INSTALL(1)

NAME
install - install files

SYNOPSIS
install [-lcszN] [-o owner] [-g group] [-m mode] [-S stack] [file1] file2
install [-lcszN] [-o owner] [-g group] [-m mode] [-S stack] file ... dir
install -d [-o owner] [-g group] [-m mode] directory

DESCRIPTION
Install puts executables, manual pages, and library files in their proper place in the bin, man, and lib directories. The first two forms of the command are like cp(1) copying either one file to another or copying several files to a directory. The "-d" form is like mkdir(1) with the -p flag. File1 may be omitted if neither -l nor -c is given to change the attributes of file2.

Attributes are always copied from the source file, use the options to change. Note that the source file's attributes are changed with the destination file if they are linked. So copy the file if you change it in a way that makes it read-only. You would otherwise not be able to compile a command again.

OPTIONS

-l  Link the destination to the source file instead of copying it. This is done to either save space on a file system with both the source and the bin directories on it, or to install synonyms to a command.

-c  Copy the source file to its proper place. This option is the default if -l is not given. With -l, the file is copied if the link fails.

-s  Strip the destination file of its symbol table, if it is an executable, and if it is actually copied. It has no effect on a link or a non-executable.

-z  Compress the executable using compress(1) and prepend a header line that calls zexec(1) to decompress and execute the binary. This will on average save 40% disk space at the expense of a slower startup time. Like -s the file must be actually copied for the flag to have effect.

-N  Use gzip -N to compress the binary. You may see up to 60% space savings, but it will take much longer. N is a digit from 1 to 9 telling the compression effort, see gzip(1).

-d  Make a directory, usually to install files in a separate directory in a library. Intermediate directories in the path are created with the same attributes as the final directory. Only the attributes of the final directory are set if the directory exists.

-o owner
    Set the owner of the target. This only works if the invoker is the super-user, or if install is run setuid root and the invoker is a member of group zero. If -o is omitted then the ownership is copied from the source file, or set to the id of the invoker if a directory is made.

-g group
    Like -o, but for the group ownership of the target.

-m mode
    Mode is an octal number that specifies the mode the target should get. The default is the source file's mode with a chmod a+rX applied to it, or 755 for a new directory. Implies -o 0, or -g 0 if a file is to be set-uid or set-gid and the invoker has permission to change ownership. This trick allows a group 0 member to install third party software, even though it expects to be installed by root.

-S stack
    Sets the maximum amount of heap + stack that an executable may have when running. The argument is a C-style decimal, octal or hexadecimal number, optionally followed by the multipliers m, k, w, and b for mega (1024*1024), kilo (1024), "word" (2 or 4), and byte (1). Uppercase M is also accepted for those who know what S.I. means. The compilers use -S 32kw by default, that translates to 64kb for an 8086, and 128kb for other architectures. This option is ignored on a non-executable.

SEE ALSO
ln(1), cp(1), strip(1), compress(1), gzip(1), zexec(1), chown(8), chgrp(8), chmod(1), chmem(1), mkdir(1).

BUGS
Uppercase K, W, and B are also accepted for those who don't know what S.I. means.

AUTHOR
Kees J. Bot (kjb@cs.vu.nl)