---
name: "installit"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "inn"
version: "1:1.7.2q-52"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/installit"
---

# installit(1)

file/directory installation tool

## NAME

installit - file/directory installation tool

## SYNOPSIS

**installit** \[ **-o** *owner* \] \[ **-g** *group* \] \[ **-O** *owner* \] \[ **-G** *group* \] \[ **-m** *mode* \] \[ **-b** *backup* \] \[ **-s** \] \[ **-t** \] *source* *destination*

## DESCRIPTION

*Installit* puts a copy of *source* into the specified *destination*.

If *source* is a period, then *destination* is taken to be the name of a directory that should be created. Otherwise, *source* is taken to name an existing file and *destination* may be either a file or directory; it is interpreted according to the same rules as [*cp*(1)](/cp/1.md).

*Installit* uses no special privileges to copy files from one place to another.

## OPTIONS

- **-b**

  If *destination* names a pre-existing file, it will be removed before the copy is done. To make a backup copy, use the \`\`**-b**'' flag; the existing file will be renamed to have the specified extension. If *source* and *destination* are the same string, or if the two files are identical, then no copying is done, and only the \`\`**-o**'', \`\`**-g**'', \`\`**-m**'',  and \`\`**-s**'' flags (see below) are processed. In this case, the modification time on the *destination* will be updated using [*touch*(1)](/touch/1.md).

- **-n**

  Do not update the modification time on the destination.

- **-o -g -m**

  Once the *destination* has been created, it is possible to set the owner, group, and mode that it should have. This is done by using the \`\`**-o**'', \`\`**-g**'',  and \`\`**-m**'' flags, respectively.

- **-O -G**

  The \`\`**-O**'' and \`\`**-G**'' flags set the owner and group only if *installit* is being run by root, as determined by [*whoami*(1)](/whoami/1.md).

- **-s**

  To [*strip*(1)](/strip/1.md) an installed executable, use the \`\`**-s**'' flag.

## BUGS AND LIMITATIONS

Flags cannot be combined.

The [*chown*(8)](/chown/8.md) command must exist in either the */etc* or */usr/etc* directory or the user's PATH.

The *whoami* command must exist in the */usr/ucb* directory or the user's PATH.

## HISTORY

Written by Rich $alz \<rsalz@uunet.uu.net\> for InterNetNews. This is revision 1.9, dated 1996/10/29.