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INSTALL(1) User Commands INSTALL(1)

NAME

install - copy files and set attributes

SYNOPSIS

install [OPTION]... [-T] SOURCE DEST
install [OPTION]... SOURCE... DIRECTORY
install [OPTION]... -t DIRECTORY SOURCE...
install [OPTION]... -d DIRECTORY...

DESCRIPTION

This install program copies files (often just compiled) into destination locations you choose. If you want to download and install a ready-to-use package on a GNU/Linux system, you should instead be using a package manager like yum(1) or apt-get(1).

In the first three forms, copy SOURCE to DEST or multiple SOURCE(s) to the existing DIRECTORY, while setting permission modes and owner/group. In the 4th form, create all components of the given DIRECTORY(ies).

Mandatory arguments to long options are mandatory for short options too.

make a backup of each existing destination file
like --backup but does not accept an argument
(ignored)
compare content of source and destination files, and if no change to content, ownership, and permissions, do not modify the destination at all
treat all arguments as directory names; create all components of the specified directories
create all leading components of DEST except the last, or all components of --target-directory, then copy SOURCE to DEST
explain how a file is copied. Implies -v
set group ownership, instead of process' current group
set permission mode (as in chmod), instead of rwxr-xr-x
set ownership (super-user only)
apply access/modification times of SOURCE files to corresponding destination files
strip symbol tables
program used to strip binaries
override the usual backup suffix
copy all SOURCE arguments into DIRECTORY
treat DEST as a normal file
print the name of each created file or directory
preserve SELinux security context
set SELinux security context of destination file and each created directory to default type
like -Z, or if CTX is specified then set the SELinux or SMACK security context to CTX
display this help and exit
output version information and exit

The backup suffix is '~', unless set with --suffix or SIMPLE_BACKUP_SUFFIX. The version control method may be selected via the --backup option or through the VERSION_CONTROL environment variable. Here are the values:

never make backups (even if --backup is given)
make numbered backups
numbered if numbered backups exist, simple otherwise
always make simple backups

AUTHOR

Written by David MacKenzie.

REPORTING BUGS

GNU coreutils online help: <https://www.gnu.org/software/coreutils/>
Report any translation bugs to <https://translationproject.org/team/>

COPYRIGHT

Copyright © 2023 Free Software Foundation, Inc. License GPLv3+: GNU GPL version 3 or later <https://gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html>.
This is free software: you are free to change and redistribute it. There is NO WARRANTY, to the extent permitted by law.

SEE ALSO

cp(1)

Full documentation <https://www.gnu.org/software/coreutils/install>
or available locally via: info '(coreutils) install invocation'

March 2024 GNU coreutils 9.4