bash-install

Install a tool or dependency using the appropriate package manager, with retry logic, fallback strategies, and post-install verification.

When to Use

• Installing a CLI tool, library, or runtime on a developer machine or CI environment
• Setting up project dependencies that are not managed by a package file
• Recovering from a failed or partial installation
• Scripting repeatable environment setup

Workflow

1. Detect — Identify OS and available package managers (Homebrew, apt, pip, npm, etc.)
2. Plan — Select primary install method and define 1-2 fallback strategies
3. Install — Execute installation with retry (up to 3 attempts on transient failures)
4. Verify — Run post-install check: which {tool}, {tool} --version, or smoke test
5. Report — Output installation result, installed version, and verification status

Rules

• Always verify after install — do not assume success from exit code alone
• Retry up to 3 times on network or lock errors before failing
• Fall back to alternative install method if primary fails after retries
• Print clear status lines: installing, retrying, failed, success
• Never silently continue after a failed verification

Output Format

Installation report: tool name, method used, version installed, verification result (pass/fail), and any fallback steps taken.

Reference Files

• references/install-strategies.md — retry patterns, fallback chains, verification commands

Load references on demand via read_skill_file("bash-install", "references/{file}").