devex install

The install command automates the installation of your complete development environment based on your configuration files. Unlike the interactive setup command, install runs non-interactively using your pre-configured settings.

Usage

devex install [flags]

Description

The install command handles:

Development tools (Git, Docker, VS Code, Neovim, etc.)
Programming languages (Node.js, Python, Go, Ruby, etc.)
Databases (PostgreSQL, MySQL, Redis, SQLite)
Optional applications (browsers, communication tools, etc.)
Package repository configuration and GPG keys
Dependency resolution and conflict handling
Post-installation configuration and shell setup
Theme application and desktop environment setup

Installation Categories

Development Tools

Essential coding and debugging tools like Git, Docker, VS Code, and terminal utilities

Programming Languages

Language runtimes and package managers via mise (Node.js, Python, Go, etc.)

Databases

Local development databases like PostgreSQL, MySQL, Redis, and SQLite

Optional Applications

Productivity apps, browsers, and communication tools

Options

Flag	Short	Type	Default	Description
`--category`	`-c`	`string`	`all`	Install specific category (development, databases, optional)
`--app`	`-a`	`string[]`		Install specific applications only
`--skip`	`-s`	`string[]`		Skip specific applications
`--force`	`-f`	`bool`	`false`	Force reinstall even if already installed
`--verbose`	`-v`	`bool`	`false`	Enable verbose output
`--dry-run`	`-n`	`bool`	`false`	Show what would be installed without executing

Examples

Basic Installation

# Install everything with default configuration
devex install

# Install with verbose output
devex install --verbose

# Preview what would be installed
devex install --dry-run

Category-Specific Installation

# Install only development tools
devex install --category development

# Includes: git, docker, vscode, curl, etc.

Selective Installation

# Install specific applications
devex install --app docker --app postgresql

# Install everything except certain apps
devex install --skip slack --skip chrome

# Force reinstall of specific tools
devex install --app docker --force

Installation Process

Platform Detection

DevEx detects your operating system and selects appropriate package managers:

Platform: Ubuntu 22.04 LTS (x86_64)
Package managers: apt, flatpak, snap
Desktop environment: GNOME 42

Configuration Loading

Loads configuration from:

User overrides: ~/.devex/
Default configs: ~/.local/share/devex/config/

Loading configurations:
✓ applications.yaml (247 applications)
✓ environment.yaml (15 languages, 8 fonts)
✓ desktop.yaml (3 themes, 12 extensions)
✓ system.yaml (git, ssh, terminal)

Dependency Resolution

Analyzes dependencies and determines optimal installation order:

Dependency analysis:
┌─────────────────┬─────────────────────────┐
│ Application     │ Dependencies            │
├─────────────────┼─────────────────────────┤
│ docker-compose  │ docker                  │
│ kubectl         │ curl                    │
│ node (via mise) │ mise, curl, git         │
└─────────────────┴─────────────────────────┘

Installation order: curl → git → mise → docker → node → docker-compose

Package Repository Setup

Configures third-party repositories and GPG keys:

Setting up repositories:
✓ Docker official repository
✓ Google Chrome repository  
✓ VS Code repository
✓ Node.js via mise

Application Installation

Installs applications using platform-appropriate methods:

Installing applications:
[1/24] git (apt) ✓
[2/24] curl (apt) ✓  
[3/24] docker (apt) ✓
[4/24] vscode (apt) ✓
[5/24] node@lts (mise) ✓
...

Post-Installation Configuration

Applies configuration files and runs setup scripts:

Post-installation:
✓ Git configured with user.name and user.email
✓ Docker service started and enabled
✓ VS Code extensions installed
✓ Shell configured with aliases and paths

Platform-Specific Behavior

Package Managers:

Primary: Distribution package manager (apt, dnf, pacman)
Universal: Flatpak, Snap
Languages: mise for programming languages
Containers: Docker official repositories

System Integration:

Systemd service management
Desktop environment configuration
Font installation and cache refresh
Shell configuration and defaults

# Linux-specific features
sudo systemctl enable docker    # Service management
fc-cache -fv                   # Font cache refresh
gsettings set ...              # GNOME settings

Error Handling and Recovery

DevEx includes robust error handling to ensure partial failures don't break your entire setup.

Installation Resilience

Installation Results:
✓ 18 applications installed successfully
⚠ 2 applications had warnings
✗ 1 application failed to install

Failed:
- slack: Repository key verification failed

Warnings:  
- docker: Service not started (run 'sudo systemctl start docker')
- vscode: Some extensions failed to install

Recovery suggestions:
→ Run 'devex recovery check' to diagnose issues
→ Use 'devex install --app slack --force' to retry failed installs

Common Recovery Commands

# Check for and fix common issues
devex recovery check

# Retry failed installations
devex install --app slack --force

# Repair broken dependencies
devex recovery repair

# View detailed error logs
devex logs --verbose

Configuration File Integration

The install command reads from these configuration files:

Applications Configuration

# ~/.local/share/devex/config/applications.yaml
applications:
  development:
    - name: docker
      description: 'Container platform'
      category: 'Development Tools'
      default: true
      linux:
        install_method: 'apt'
        install_command: 'docker-ce'
        apt_sources:
          - key_source: "https://download.docker.com/linux/ubuntu/gpg"
            source_repo: "deb [arch=amd64] https://download.docker.com/linux/ubuntu jammy stable"
        post_install:
          - shell: "sudo systemctl enable docker"
          - shell: "sudo usermod -aG docker $USER"

Environment Configuration

# ~/.local/share/devex/config/environment.yaml
programming_languages:
  - name: "Node.js LTS"
    install_method: "mise"
    install_command: "node@lts"
    default: true
    post_install:
      - shell: "npm install -g yarn pnpm"

Performance and Optimization

Parallel Installation

DevEx optimizes installation performance:

Parallel installation groups:
Group 1: git, curl, wget (no dependencies)
Group 2: docker, mise (depends on Group 1)  
Group 3: node, python (depends on mise)
Group 4: docker-compose (depends on docker)

Estimated time: 8-12 minutes

Caching

# DevEx caches downloaded packages and metadata
ls ~/.cache/devex/
# downloads/    - Downloaded packages
# metadata/     - Package metadata cache
# repositories/ - Repository configurations

Bandwidth Optimization

# Use local package mirrors when available
devex install --use-mirrors

# Skip large optional downloads
devex install --skip-fonts --skip-themes

Advanced Usage

Custom Installation Scripts

You can add custom pre/post-installation scripts:

applications:
  development:
    - name: custom-tool
      pre_install:
        - shell: "echo 'Preparing custom tool installation'"
        - shell: "mkdir -p /opt/custom-tool"
      post_install:
        - shell: "custom-tool --setup"
        - file: 
            source: "configs/custom-tool.conf"
            destination: "~/.config/custom-tool/config"

Environment-Specific Installation

# Production server setup (minimal)
devex install --category development --skip slack --skip chrome

# Development workstation (full setup)
devex install --category all

# CI/CD environment (tools only)
devex install --app git --app docker --app kubectl

Integration with Other Commands

The install command works seamlessly with other DevEx commands:

# Install, then check status
devex install && devex status

# Install specific template, then add extras
devex template apply backend && devex install --app postman

# Install with custom config
devex config edit applications && devex install

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

# DevEx will prompt for sudo when needed
# If you get permission errors:

# Check sudo access
sudo -v

# Fix common permission issues
sudo chown -R $USER:$USER ~/.local/share/devex
sudo chmod 755 /usr/local/bin

devex setup - Interactive setup wizard
devex add - Add individual applications
devex status - Check installation status
devex recovery - Fix installation issues
devex config - Manage configuration files

Pro Tip: Use devex install --dry-run --verbose to see exactly what will be installed and in what order before committing to the installation.

devex install

devex installCopy Anchor Link

UsageCopy Anchor Link

DescriptionCopy Anchor Link

Installation CategoriesCopy Anchor Link

Development Tools

Programming Languages

Databases

Optional Applications

OptionsCopy Anchor Link

ExamplesCopy Anchor Link

Basic InstallationCopy Anchor Link

Category-Specific InstallationCopy Anchor Link

Selective InstallationCopy Anchor Link

Installation ProcessCopy Anchor Link

Platform-Specific BehaviorCopy Anchor Link

Error Handling and RecoveryCopy Anchor Link

Installation ResilienceCopy Anchor Link

Common Recovery CommandsCopy Anchor Link

Configuration File IntegrationCopy Anchor Link

Applications ConfigurationCopy Anchor Link

Environment ConfigurationCopy Anchor Link

Performance and OptimizationCopy Anchor Link

Parallel InstallationCopy Anchor Link

CachingCopy Anchor Link

Bandwidth OptimizationCopy Anchor Link

Advanced UsageCopy Anchor Link

Custom Installation ScriptsCopy Anchor Link

Environment-Specific InstallationCopy Anchor Link

Integration with Other CommandsCopy Anchor Link

TroubleshootingCopy Anchor Link

Common IssuesCopy Anchor Link

Related CommandsCopy Anchor Link

On this page

devex install

Usage

Description

Installation Categories

Options

Examples

Basic Installation

Category-Specific Installation

Selective Installation

Installation Process

Platform-Specific Behavior

Error Handling and Recovery

Installation Resilience

Common Recovery Commands

Configuration File Integration

Applications Configuration

Environment Configuration

Performance and Optimization

Parallel Installation

Caching

Bandwidth Optimization

Advanced Usage

Custom Installation Scripts

Environment-Specific Installation

Integration with Other Commands

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

Related Commands