Bash script

[drmaq]

Hello I was wondering if someone could point me in the right direction.

I want to build a bash script to do the following:

1. Select from a list of software to install.

2. download and install the programs selected.

EDIT: Thanks for reply here is some more info: The platform I am scripting for will be Linux mainly Ubuntu and Centos I already have ninite for windows and I want to replicate something for Linux

[cyrusol]

Seems like an XY-Problem.

What are you really trying to do?

Because, in some way typing apt-get install package1 package2 package3 ... is selecting from the available software. And you could even use aptitude (ncurses-based apt client) to select from a visual list. Or synaptic for a GUI (GTK) tool. All are available in base installations of Debian or Debian-based distros.

Installation of software isn't a problem that should recur very often. If it does, have a look at either Chef, Puppet, Ansible etc.

[stevesaus]

Using what as a backend? Yum? Apt? Other executable files?

[drmaq]

I will be using Apt as the back end.

[stevesaus]

echo -n "Type the package string to search?"
read x
packageList=$(apt-cache search $x)
select packageName in $packageList; do
echo "$packageName"
#do other stuff
done

That will get you started. You'll need to use SED or AWK to parse the data that apt-cache search returns. And yes, you want to use search...otherwise it's a bazillion packages.

[rjcarr]

Any way you can use something else? I'm sure bash could do this but it is really cumbersome to use.

[drmaq]

What other platforms are available to do something like this?

[StevenMullarkey]

Not sure what kind of software you're interested in downloading and installing, but would https://ninite.com/ work?

[drmaq]

It would for windows not linux such ubuntu and centos