installimist

Installimist is a cross-platform open-source tool designed for declarative software installation and configuration management. It automates the process of bringing a system into a defined state by reading a manifest that specifies packages, versions, sources, and configuration steps.

The tool supports multiple sources, including native OS package managers, Git repositories, binary archives, and custom scripts. It emphasizes idempotence, so reapplying a manifest does not alter a system that already matches the desired state. It also supports environment profiles and conditional logic to tailor deployments to different contexts.

A manifest file, typically named Installimist.yaml, lists resources such as packages, services, and configuration files. Each entry can specify version constraints, post-install commands, and environment variables. The workflow generally proceeds from dependency resolution to execution, with a lockfile to reproduce exact installations and prevent drift across environments.

Internally, Installimist comprises a parser, a dependency resolver, an executor, and a provider or driver system for different sources. It may include a plugin architecture, a sandboxed execution mode for safety, and support for offline mode through a local cache.

Development and adoption: as an open-source project, it aggregates contributions from a community of users and developers. It is used in education, DevOps, and software development environments to standardize setup and reduce drift. Critics point to a learning curve and occasional fragmentation in downstream ecosystems.

See also: Package manager, Configuration management, Declarative provisioning, Infrastructure as code.