive instead of a zip. Permissions are preserved in those, including executable bits.

Include an installer script, like so:

Code:

#!/bin/bash

if grep -q "###APPNAME###" ~/.bashrc
then
        echo "Application is already installed in your bashrc"
        exit 1
fi

cat >>~/.bashrc <<EOF
/path/to/application ###APPNAME###
EOF

echo "Application now installed in your bashrc!"

Have users run it from shell. Two steps instead of one, to be sure, but sysadmins will thank you for a package which doesn't mangle login scripts unless asked.