Tool Installer: Advanced Portable Installer for Debian-Based Systems
Introduction
Managing software installations on Linux, especially custom tools on Kali Linux or other Debian-based distributions, can be cumbersome. Users often need to handle multiple file formats, set executable permissions, create symbolic links, and ensure the software runs reliably on system startup. Missteps during installation can lead to broken tools, permission issues, or system instability.
Tool Installer is a versatile, portable, and user-friendly Bash script designed to simplify and automate the installation of custom tools on Debian-based systems. Whether you are installing .deb packages, compressed archives, or standalone binaries, this script provides an interactive and safe environment to ensure successful installations while maintaining transparency and control.
Overview
The Tool Installer is specifically built for ethical hackers, developers, and IT professionals who frequently install custom tools or utilities. Unlike generic installation scripts that assume a fixed installation path, this tool supports multiple formats and allows the user to choose paths, set execution permissions, verify checksums, and optionally configure auto-start at boot.
One of the main advantages of 0x Tool Installer is its interactive flow. Instead of blindly running commands, the script prompts users for input at every step, ensuring transparency and reducing the risk of unwanted changes. All operations are logged, creating a reliable record for auditing or troubleshooting.
Key Features
The installer provides a wide range of advanced features that make tool deployment efficient and safe:
- Interactive Installation Flow: Prompts users for URLs, local files, or desired installation directories.
- File Type Detection and Handling:
.debfiles are installed usingdpkg..tar.gzor.tgzarchives are extracted to/opt/<toolname>or a custom path..zipfiles are extracted to a chosen directory.- Single binaries or scripts are copied to
/usr/local/binor a custom location.
- Automatic Executable Setup: Adjusts file permissions and creates symbolic links to make tools easily accessible from the terminal.
- Optional SHA256 Checksum Verification: Ensures the integrity of downloaded files before installation.
- Optional Persistence via systemd: Users can create a systemd service to auto-start the installed tool on boot.
- Safe Logging: All installation actions are logged at
/var/log/tool_installer.logwith a clear0x:prefix. - Failure Handling: If an installation fails, a marker file
/var/log/tool_installer_fail.markeris created, containing the0x: FAILmessage for easy identification.
Usage
Using 0x Tool Installer is simple and beginner-friendly. To start:
git clone https://github.com/0xghazali/tool_installer.sh
chmod +x tool_installer.sh
sudo ./tool_installer.sh
The script will then guide you through the installation process, prompting for the tool source (URL or local file), preferred installation path, and optional settings such as checksum verification and systemd service creation.
Safety and Transparency
Tool Installer is designed to be fully transparent and safe:
- Runs only with root privileges to ensure correct system-level installations.
- Always prompts the user before making changes; nothing is installed silently unless explicitly configured.
- Supports installing tools to custom directories, avoiding interference with critical system paths if desired.
- Logs all actions for traceability and debugging.
Benefits
- Time-Saving: Automates repetitive setup tasks like setting permissions, creating symlinks, and extracting archives.
- Versatile: Supports multiple file types, making it compatible with a wide range of custom tools.
- Safe and Transparent: Users have full control and can verify each installation step.
- Persistent and Reliable: Optional systemd service ensures tools start automatically on system boot if needed.
- Error Tracking: Failure marker files make troubleshooting easy and efficient.
Conclusion
Tool Installer is an advanced, portable, and reliable solution for installing custom tools on Kali Linux or any Debian-based system. By combining file type detection, interactive prompts, logging, and optional auto-start services, it removes the complexities and potential errors associated with manual installations. Whether you are a developer, ethical hacker, or system administrator, 0x Tool Installer ensures a smooth, secure, and efficient setup process for all your custom tools.
Reporting Issues
If you encounter any errors or unexpected behavior while using Tool Installer, please report them on the GitHub Issues page of the repository. This feedback helps improve the tool for all users.