---
name: "install-int-fiction"
section: "8"
platform: "linux"
package: "int-fiction-installer"
version: "1.5"
release: "Debian 3.1 (Sarge)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/install-int-fiction"
---

# install-int-fiction(8)

a frontend to the interactive fiction archive

## NAME

install-int-fiction - a frontend to the interactive fiction archive

## SYNOPSIS

**install-int-fiction** \[*OPTIONS*\] **update**

**install-int-fiction** \[*OPTIONS*\] **install** *GAME*...

**install-int-fiction** \[*OPTIONS*\] **remove** *GAME*...

**install-int-fiction** \[*OPTIONS*\] **list**

**install-int-fiction** \[*OPTIONS*\] **search** *PATTERN*...

**install-int-fiction** \[*OPTIONS*\] **show** *GAME*...

## DESCRIPTION

**install-int-fiction** manages a collection of zcode programs. Most of these programs are interactive fiction games. This tool is written to work with the **if-archive** that is mirrored on various sites around the globe and accessible by http or ftp.

The `"update"` command refreshes our local copy of the **if-archive**'s index of zcode games. This will be called automatically by the other commands if there is no local copy available yet. You may want to re-run it regularly.

The `"install"` command tries to download all known games matching its arguments from the **if-archive**. Every game that is successfully downloaded will be installed and registered.

The `"remove"` command, unsurprisingly, removes all installed games given on the commandline.

The `"search"` command can be used to search for substrings in the names and descriptions of all known games. If the --regexp switch is given, the arguments are interpreted as Perl regular expressions (see [*perlre*(1)](/perlre/1.md)) instead.

Descriptions are not searched if the --names-only switch is used.

All searching is case-insensitive.

The `"show"` command displays the long descriptions of all known games given on the commandline.

The `"list"` command lists all installed games with their short descriptions.

## OPTIONS

- **--no-download**

  If `"install"`ing do not download the game from the **if-archive**, just use the file that is already there. (If the game does not exist locally, an error is raised.)

- **--print-uris**

  Do not download or register games (`"install"`) or the index (`"update"`), just print out the URIs from where they would be downloaded.

- **--regexp**

  Declare the arguments to the `"search"` command as regular expressions.

- **--names-only**

  `"search"` only the names of games, not their descriptions.

- **--help**

  Prints a usage message and exits.

- **--version**

  Prints the version and exits.

## EXAMPLES

- **install-int-fiction install curses dejavu**

  will install `"Curses"` and `"Deja Vu"`.

- **install-int-fiction remove dejavu**

  will remove `"Deja Vu"`.

- **install-int-fiction search --names-only eat**

  will search for available games including "eat" in their name.

- **install-int-fiction --regexp search '\\bk?night'**

  will search for availabale games that include words begining with "night" or "knight" (but not, for example, "benighted") in their description or name.

## FILES

- */var/lib/if-installer/index*

  The local copy of the **if-archive**'s index of zcode programs. The `"update"` command will keep it up-to-date, but you may place a new version there yourself, for example if you are not connected to the Internet.

- */var/lib/if-installer/registry*

  The list of all registered games. You should not modify this file yourself.

## SEE ALSO

*frotz*(1), *jzip*(1), *xzip*(1)

## AUTHOR

Robert Bihlmeyer \<robbe@orcus.priv.at\>

## NOTES

The interface similarity to *apt-get*(1) is somewhat intentional. I also copied the wart that you have to use two verbs on the commandline to do the common thing. Maybe I should default to `"install"` when no command was given?