b install

Install binaries and sync environment files. If no arguments are given, b installs all binaries and syncs all envs from the b.yaml configuration file. You can also install specific binaries or env files on-the-fly.

Alias

• i

Usage

b install [binary|env...] [flags]

Examples

Install all from config

If a b.yaml file is present, this command will install all binaries and sync all env files listed in it.

b install

Install a specific binary

Install the latest version of a specific binary.

b install jq

Install a specific version

Append @<version> to the binary name to install a specific version.

b install jq@jq-1.7

Install any GitHub release

Use a full provider reference to install any binary from GitHub releases.

# Install latest release
b install github.com/derailed/k9s

# Install specific version
b install github.com/sharkdp/bat@v0.24.0

Install and add to config

Use the --add flag to install a binary and simultaneously add it to your b.yaml.

b install --add kubectl

Force an installation

Use the --force flag to overwrite an existing binary.

b install --force jq

Install with an alias

Use the --alias flag to install a binary under a different name. This is useful when you want to use a custom name for a binary while still using the original binary's implementation.

b install --alias envsubst renvsubst

This installs renvsubst but makes it available as envsubst. The alias binary will:

• Download and install the original binary (renvsubst)
• Create the alias binary file (envsubst)
• Work with all commands like version detection and execution
• Show in listings with the alias relationship: renvsubst (envsubst)

You can combine --alias with other flags:

# Install with alias and add to config
b install --alias envsubst --add renvsubst

# Install specific version with alias
b install --alias myenvsubst renvsubst@v0.10.0

Sync environment files (SCP syntax)

Use SCP-style syntax to sync files from upstream git repositories:

# Sync files from a git repo to a local directory
b install github.com/org/infra:/manifests/base/** ./base

# Pin a version and sync
b install github.com/org/infra@v2.0:/manifests/hetzner/** ./hetzner

# Add to b.yaml and sync
b install --add github.com/org/infra@v2.0:/manifests/base/** ./base

The SCP syntax is: <repo>[@<version>]:/<glob> [<dest>]

• repo — A git-cloneable reference (e.g., github.com/org/repo)
• version (optional) — A git tag, branch, or commit to pin
• glob — A file pattern to match in the repository (e.g., manifests/**)
• dest (optional) — Local directory for the synced files; defaults to the matched path structure

Flags

Flag	Description
--add	Add binary/env to b.yaml during install
--alias	Install binary under a different name
--fix	Pin the specified version in b.yaml
-h, --help	help for install

Global Flags

Flag	Description
-c, --config string	Path to configuration file (current: /home/fentas/github/fentas/b/.bin/b.yaml)
--force	Force operations, overwriting existing binaries
-q, --quiet	Quiet mode
-v, --version	Print version information and quit