cs-install

Install a specific application

$ cs install [application_name]

$ cs install [application_name]:[application_version]

$ cs search [application_partial_name]

$ cs update [application_name]

$ cs update

$ cs uninstall [application_name]

$ cs list

$ [application_name] [-Jjava_option_name1=value1 -Jjava_option_name2=value2 ...]

cs-install [<options>] <software_or_environment_name> [<software_or_environment_name>...]

<software_or_environment_name>
    The primary argument specifies the name of the software, tool, or development environment to be installed. This name is institution-specific and corresponds to a predefined package or setup. Common examples include:
java: For Java Development Kit (JDK) and related tools.
python (or python3): For Python interpreter, pip, and common libraries.
c/c++: For GCC compilers, Make, and debugging tools.
ide: For Integrated Development Environments like VS Code, Eclipse, or IntelliJ.
git: For Git version control.
web: For web development frameworks or servers.
config: To apply specific course or department-related configurations or aliases.

-h, --help
    (Optional) Displays a help message, including usage instructions and a list of available software names supported by the specific cs-install implementation. Availability varies by institution.

cs-install is a non-standard Linux command-line utility primarily found in educational or institutional Computer Science environments, such as universities or colleges. Its main purpose is to simplify and automate the installation and configuration of software, tools, and development environments specifically required for various Computer Science courses and projects.

Instead of students manually installing compilers, IDEs, libraries, or specific versions of programming languages, cs-install acts as a wrapper script. It handles the underlying complexities of package management (e.g., using apt, yum, pip, or custom scripts), dependency resolution, and setting up environment variables or configuration files. This ensures that all students have a consistent and correctly configured development setup, reducing setup headaches and support issues.

The specific software packages available through cs-install are entirely defined by the institution providing the utility, making it a highly customized tool for a particular academic ecosystem.

Non-Standard Command: cs-install is not a part of standard Linux distributions. It is an institution-specific utility.
Institution-Dependent Functionality: Its capabilities, the list of available software, and internal workings are entirely defined by the university or department providing it.
Internet Connection Required: Typically, cs-install requires an active internet connection to download software packages.
Permissions: Depending on the setup, it might require sudo privileges for system-wide installations or modifications.
System Modification: It can modify system-wide or user-specific configuration files and install packages.

Here are common ways cs-install might be used, though actual usage depends on the specific institution's implementation:

cs-install java
Installs the Java Development Kit and configures the environment for Java programming.

cs-install python3 ide
Installs Python 3, pip, and a recommended Integrated Development Environment (IDE) like VS Code.

cs-install c/c++ git
Sets up C/C++ development tools (compiler, debugger) and installs Git for version control.

cs-install config
Applies specific course or department-wide configurations to the user's environment, such as shell aliases or environment variables.

The concept behind cs-install emerged from the need to standardize and streamline software setup for students in Computer Science departments. Historically, students often struggled with manual installations, version conflicts, and missing dependencies, leading to significant support overhead. cs-install, or similar tools, were developed as custom scripts by departmental IT staff to automate this process, ensuring a consistent and functional development environment across a large student body. Its "history" is largely anecdotal, evolving from simple shell scripts into more robust, institution-specific solutions over time, adapting to changing course requirements and operating system updates.

apt(8), yum(8), dnf(8), pip(1), npm(1), make(1)