Gfilui

Is it possible to install a program automatically, which when extracted and run, it opens up a menu installer? (doesn't look like the installer has any options which I can pass in either).

Is there a package out there which can maybe automate pressing the buttons in the menus?

For those interested, the program in question is CrossWorks for ARM.

Usually one can try --quiet, -q --help but as you said, this will not work here. We have to build something on our own.

For an unattended installation I find it useful to let the installation be run on a virtual X-server. We can send keys to the X-server and will not mess with the current screen. Therefore we need xvfb form the X.org project. I also want to take screenshots during the installation to see where the process is at and if any errors occur. We need imagemagick for that. Note that imagemagick will only work on X sessions. No wayland support right now.

First download the installer and unpack it.

cd ~/Downloads
wget http://cdn.rowleydownload.co.uk/arm/releases/arm_crossworks_4_1_0_linux_x64.tar.gz
tar xf arm_crossworks_4_1_0_linux_x64.tar.gz
cd ~/Downloads/arm_crossworks_4_1_linux_x64

then execute this script from my gist:

#!/bin/bash
#
# source: https://askubuntu.com/questions/1002349/install-a-program-automatically-with-terminal-which-has-menus
# dependencies: sudo imagemagick xvfb

# constants
SERVERNUM=99
SCREENSHOT=status.png
CROSSWORKS_PID=
XVFB_PID=
PROGRESS_PID=
KEYS_PID=

# function find_free_servernum() taken from xvfb-run
# Xvfb is part of x.org and licensed under MIT
# http://opensource.org/licenses/mit-license.php
#
# Find a free server number by looking at .X*-lock files in /tmp.
find_free_servernum() 
 # Sadly, the "local" keyword is not POSIX. Leave the next line commented in
 # the hope Debian Policy eventually changes to allow it in /bin/sh scripts
 # anyway.
 #local i

 i=$SERVERNUM
 while [ -f /tmp/.X$i-lock ]; do
 i=$(($i + 1))
 done
 echo $i


start_xvfb() 
 SERVERNUM=$(find_free_servernum)
 echo starting virtual DISPLAY at :$SERVERNUM
 export DISPLAY=:$SERVERNUM

 Xvfb $DISPLAY -screen 0 1280x800x16 &> /dev/null &
 XVFB_PID=$!


install_crossworks() 
 check_root
 if [ ! -e ./install_crossworks ]; then
 echo crossworks installation file not found
 exit 1
 fi
 timeout --kill-after=90s 90s sudo -n ./install_crossworks &
 CROSSWORKS_PID=$!

 crossworks_enter_keys &
 KEYS_PID=$!

 show_progress &
 PROGRESS_PID=$!

 if wait $CROSSWORKS_PID; then
 echo ok
 fi

 kill "$PROGRESS_PID" &> /dev/null
 kill "$KEYS_PID" &> /dev/null


crossworks_enter_keys() 
 # wait for archive to get checked for crc errors
 sleep 5
 # press next
 xdotool key KP_Enter
 sleep 1
 # accept license
 xdotool key Tab Tab Tab space Tab Tab KP_Enter
 sleep 1
 # select install directory
 xdotool key KP_Enter
 sleep 1
 # start installation
 xdotool key KP_Enter
 sleep 60
 # exit installation
 xdotool key KP_Enter
 sleep 1


show_progress() 
 while /bin/true; do
 take_screenshot
 echo -n .
 sleep 1
 done


take_screenshot() 
 import -window root $SCREENSHOT
 sudo chown $USER $SCREENSHOT


check_root() 
 if ! sudo -n /bin/true 2>/dev/null; then
 echo super user is required for installation.
 sudo /bin/true
 fi


check_installation() 
 if [ -e /usr/share/crossworks_for_arm_4.1/bin/crossstudio ]; then
 echo Crossworks installed.
 exit 0
 fi


cleanup() 
 kill "$PROGRESS_PID" &> /dev/null
 kill "$CROSSWORKS_PID" &> /dev/null
 kill "$XVFB_PID" &> /dev/null
 kill "$KEYS_PID" &> /dev/null


trap cleanup EXIT

check_installation
start_xvfb
install_crossworks
check_installation

One big problem was that I was guessing the times the installer takes before the next user input is necessary. It may vary depending on your CPU.

Please also note that the installation script is only valid for installing crossworks. The script will not work for upgrading or uninstalling.

To uninstall crossworks again, execute

sudo /usr/share/crossworks_for_arm_4.1/bin/uninstall

if there are any errors, try to take a look at the status.png that is placed in the current working directory. It is a screenshot from the X framebuffer.

It will look something like this on installation:

Also take a look at /usr/share/crossworks_for_arm_4.1/. Sometimes if installation is aborted this directory is there but not completely filled with all the necessary data.

You can try to get the script more advanced, i.e. by capturing status images when a keystroke is required and comparing their checksum some already saved checksums to see at which status the installation is.