Editing Installation (computer programs) (section)

{{Short description|Process of making a computer program ready for execution}}
{{Multiple issues|Software installation|collapsed=yes|section=y}}
'''Installation''' (or '''setup''') of a [[computer program]] (including [[device driver]]s and [[plug-in (computing)|plugins]]), is the act of making the program ready for [[execution (computing)|execution]]. Installation refers to the particular configuration of software or hardware with a view to making it usable with the computer. A soft or digital copy of the piece of software (program) is needed to install it. There are different processes of installing a piece of software (program). Because the process varies for each program and each computer, programs (including [[operating system]]s) often come with an ''installer'', a specialised program responsible for doing whatever is needed (see below) for the installation.  Installation may be part of a larger [[software deployment]] process.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Valente |first1=Andrea |last2=Marchetti |first2=Emanuela |date=2022-03-01 |title=Simplifying Programming for Non-technical Students: A Hermeneutic Approach |journal=KI - Künstliche Intelligenz |language=en |volume=36 |issue=1 |pages=17–33 |doi=10.1007/s13218-021-00748-0 |doi-access=free |issn=1610-1987 |pmc=8761527 |pmid=35068698 }}</ref>

Installation typically involves files containing program code and data being copied/generated from the installation to new files on the local computer for easier access by the operating system, creating necessary directories, registering [[environment variable]]s, providing a separate program for un-installation etc. Because program files are generally copied/generated in multiple locations, uninstallation usually involves more than just erasing the program folder. For example, registry files and other system code may need to be modified or deleted for a complete uninstallation.