Dimos Installer Spec

[jeff-hykin]

Whats are the main issues?

1. Our installer needs to be used in a way thats similar to create-react-app (call dim new-app once per project -- not a one-time install like open claw).

   • We can't just install a global dimos executable and be done.
   • Not only do we have BOTH global and project-specific install aspects, but we have weird inbetween things, like project-specific choices that affect globally installed stuff - like nix with direnv.

2. dim new-app requires lots of Opinions (things that probably shouldn't be decided by one guy)

If we decide what SHOULD happen, I can implement it (and make it pretty).

What we should do right now

1. A globally installed command (different than our existing dimos command). Like dim or ds that:
   1. Is insanely reliable, bulletproof, and heavily tested. (I'm going to suggest Rust compiled against musl, using cliclack)
   2. Helps OEMs diagnose problems (dim doctor), establish a systemd process, and perform system-level modifications (like systemctl multicast stuff)
   3. Has a dim new-app sub-command that asks the user a bunch of questions, then creates a git repo filled with whatever setup the user picked (docker based, apt-based, nix-based, devcontainer based, etc)

Everyone should have input on this:

2. Have template repos that decide: What is a apt-based/nix-based/docker-based project-that-uses-dimos supposed to look like? (folder structure, starter files)

   • ex: a repo with a dockerfile that starts with FROM dimos:<some tag>
   • Note: Austin, Humzah (spel?), and Miguel have all requested template repos - creating these kills two birds with one stone
   • Problems will be revealed -- problems like we can't just copy our flake.nix to an empty repo and it work (needs to be tracked and copying a flake is a nix anit-pattern, flakes are supposed to be imported)
     • I already made a fix for this with an example of how people can import our flake.nix in the intended nix way, as well as the necessary modifications on our end to make that possible.

3. Decide:

   • What should be asked on the inital global install?
   • What questions should be asked during the dim new-app phase?
     • do we ask them to select which dimos extras they want and then install corrisponding system level stuff? (like dds)
     • if they pick cuda, do we just say
     • do we force them to use uv or ask them? (I say force uv, but many roboticists use conda)
     • if they pick nix do we ask if they want to use direnv? (I say keep it simple: let them setup direnv, but @leshy might disagree)
     • etc