Claude Code Plugins

Community-maintained marketplace

Feedback

self-extracting-script

@apanoia/my_completely_irrelevant_claude_skillls
0
0

Create self-extracting Bash scripts that embed any payload (archives, executables, configs) using base64 encoding. Use when creating portable single-file installers, deployment packages, or distributing files without external dependencies.

Install Skill

1Download skill
2Enable skills in Claude

Open claude.ai/settings/capabilities and find the "Skills" section

3Upload to Claude

Click "Upload skill" and select the downloaded ZIP file

Note: Please verify skill by going through its instructions before using it.

SKILL.md

name self-extracting-script
description Create self-extracting Bash scripts that embed any payload (archives, executables, configs) using base64 encoding. Use when creating portable single-file installers, deployment packages, or distributing files without external dependencies.

Self-Extracting Script Skill

Generate self-extracting Bash scripts from any payload file. The generated scripts embed the payload as base64 and extract it when executed.

Quick Start

# Basic extraction script
python scripts/create_self_extractor.py payload.tar.gz output.sh

# Auto-execute after extraction
python scripts/create_self_extractor.py setup.sh installer.sh --execute

# Custom output filename
python scripts/create_self_extractor.py config.json deploy.sh --output prod_config.json

Features

  • Embeds any file type (binary or text) using base64 encoding
  • Optional auto-execution of extracted content
  • Custom output filenames
  • Descriptive headers in generated scripts
  • Portable - requires only bash and base64

Usage

python scripts/create_self_extractor.py <payload> <output_script> [options]

Arguments

Argument Description
payload Path to the file to embed
output_script Path for the generated self-extracting script

Options

Option Description
--execute, -e Run extracted file after extraction (for scripts)
--output, -o Custom filename for extracted content
--description, -d Description to include in script header

Examples

Software Deployment

python scripts/create_self_extractor.py myapp.tar.gz deploy_myapp.sh \
    --description "MyApp v1.2.3 deployment package"

Auto-Running Installer

python scripts/create_self_extractor.py install.sh installer.sh --execute

Configuration Distribution

python scripts/create_self_extractor.py config.yaml setup.sh \
    --output /etc/myapp/config.yaml

How It Works

  1. Reads the payload file (binary or text)
  2. Base64-encodes the content
  3. Generates a Bash script with embedded payload
  4. Script uses heredoc to safely store encoded data
  5. On execution: decodes payload → writes to file → optionally executes

Size Considerations

Base64 encoding increases size by ~33%:

  • 1 MB → ~1.33 MB
  • 10 MB → ~13.3 MB

For payloads >50MB, consider alternative distribution methods.

Dependencies

Generation: Python 3.6+ Execution: bash, base64 (standard on most Unix systems)