pulumi-install

Install packages and plugins

$ pulumi install

$ pulumi install --no-dependencies

$ pulumi install --reinstall

curl -sSL https://get.pulumi.com/ | sh

The `pulumi-install` script is a convenience tool designed to simplify the installation of the Pulumi Command Line Interface (CLI) on Linux systems. Pulumi is an Infrastructure as Code (IaC) tool that allows users to define and manage cloud resources using familiar programming languages.

The script automates the download and installation process, ensuring that the correct version of the Pulumi CLI is obtained and placed in a suitable location on the system, typically `/usr/local/bin`. It also sets appropriate permissions. This eliminates the need for manual download and configuration steps, making it easier for users to get started with Pulumi.

The script also handles the addition of Pulumi to your system's PATH, allowing you to execute Pulumi commands from any directory in your terminal. It often supports installing specific versions by detecting the system architecture, downloading the appropriate pre-built binary, and verifying its integrity. Users can then start provisioning and managing their infrastructure with Pulumi immediately after the installation completes.

The script requires `curl` to be installed. Also, it directly executes code from the internet, so ensure to read the script before executing it to understand what changes it will make to your system.

Because the `pulumi-install` command pipes a shell script directly from the internet to `sh`, it's crucial to inspect the script before running it. While the official Pulumi installation script is generally considered safe, it's always good practice to review the code for any potential security risks or unintended consequences. You can download the script first, inspect it, and then run it locally.
`curl -sSL https://get.pulumi.com/ -o pulumi-install.sh`
`less pulumi-install.sh`
`sh pulumi-install.sh`

Besides the `pulumi-install` script, Pulumi can also be installed using package managers like `apt` or `yum`, or by downloading the binary directly from the Pulumi website and manually configuring the PATH variable. These alternative methods may be preferable in certain situations, such as when security policies restrict the use of piped shell scripts.

The `pulumi-install` script was created to streamline the process of installing the Pulumi CLI, as manual installation involved multiple steps, including downloading the binary, extracting it, and configuring the PATH environment variable. The script automates this process, improving the user experience and reducing the barrier to entry for new Pulumi users. It has likely evolved over time to support different versions of Pulumi and different Linux distributions.