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Install packages and create a reusable image.

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Description

The install-packages prompt provides instructions for installing packages in a container and tagging the result for future reuse. It follows the prepare-and-tag pattern.

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Parameters

ParameterTypeRequiredDefaultDescription
packagesstringYes-Packages to install (space-separated)
imagestringNopython:3.11-slimBase image to use

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Generated Instructions

When invoked with: 
{
  "packages": "flask gunicorn",
  "image": "python:3.11-slim"
}
Returns: 
Install packages in a container:

1. Check if base image `tag:python:3.11-slim` exists with `list_images`
2. If not, import it with `import_image`
3. Run `pip install flask gunicorn` with `disposable=false` to save the image
4. Tag the result for reuse (e.g., `claude/common/python/custom-deps:3.11`)

The returned `result_image` can be used for subsequent commands.

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Example Usage

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Python Packages

{
  "prompt": "install-packages",
  "args": {
    "packages": "numpy pandas matplotlib scikit-learn"
  }
}

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Web Framework Stack

{
  "prompt": "install-packages",
  "args": {
    "packages": "fastapi uvicorn sqlalchemy alembic"
  }
}

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System Packages

For system packages, use a different base image and package manager: 
{
  "prompt": "install-packages",
  "args": {
    "packages": "curl wget git",
    "image": "ubuntu:22.04"
  }
}
Note: For Ubuntu, the agent should adapt to use apt install instead of pip install.

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Implementation Notes

The agent should:
  1. Check if base image exists with list_images
  2. Import if needed with import_image
  3. Install packages with run: 
    {
  "command": "pip install <packages>",
  "image": "tag:<base_image>",
  "disposable": false
}
  4. Tag the result with set_tag: 
    {
  "image_uuid": "<result_image>",
  "tag": "common/<purpose>/<base_image>"
}

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See Also