install

Updated

July 31, 2026

Overview

install copies files with explicit mode/owner and optional directory creation. Preferred in Makefiles and packaging over cp + chmod + mkdir -p sequences.

Syntax

install [options] SOURCE DEST
install [options] SOURCE... DIRECTORY
install -d [options] DIRECTORY...

Common Options

Option Description
-d Create directories
-m MODE Set permission mode (e.g. 755)
-o owner -g group Set ownership (requires rights)
-t DIR Target directory
-D Create leading dirs for DEST
-b / -S Backup existing DEST
-v Verbose

Key Use Cases

  1. Install binaries to /usr/local/bin
  2. Place config with correct mode
  3. Create directory trees with mode
  4. Reproducible packaging steps

Examples with Explanations

Install a script

sudo install -m 755 bin/tool /usr/local/bin/tool

Atomic-ish copy with mode in one step.

Create a system directory

sudo install -d -m 755 /etc/myapp

Directory with known permissions.

Config with ownership

sudo install -m 640 -o root -g adm myapp.conf /etc/myapp/myapp.conf

Drop privileges correctly for group-readable config.

Leading path create

install -D -m 644 share/app.desktop ~/.local/share/applications/app.desktop

-D makes parent dirs as needed.