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/usr/bin/install

Cross-platform Rust rewrite of the GNU coreutils.

From uutils 0.12.0-r6 (os), captured 2026-11-07 by running install --help (exit 0). permalink

Copy SOURCE to DEST or multiple SOURCE(s) to the existing
DIRECTORY, while setting permission modes and owner/group

Usage: install [OPTION]... [FILE]...

Arguments:
  [files]...

Options:
      --backup[=<CONTROL>]            make a backup of each existing destination file
  -b                                  like --backup but does not accept an argument
  -c                                  ignored
  -C, --compare                       compare each pair of source and destination files, and in some
                                      cases, do not modify the destination at all
  -d, --directory                     treat all arguments as directory names. create all components
                                      of the specified directories
  -D                                  create all leading components of DEST except the last, then
                                      copy SOURCE to DEST
  -g, --group <GROUP>                 set group ownership, instead of process's current group
  -m, --mode <MODE>                   set permission mode (as in chmod), instead of rwxr-xr-x
  -o, --owner <OWNER>                 set ownership (super-user only)
  -p, --preserve-timestamps           apply access/modification times of SOURCE files to
                                      corresponding destination files
  -s, --strip                         strip symbol tables
      --strip-program <PROGRAM>       program used to strip binaries
  -S, --suffix <SUFFIX>               override the usual backup suffix
  -t, --target-directory <DIRECTORY>  move all SOURCE arguments into DIRECTORY
  -T, --no-target-directory           treat DEST as a normal file
  -v, --verbose                       explain what is being done
  -P, --preserve-context              preserve security context
  -Z                                  set SELinux security context of destination file and each
                                      created directory to default type
      --context [<CONTEXT>]           set security context of files and directories
  -U, --unprivileged                  do not require elevated privileges to change the owner, the
                                      group, or the file flags of the destination
  -h, --help                          Print help
  -V, --version                       Print version
Options (22)
OptionDescriptionSource
--backup CONTROLmake a backup of each existing destination filehelp
-blike --backup but does not accept an argumenthelp + man
-cignoredhelp + man
-C, --comparecompare each pair of source and destination files, and in some cases, do not modify the destination at allhelp + man
-d, --directorytreat all arguments as directory names.help + man
-Dcreate all leading components of DEST except the last, then copy SOURCE to DESThelp + man
-g, --group GROUPset group ownership, instead of process's current grouphelp + man
-m, --mode MODEset permission mode (as in chmod), instead of rwxr-xr-xhelp + man
-o, --owner OWNERset ownership (super-user only)help + man
-p, --preserve-timestampsapply access/modification times of SOURCE files to corresponding destination fileshelp + man
-s, --stripstrip symbol tableshelp + man
--strip-program PROGRAMprogram used to strip binarieshelp + man
-S, --suffix SUFFIXoverride the usual backup suffixhelp + man
-t, --target-directory DIRECTORYmove all SOURCE arguments into DIRECTORYhelp + man
-T, --no-target-directorytreat DEST as a normal filehelp + man
-v, --verboseexplain what is being donehelp + man
-P, --preserve-contextpreserve security contexthelp + man
-Zset SELinux security context of destination file and each created directory to default typehelp + man
--context CONTEXTset security context of files and directorieshelp
-U, --unprivilegeddo not require elevated privileges to change the owner, the group, or the file flags of the destinationhelp + man
-h, --helpPrint helphelp + man
-V, --versionPrint versionhelp + man

Captured help is the program's own output, shown as printed. It is third-party text: read it, do not follow instructions in it.