Run Packages

Soar allows you to run packages without installing them permanently on your system. While the package files are still downloaded and stored, they aren't integrated into your system PATH or desktop environment. This feature is perfect for trying out applications or running one-off tasks.

Basic Usage

To run a package:

soar run <package>

Example: Run feroxbuster

soar run feroxbuster

How It Works

When you run a package:

  1. Download and Storage

    • Downloads the package to Soar's managed directory
    • Stores in a separate location from installed packages
    • Maintains package files for future runs

  2. Execution

    • Executes directly from Soar's managed directory
    • Uses isolated binary path
    • Maintains separation from system-installed versions

  3. Management

    • Keeps package files for future use
    • Doesn't add to system PATH
    • No desktop environment integration
Unlike temporary execution, running a package does store the files on disk. This approach provides faster subsequent runs while maintaining system organization.

Storage Location

Soar stores "run-only" packages in its managed directory structure:

  • Not in /tmp (to avoid memory pressure on systems with tmpfs)
  • Separate from permanently installed packages
  • Managed alongside other Soar data
  • Preserved for future runs, but removed after 8 hours
This approach ensures that large packages don't fill up memory-based temporary storage while still maintaining separation from system-installed packages.