SCons User Guide 0.93
<<< Previous		Next >>>

Installing Files in Other Directories

Once a program is built, it is often appropriate to install it in another directory for public use. You use the Install method to arrange for a program, or any other file, to be copied into a destination directory:

     env = Environment()
     hello = env.Program('hello.c')
     env.Install('/usr/bin', hello)

Note, however, that installing a file is still considered a type of file "build." This is important when you remember that the default behavior of SCons is to build files in or below the current directory. If, as in the example above, you are installing files in a directory outside of the top-level SConstruct file's directory tree, you must specify that directory (or a higher directory, such as /) for it to install anything there:

     % scons -Q
     cc -c -o hello.o hello.c
     cc -o hello hello.o
     % scons -Q /usr/bin
     Install file: "hello" as "/usr/bin/hello"

It can, however, be cumbersome to remember (and type) the specific destination directory in which the program (or any other file) should be installed. This is an area where the Alias function comes in handy, allowing you, for example, to create a pseudo-target named install that can expand to the specified destination directory:

     env = Environment()
     hello = env.Program('hello.c')
     env.Install('/usr/bin', hello)
     env.Alias('install', '/usr/bin')

This then yields the more natural ability to install the program in its destination as follows:

     % scons -Q
     cc -c -o hello.o hello.c
     cc -o hello hello.o
     % scons -Q install
     Install file: "hello" as "/usr/bin/hello"

Installing Multiple Files in a Directory

You can install multiple files into a directory simply by calling the Install function multiple times:

       env = Environment()
       hello = env.Program('hello.c')
       goodbye = env.Program('goodbye.c')
       env.Install('/usr/bin', hello)
       env.Install('/usr/bin', goodbye)
       env.Alias('install', '/usr/bin')

Or, more succinctly, listing the multiple input files in a list (just like you can do with any other builder):

       env = Environment()
       hello = env.Program('hello.c')
       goodbye = env.Program('goodbye.c')
       env.Install('/usr/bin', [hello, goodbye])
       env.Alias('install', '/usr/bin')

Either of these two examples yields:

       % scons -Q install
       cc -c -o goodbye.o goodbye.c
       cc -o goodbye goodbye.o
       Install file: "goodbye" as "/usr/bin/goodbye"
       cc -c -o hello.o hello.c
       cc -o hello hello.o
       Install file: "hello" as "/usr/bin/hello"

<<< Previous	Home	Next >>>
Providing Build Help		Installing a File Under a Different Name