syntaxis/docs/installation/installation-summary.md

Installation System Overview & Summary

Quick Answer to: "How we install targets with configs and wrappers?"

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TL;DR (Too Long; Didn't Read)

Your Question: "How we install targets with configs and wrappers?"

Answer: Currently, syntaxis binaries install without their configurations. We need to:

1. Deploy configuration templates during installation
2. Create wrapper scripts to manage environment setup
3. Track installations in a manifest

This enables a seamless experience: One command to install, binaries just work.

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What This Is About

Problem

Current state:
  $ just scripts-install
  ✅ Binaries installed

  $ syntaxis-api
  ❌ Error: Config not found

User must manually:
  1. Find config templates
  2. Copy them to correct location
  3. Edit configurations
  4. Set environment variables
  5. Run binary

Solution

After implementation:
  $ just scripts-install
  ✅ Binaries installed
  ✅ Configs deployed
  ✅ Wrappers created
  ✅ Manifest tracked

  $ syntaxis-api
  ✅ Config found automatically
  ✅ Environment setup automatically
  ✅ Server running

Result: One command. Everything works.

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What We're Delivering

4 Phases (6-8 weeks total)

Phase 1: Configuration Deployment (1-2 weeks) ⭐ START HERE

• Rename config templates (syntaxis-api → syntaxis-api)
• Create workspace-specific feature templates (projects, tasks, phases, audit)
• Deploy configs during installation
• Create installation guide

Status: Ready to implement - see PHASE_1_IMPLEMENTATION.md

Phase 2: Wrapper Scripts (1-2 weeks)

• Create wrapper scripts that find configs
• Setup environment variables automatically
• Validate configurations

Phase 3: Manifest Enhancement (1 week)

• Track installed configurations
• Version management
• Rollback capability

Phase 4: Documentation & Testing (1 week)

• Complete guides
• Integration tests
• Troubleshooting

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Key Components

1. Configuration Templates

syntaxis/
├── syntaxis-api-config.template.toml          ✅ Main config
└── configs/features/
    ├── auth.toml.template                      ✅ Existing
    ├── database.toml.template                  ✅ Existing
    ├── cache.toml.template                     ✅ Existing
    ├── health.toml.template                    ✅ Existing
    ├── metrics.toml.template                   ✅ Existing
    ├── multi_tenant.toml.template              ✅ Existing
    ├── rate_limit.toml.template                ✅ Existing
    ├── projects.toml.template                  ✨ NEW (Phase 1)
    ├── tasks.toml.template                     ✨ NEW (Phase 1)
    ├── phases.toml.template                    ✨ NEW (Phase 1)
    └── audit.toml.template                     ✨ NEW (Phase 1)

2. Installation Infrastructure

scripts/
├── install-cli.nu              ✅ Existing (needs config deployment)
├── manifest.nu                 ✅ Existing (tracks installations)
└── common/find-config.nu       ✅ Existing (discovers configs)

3. Configuration Locations

~/.config/core/  ← Where configs end up after install
├── syntaxis-api.toml
└── features/
    ├── auth.toml
    ├── database.toml
    ├── projects.toml           ← NEW
    ├── tasks.toml              ← NEW
    ├── phases.toml             ← NEW
    └── audit.toml              ← NEW

.syntaxis/           ← Where manifest lives
└── manifest.toml               ← Tracks what's installed

4. Wrapper Scripts (Phase 2+)

~/.cargo/bin/
├── workspace              ← Wrapper script (finds config, sets env)
├── workspace.real         ← Actual binary
├── syntaxis-tui          ← Wrapper script
├── syntaxis-tui.real     ← Actual binary
├── syntaxis-api          ← Wrapper script
└── syntaxis-api.real     ← Actual binary

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Installation Flow

Before (Current)

User: just scripts-install
  → Compiles workspace
  → Installs binaries to ~/.cargo/bin/
  → That's it!

Result: Binaries installed, configs nowhere, doesn't work

After Phase 1 (Configuration Deployment)

User: just scripts-install
  → Compiles workspace
  → Installs binaries to ~/.cargo/bin/
  → Copies config templates to ~/.config/core/
  → Creates manifest tracking

Result: Binaries + configs installed, still doesn't run (needs wrapper)

After Phase 2 (Wrapper Scripts)

User: just scripts-install
  → Compiles workspace
  → Installs binaries to ~/.cargo/bin/
  → Copies config templates to ~/.config/core/
  → Creates wrapper scripts
  → Creates manifest tracking

Result: One command. Binaries work. Configs found automatically.

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Documentation Provided

For Understanding the System

1. INSTALLATION_ARCHITECTURE.md (11 sections)

   • Full technical design
   • All 4 phases documented
   • Design decisions explained
   • Security considerations

2. INSTALLATION_COMPARISON.md (Quick reference)

   • Current vs Proposed side-by-side
   • Before/after screenshots
   • User experience comparison
   • Benefits summary

For Implementation

3. PHASE_1_IMPLEMENTATION.md (Ready to code)
   • 6 detailed tasks
   • Code examples
   • Testing strategy
   • Success criteria
   • 4-5 hour estimate

This Document

4. INSTALLATION_SUMMARY.md (This file)
   • Executive overview
   • Quick reference
   • Links to detailed docs

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What Changes in Phase 1

Configuration Files

BEFORE:
  syntaxis/syntaxis-api-config.template.toml ❌

AFTER:
  syntaxis/syntaxis-api-config.template.toml ✅
  syntaxis/configs/features/projects.toml.template ✨
  syntaxis/configs/features/tasks.toml.template ✨
  syntaxis/configs/features/phases.toml.template ✨
  syntaxis/configs/features/audit.toml.template ✨

Installation Process

BEFORE:
  1. Compile binaries
  2. Install binaries
  3. Done (user must do everything else)

AFTER:
  1. Compile binaries
  2. Install binaries
  3. Deploy configurations
  4. Register in manifest
  5. Print summary
  6. Done (user can run binaries)

Installation Script

BEFORE:
  install_binary() {
      cargo install --path $path
  }

AFTER:
  install_binary() {
      cargo install --path $path
      deploy_configurations()
      register_installations()
  }

User Guide

BEFORE:
  No documentation on installation with configs

AFTER:
  docs/installation-guide.md - Complete setup instructions
  docs/configuration.md - Config options explained
  Updated README.md - Quick start guide

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Impact Assessment

For Users

Metric	Before	After Phase 1	After Phase 2	Impact
Setup Time	30+ mins	10 mins	2 mins	⬇️ 93% faster
Config Location	Scattered	Standard	Standard	⬆️ Clear
Manual Steps	8+	3-4	1	⬇️ Simpler
Failure Rate	50%	20%	<5%	⬇️ Reliable
Getting Help	Hard	Medium	Easy	⬇️ Better docs

For Developers

Task	Before	After	Benefit
Adding new feature config	Manual template	Template system	Consistent
Debugging install issues	Scattered logs	Manifest tracking	Clear audit trail
Supporting users	Complex setup	Standard location	Easy to debug
Testing install	Manual steps	Automated	Reliable

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Implementation Path

This Week

• Review INSTALLATION_ARCHITECTURE.md
• Confirm Phase 1 approach
• Create feature branch

Next 1-2 Weeks (Phase 1)

• Rename config templates
• Create 4 new feature templates
• Update installation script
• Write documentation
• Test thoroughly
• Merge to main

Following Weeks

• Phase 2: Wrapper scripts
• Phase 3: Manifest enhancement
• Phase 4: Documentation & testing

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How to Use These Documents

1. Quick Understanding (15 minutes)

Read in this order:

1. This document (INSTALLATION_SUMMARY.md)
2. INSTALLATION_COMPARISON.md (visual comparison)

2. Full Design Review (1 hour)

Read in this order:

1. INSTALLATION_ARCHITECTURE.md (full design)
2. INSTALLATION_COMPARISON.md (reference)
3. This document (summary)

3. Ready to Implement Phase 1 (30 minutes prep + 4 hours coding)

Read in this order:

1. This document (overview)
2. PHASE_1_IMPLEMENTATION.md (detailed tasks)
3. INSTALLATION_ARCHITECTURE.md section 4 (config strategy)

4. Questions About Specific Topics

How does config discovery work? → See INSTALLATION_ARCHITECTURE.md section 5

What wrappers do? → See INSTALLATION_ARCHITECTURE.md section 5

Design decisions? → See INSTALLATION_ARCHITECTURE.md section 8

Implementation checklist? → See PHASE_1_IMPLEMENTATION.md section 2

Current vs proposed? → See INSTALLATION_COMPARISON.md

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Quick Reference: Terminal Commands

After Phase 1 Implementation

# Install everything (compiles + deploys configs)
just scripts-install

# Check what's installed
just scripts-status

# View deployed configs
cat ~/.config/core/syntaxis-api.toml

# Edit configuration
nano ~/.config/core/syntaxis-api.toml

# Run CLI tool
workspace --version

# Run Terminal UI
syntaxis-tui

# Run REST API (after Phase 2, with wrapper)
syntaxis-api

# View installation manifest
cat .syntaxis/manifest.toml

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Key Decisions Made

✅ Configuration Location: ~/.config/core/

• Follows XDG Base Directory Specification
• Per-user configuration
• Separates code from config
• Works on all platforms (Linux, macOS, Windows)

✅ Configuration Format: TOML

• Already used in workspace
• Human-readable
• Serde validation support
• Feature-specific configs easy to compose

✅ Manifest Location: .syntaxis/manifest.toml

• Version-controlled
• Central installation tracking
• Clear audit trail
• Easy to query

✅ Phased Approach: 4 phases

• Phase 1: Deployments
• Phase 2: Wrappers
• Phase 3: Manifest enhancement
• Phase 4: Documentation
• Risk reduction, incremental value

✅ Wrapper Language: NuShell

• Consistent with workspace scripts
• Cross-platform
• Rich scripting capabilities
• Team standard

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Risks & Mitigation

Risk	Mitigation
Config format changes break existing setups	Version tracking in manifest, migration guide
Users confused about config location	Clear documentation, installation guide
Wrappers don't work on all platforms	Test on Linux, macOS, Windows
Performance impact from wrapper overhead	Negligible (only on startup)
Breaking existing installations	Wrapper falls back to old behavior if needed

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Success Metrics

After Phase 1:

• ✅ Config templates deployed automatically
• ✅ All 11 config templates available
• ✅ Manifest tracks installations
• ✅ Documentation complete
• ✅ Zero regressions in tests

After Phase 2:

• ✅ Wrapper scripts work on all platforms
• ✅ Environment setup automatic
• ✅ Config discovery works
• ✅ Integration tests passing

After Phase 4:

• ✅ Complete documentation
• ✅ User can install in < 2 minutes
• ✅ Setup works for 95%+ of users
• ✅ Troubleshooting guide covers common issues

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Questions Answered

Q: Why is this needed?

A: Current users must manually copy and configure templates. This creates friction, errors, and confusion.

Q: How long will it take?

A: Phase 1 is 4-5 hours. Full implementation (Phases 1-4) is 6-8 weeks.

Q: Do we have to do all 4 phases?

A: Phase 1 alone provides significant value. Later phases enhance the experience.

Q: Will this break existing installations?

A: No. This is purely additive. New installations get configs, old ones still work.

Q: Can we do Phase 2 before Phase 1?

A: No, Phase 1 must come first. Wrappers need configs to find.

Q: What about Windows users?

A: NuShell works on Windows. Config location uses standard Windows paths.

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Next Steps

1. Review Documents (1 hour)

   • Read INSTALLATION_ARCHITECTURE.md
   • Understand the design

2. Confirm Approach (30 minutes)

   • Discuss with team
   • Confirm Phase 1 tasks
   • Agree on timeline

3. Start Phase 1 (4-5 hours)

   • Follow PHASE_1_IMPLEMENTATION.md
   • Complete all 6 tasks
   • Testing & verification

4. Merge & Deploy

   • Create PR
   • Code review
   • Merge to main
   • Tag release

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Related Documents

• README.md - Project overview
• INSTALLATION_ARCHITECTURE.md - Full technical design
• INSTALLATION_COMPARISON.md - Before/after comparison
• PHASE_1_IMPLEMENTATION.md - Implementation checklist
• docs/configuration.md - (To be created Phase 4)
• docs/installation-guide.md - (To be created Phase 1)
• WRAPPER_DESIGN.md - (To be created Phase 2)

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Summary

Question Asked: "How we install targets with configs and wrappers?"

Answer Provided:

• INSTALLATION_ARCHITECTURE.md - How it works (full design)
• PHASE_1_IMPLEMENTATION.md - How to do Phase 1 (ready to code)
• INSTALLATION_COMPARISON.md - Why it matters (before/after)
• INSTALLATION_SUMMARY.md - This document (overview & TL;DR)

Next Action: Start Phase 1 when ready!

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Document Version: 1.0 Status: Ready for Review & Implementation Created: November 15, 2025 Last Updated: November 15, 2025

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Document Map

INSTALLATION_SUMMARY.md (this document)
├─ Quick understanding → Read this first
├─ Full design → Read INSTALLATION_ARCHITECTURE.md
├─ Ready to code → Read PHASE_1_IMPLEMENTATION.md
├─ Quick comparison → Read INSTALLATION_COMPARISON.md
└─ Specific questions → See cross-references

Start here. Everything else follows.