Simplify installer workflow for Linux defaults

Author: Alade Yessoufou

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -70,6 +70,7 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
 - **ENV_FILE support**: `load_config()` sources local `.env` before loading `shipnode.conf` — config values can reference env vars (e.g. `DB_PASSWORD=${DB_PASSWORD}`)
 
 ### Changed
+- **Installer workflow simplified**: Default install now uses `~/.shipnode` with PATH updates in `~/.bashrc` (and `~/.zshrc` if present), removing install location prompts
 - **Multi-app Caddy support**: Switched from monolithic `/etc/caddy/Caddyfile` to per-app configs in `/etc/caddy/conf.d/<app>.caddy` — supports multiple apps on one server
 - **Development dependencies included**: Dependencies now installed without `--production`/`--prod`/`--omit=dev` flags so build tools (TypeScript, Prisma CLI, etc.) are available during deployment
 - **Interactive init by default**: `shipnode init` now launches interactive wizard by default; use `--non-interactive` flag for legacy behavior

DISTRIBUTION.md

@@ -44,19 +44,9 @@ Runs shipnode-installer.sh
          ↓
 Extracts to temp directory
          ↓
-User chooses install location
-  • ~/.shipnode (default)
-  • /opt/shipnode (system-wide)
-  • Custom path
+Installs to ~/.shipnode
          ↓
-Copies files to location
-         ↓
-User chooses PATH setup
-  • Symlink to /usr/local/bin
-  • Add to ~/.bashrc
-  • Add to ~/.zshrc
-  • Both shell configs
-  • Manual setup
+Adds PATH entry to ~/.bashrc (and ~/.zshrc if present)
          ↓
 Verification & cleanup
          ↓
@@ -150,39 +140,14 @@ shipnode/
     └── shipnode-installer.sh     # Self-extracting installer
 ```
 
-## Installation Locations
+## Installation Defaults
 
-The installer supports three installation types:
+The installer always uses a Linux-safe default:
 
-### 1. User Installation (~/.shipnode)
-- **Path**: `$HOME/.shipnode`
+- **Install path**: `$HOME/.shipnode`
 - **Permissions**: No sudo required
-- **Use case**: Single user, development
-- **Uninstall**: `rm -rf ~/.shipnode`
-
-### 2. System Installation (/opt/shipnode)
-- **Path**: `/opt/shipnode`
-- **Permissions**: Requires sudo
-- **Use case**: Multi-user systems, production
-- **Uninstall**: `sudo rm -rf /opt/shipnode`
-
-### 3. Custom Installation
-- **Path**: User-specified
-- **Permissions**: Depends on location
-- **Use case**: Special requirements
-- **Uninstall**: Remove the directory
-
-## PATH Setup Options
-
-### 1. Symlink (/usr/local/bin)
-- **Pros**: Works in all shells, clean, standard
-- **Cons**: Requires sudo
-- **Command**: `sudo ln -s <install-dir>/shipnode /usr/local/bin/shipnode`
-
-### 2. Shell Config (bashrc/zshrc)
-- **Pros**: No sudo, easy to modify
-- **Cons**: Shell-specific, needs sourcing
-- **Command**: `export PATH="<install-dir>:$PATH"`
+- **PATH update**: Adds `export PATH="$HOME/.shipnode:$PATH"` to `~/.bashrc` (and `~/.zshrc` if present)
+- **Uninstall**: `rm -rf ~/.shipnode` and remove the PATH entry
 
 ## Testing the Installer
 
@@ -199,7 +164,7 @@ bash shipnode-installer.sh
 
 # Or test locally
 bash dist/shipnode-installer.sh
-# Choose option 1 and a test directory
+# Verify it installs to ~/.shipnode
 ```
 
 ## Updating the Installer

INSTALL.md

@@ -25,9 +25,9 @@ chmod +x shipnode-installer.sh
 ./shipnode-installer.sh
 ```
 
-The interactive installer will:
-- Extract the bundled ShipNode to your chosen location
-- Set up PATH or create a symlink
+The installer will:
+- Extract the bundled ShipNode to `~/.shipnode`
+- Add ShipNode to your PATH via `~/.bashrc` (and `~/.zshrc` if present)
 - Verify the installation
 
 ---
@@ -94,55 +94,9 @@ validate_port "3000" && echo "Valid"
 
 ---
 
-## Installation Options
+## Installation Defaults
 
-## Installation Options
-
-The installer offers several installation locations and PATH setup methods:
-
-### Installation Locations
-
-1. **~/.shipnode** (Default) - No sudo required, recommended for single users
-2. **/opt/shipnode** (System-wide) - Requires sudo, for multi-user systems
-3. **Custom path** - Specify your own location
-
-### PATH Setup Methods
-
-#### Option 1: Symlink to /usr/local/bin (Recommended)
-
-Creates a system-wide symlink. Requires sudo. `shipnode` will be available globally from any directory.
-
-**Pros:**
-- Works in all shells (bash, zsh, fish, etc.)
-- No shell config modifications needed
-- Clean and standard approach
-
-**Cons:**
-- Requires sudo access
-
-#### Option 2: Add to ~/.bashrc
-
-Adds ShipNode to your PATH in bash configuration. After installation, run `source ~/.bashrc` or restart your terminal.
-
-**Pros:**
-- No sudo required
-- Easy to modify or remove
-
-**Cons:**
-- Only works in bash
-- Requires sourcing config after install
-
-#### Option 3: Add to ~/.zshrc
-
-Same as option 2, but for zsh users. After installation, run `source ~/.zshrc` or restart your terminal.
-
-#### Option 4: Add to both bash and zsh
-
-If you use both shells or are unsure which one you use.
-
-#### Option 5: Manual Setup
-
-Skip automatic installation and set up manually. The installer will show you the commands to run manually.
+ShipNode installs to `~/.shipnode` and updates your PATH in `~/.bashrc` (and `~/.zshrc` if present). No sudo is required.
 
 ## Verification
 
@@ -158,22 +112,15 @@ You should see the ShipNode help menu.
 
 ### "command not found: shipnode"
 
-**After symlink installation:**
-- Check if /usr/local/bin is in your PATH:
-  ```bash
-  echo $PATH | grep /usr/local/bin
-  ```
-- If not, add it to your shell config:
-  ```bash
-  export PATH="/usr/local/bin:$PATH"
-  ```
-
-**After PATH installation:**
 - Make sure you sourced your shell config:
   ```bash
   source ~/.bashrc  # or ~/.zshrc
   ```
 - Or restart your terminal
+- Check that `~/.shipnode` is on your PATH:
+  ```bash
+  echo $PATH | grep "$HOME/.shipnode"
+  ```
 
 ### "Permission denied"
 
@@ -204,15 +151,10 @@ To remove ShipNode:
 
 1. **Remove installation directory:**
    ```bash
-   rm -rf ~/.shipnode  # or /opt/shipnode, or your custom path
-   ```
-
-2. **Remove symlink (if created):**
-   ```bash
-   sudo rm /usr/local/bin/shipnode
+   rm -rf ~/.shipnode
    ```
 
-3. **Remove from shell config (if added to PATH):**
+2. **Remove from shell config:**
    Edit `~/.bashrc` or `~/.zshrc` and remove the ShipNode export lines.
 
 Or if installed from source:
@@ -227,7 +169,7 @@ cd /path/to/shipnode
 
 1. **Read the documentation**
    ```bash
-   cat ~/.shipnode/README.md  # or /opt/shipnode/README.md
+   cat ~/.shipnode/README.md
    ```
 
 2. **Initialize a project**

README.md

@@ -37,8 +37,8 @@ chmod +x shipnode-installer.sh
 ```
 
 The installer will:
-- Extract ShipNode to your chosen location (~/.shipnode, /opt/shipnode, or custom)
-- Create a symlink to `/usr/local/bin` or add to your PATH
+- Extract ShipNode to `~/.shipnode`
+- Add ShipNode to your PATH via `~/.bashrc` (and `~/.zshrc` if present)
 - Verify the installation
 
 ### For Developers
@@ -66,9 +66,9 @@ The modular version sources all modules from `lib/` dynamically, making it easy
 
 **If installed via installer:**
 ```bash
-rm -rf ~/.shipnode  # or /opt/shipnode
-sudo rm /usr/local/bin/shipnode
+rm -rf ~/.shipnode
 ```
+Remove the ShipNode PATH entry from `~/.bashrc` or `~/.zshrc`.
 
 **If cloned from source:**
 ```bash

build-dist.sh

@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ GREEN='\033[0;32m'
 BLUE='\033[0;34m'
 NC='\033[0m'
 
-VERSION="1.1.1"
+VERSION="1.1.2"
 DIST_DIR="dist"
 ARCHIVE_NAME="shipnode-payload.tar.gz"
 INSTALLER_NAME="shipnode-installer.sh"
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ YELLOW='\033[1;33m'
 BLUE='\033[0;34m'
 NC='\033[0m'
 
-VERSION="1.1.1"
+VERSION="1.1.2"
 INSTALL_DIR="$HOME/.shipnode"
 
 # Parse flags
@@ -149,67 +149,27 @@ fi
 
 echo -e "${GREEN}✓${NC} Extracted successfully"
 
-# Choose installation location
-# If not interactive (e.g., piped from curl or --non-interactive flag), default to recommended location
-if [ "$NON_INTERACTIVE" = true ] || [ ! -t 0 ]; then
-    INSTALL_DIR="$HOME/.shipnode"
-    USE_SUDO=""
-    echo -e "${BLUE}→${NC} Non-interactive mode: installing to $INSTALL_DIR"
-else
-    echo
-    echo "Choose installation location:"
-    echo "  1) $HOME/.shipnode (recommended)"
-    echo "  2) /opt/shipnode (system-wide, requires sudo)"
-    echo "  3) Custom path"
-    echo
-
-    read -p "Enter choice [1-3]: " -n 1 -r
-    echo
-
-    case $REPLY in
-        1)
-            INSTALL_DIR="$HOME/.shipnode"
-            USE_SUDO=""
-            ;;
-        2)
-            INSTALL_DIR="/opt/shipnode"
-            USE_SUDO="sudo"
-            ;;
-        3)
-            read -p "Enter installation path: " INSTALL_DIR
-            INSTALL_DIR="${INSTALL_DIR/#\~/$HOME}"
-
-            # Check if we need sudo
-            if [[ "$INSTALL_DIR" == /opt/* ]] || [[ "$INSTALL_DIR" == /usr/* ]]; then
-                USE_SUDO="sudo"
-            else
-                USE_SUDO=""
-            fi
-            ;;
-        *)
-            echo -e "${RED}Invalid choice${NC}"
-            exit 1
-            ;;
-    esac
-fi
+# Choose installation location (Linux-safe default)
+INSTALL_DIR="$HOME/.shipnode"
+echo -e "${BLUE}→${NC} Installing to $INSTALL_DIR"
 
 # Install
 echo -e "${BLUE}→${NC} Installing to $INSTALL_DIR..."
 
 # Remove old installation if exists
 if [ -d "$INSTALL_DIR" ]; then
     echo -e "${YELLOW}⚠${NC} Removing existing installation..."
-    $USE_SUDO rm -rf "$INSTALL_DIR"
+    rm -rf "$INSTALL_DIR"
 fi
 
 # Create installation directory
-$USE_SUDO mkdir -p "$INSTALL_DIR"
+mkdir -p "$INSTALL_DIR"
 
 # Copy files
-$USE_SUDO cp -r shipnode/* "$INSTALL_DIR/"
+cp -r shipnode/* "$INSTALL_DIR/"
 
 # Make shipnode executable
-$USE_SUDO chmod +x "$INSTALL_DIR/shipnode"
+chmod +x "$INSTALL_DIR/shipnode"
 
 echo -e "${GREEN}✓${NC} Files installed"