readytoinstall

Readytoinstall is a term used in software packaging and distribution to denote that a software artifact has been prepared, tested, and verified for installation on a target system. It indicates that the artifact—whether a binary, installer, or container image—meets the necessary prerequisites and is designed to install with minimal manual intervention.

A readytoinstall artifact typically includes: the build output, a metadata manifest with version, dependencies, compatible environments, and installation instructions; cryptographic signatures or checksums for integrity; license and provenance information; and, where applicable, post-install configuration defaults or scripts.

Establishing readiness usually occurs in a release pipeline. After code is compiled, unit and integration tests pass, security scans run, and dependency resolution is validated, the artifact is marked readytoinstall and published to a package repository, artifact store, or container registry. The status may be recorded in deployment manifests or release notes.

In practice, readytoinstall concepts apply across ecosystems: Linux distributions use packaging formats such as deb or rpm; Windows uses MSI or exe installers; web and mobile ecosystems use npm, pip, or app store packages; container environments use immutable images. In each case, readiness implies that installation steps, prerequisites, and post-install configuration have been accounted for and tested.

Benefits include improved reliability, repeatable deployments, and traceability of provenance. Challenges include ensuring cross-system compatibility, managing dependencies, and maintaining secure supply chains. See also software release management, packaging, continuous delivery.