---
name: "dh_auto_install"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "debhelper"
version: "13.24.2"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/dh_auto_install"
---

# dh\_auto\_install(1)

automatically runs make install or similar

## NAME

dh\_auto\_install - automatically runs make install or similar

## SYNOPSIS

**dh\_auto\_install** \[*build system options*\] \[*debhelper options*\] \[**--** *params*\]

## DESCRIPTION

**dh\_auto\_install** is a debhelper program that tries to automatically install built files. It does so by running the appropriate command for the build system it detects the package uses. For example, if there's a *Makefile* and it contains a **install** target, then this is done by running **make** (or **MAKE**, if the environment variable is set). If there is a *setup.py* or *Build.PL*, it is used. Note that the Ant build system does not support installation, so **dh\_auto\_install** will not install files built using Ant.

In compat 14 or later, **dh\_auto\_install** will use *debian/tmp* as the default **--destdir** and should be moved from there to the appropriate package build directory using [**dh\_install**(1)](/dh_install/1.md) or similar tools. Though if the **single-binary** addon for [**dh**(1)](/dh/1.md) is activated, then it will pass an explicit **--destdir=debian/*****package*****/** to **dh\_auto\_install**.

For earlier compat levels then unless **--destdir** option is specified, the files are installed into debian/*package*/ if there is only one binary package. In the multiple binary package case, the files are instead installed into *debian/tmp/*, and should be moved from there to the appropriate package build directory using [**dh\_install**(1)](/dh_install/1.md) or similar tools.

**DESTDIR** is used to tell make where to install the files.  If the Makefile was generated by MakeMaker from a *Makefile.PL*, it will automatically set **PREFIX=/usr** too, since such Makefiles need that.

This is intended to work for about 90% of packages. If it doesn't work, or tries to use the wrong install target, you're encouraged to skip using **dh\_auto\_install** at all, and just run make install manually.

## OPTIONS

See "**BUILD SYSTEM OPTIONS**" in [**debhelper**(7)](/debhelper/7.md) for a list of common build system selection and control options.

- **--destdir=***directory*

  Install files into the specified *directory*. If this option is not specified, destination directory is determined automatically as described in the "**DESCRIPTION**" section.

- **--** *params*

  Pass *params* to the program that is run, after the parameters that **dh\_auto\_install** usually passes.

## SEE ALSO

[**debhelper**(7)](/debhelper/7.md)

This program is a part of debhelper.

## AUTHOR

Joey Hess \<joeyh@debian.org\>