diff --git a/include/cppship/cmake/bin.h b/include/cppship/cmake/bin.h
index f78ffff..c3dad68 100644
--- a/include/cppship/cmake/bin.h
+++ b/include/cppship/cmake/bin.h
@@ -30,4 +30,4 @@ class CmakeBin {
     BinDesc mDesc;
 };
 
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/include/cppship/cmake/dep.h b/include/cppship/cmake/dep.h
index 190a3d7..789f65c 100644
--- a/include/cppship/cmake/dep.h
+++ b/include/cppship/cmake/dep.h
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
 #pragma once
 
-#include "cppship/core/dependency.h"
-
 #include <string>
 #include <vector>
 
+#include "cppship/core/dependency.h"
+
 namespace cppship::cmake {
 
 struct Dep {
@@ -16,4 +16,4 @@ struct Dep {
 std::vector<Dep> resolve_deps(
     const std::vector<DeclaredDependency>& declared_deps, const ResolvedDependencies& resolved);
 
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/include/cppship/cmake/dependency_injector.h b/include/cppship/cmake/dependency_injector.h
index b46b0d4..83d8ea4 100644
--- a/include/cppship/cmake/dependency_injector.h
+++ b/include/cppship/cmake/dependency_injector.h
@@ -39,4 +39,4 @@ class CmakeDependencyInjector : public DependencyInjector {
     ResolvedDependencies mAllDeps;
 };
 
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/include/cppship/cmake/generator.h b/include/cppship/cmake/generator.h
index ff04665..a7aae79 100644
--- a/include/cppship/cmake/generator.h
+++ b/include/cppship/cmake/generator.h
@@ -71,4 +71,4 @@ class CmakeGenerator {
     std::set<std::string> mTestTargets;
 };
 
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/include/cppship/cmake/lib.h b/include/cppship/cmake/lib.h
index 2e9205d..7d10bdc 100644
--- a/include/cppship/cmake/lib.h
+++ b/include/cppship/cmake/lib.h
@@ -38,4 +38,4 @@ class CmakeLib {
     std::vector<std::string> mDefinitions;
 };
 
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/include/cppship/cmake/msvc.h b/include/cppship/cmake/msvc.h
index fcf34f8..a3c1c3c 100644
--- a/include/cppship/cmake/msvc.h
+++ b/include/cppship/cmake/msvc.h
@@ -9,4 +9,4 @@ namespace cppship::msvc {
 // msvc generator has different binary path, fix it
 fs::path fix_bin_path(const cppship::cmd::BuildContext& ctx, std::string_view bin);
 
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/include/cppship/cmake/package_configurer.h b/include/cppship/cmake/package_configurer.h
index 211abb1..b0b0081 100644
--- a/include/cppship/cmake/package_configurer.h
+++ b/include/cppship/cmake/package_configurer.h
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 #pragma once
 
-#include "cppship/core/dependency.h"
-
 #include <functional>
 
+#include "cppship/core/dependency.h"
+
 namespace cppship::cmake {
 
 struct ConfigOptions {
@@ -17,4 +17,4 @@ struct ConfigOptions {
 void config_packages(
     const ResolvedDependencies& cppship_deps, const ResolvedDependencies& all_deps, const ConfigOptions& options);
 
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/include/cppship/cmd/build.h b/include/cppship/cmd/build.h
index 9f47947..3b980a4 100644
--- a/include/cppship/cmd/build.h
+++ b/include/cppship/cmd/build.h
@@ -72,4 +72,4 @@ void cmake_setup(const BuildContext& ctx);
 
 int cmake_build(const BuildContext& ctx, const BuildOptions& options);
 
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/include/cppship/cmd/cmake.h b/include/cppship/cmd/cmake.h
index fb44b46..85da0ed 100644
--- a/include/cppship/cmd/cmake.h
+++ b/include/cppship/cmd/cmake.h
@@ -6,4 +6,4 @@ struct CmakeOptions { };
 
 int run_cmake(const CmakeOptions& options);
 
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/include/cppship/cmd/init.h b/include/cppship/cmd/init.h
index 65410c8..fa557b8 100644
--- a/include/cppship/cmd/init.h
+++ b/include/cppship/cmd/init.h
@@ -18,4 +18,4 @@ struct InitOptions {
 
 int run_init(const InitOptions& options);
 
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/include/cppship/cmd/install.h b/include/cppship/cmd/install.h
index 0faaf10..ba1ea57 100644
--- a/include/cppship/cmd/install.h
+++ b/include/cppship/cmd/install.h
@@ -6,8 +6,9 @@ namespace cppship::cmd {
 
 struct InstallOptions {
     Profile profile = Profile::debug;
+    std::string root;
 };
 
 int run_install(const InstallOptions& options);
 
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/include/cppship/core/dependency.h b/include/cppship/core/dependency.h
index f493e2d..60d39d2 100644
--- a/include/cppship/core/dependency.h
+++ b/include/cppship/core/dependency.h
@@ -4,13 +4,13 @@
 #include <map>
 #include <string>
 #include <string_view>
-#include <toml/value.hpp>
 #include <variant>
 #include <vector>
 
 #include <fmt/core.h>
 #include <range/v3/view/map.hpp>
 #include <toml.hpp>
+#include <toml/value.hpp>
 
 #include "cppship/util/assert.h"
 #include "cppship/util/fs.h"
diff --git a/include/cppship/core/manifest.h b/include/cppship/core/manifest.h
index 9c658c7..8d9fa22 100644
--- a/include/cppship/core/manifest.h
+++ b/include/cppship/core/manifest.h
@@ -63,4 +63,4 @@ class Manifest {
 
 void generate_manifest(std::string_view name, CxxStd std, const fs::path& dir);
 
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/include/cppship/core/profile.h b/include/cppship/core/profile.h
index 9458b4e..768b0f1 100644
--- a/include/cppship/core/profile.h
+++ b/include/cppship/core/profile.h
@@ -72,4 +72,4 @@ struct ProfileOptions {
     std::vector<ConditionConfig> conditional_configs;
 };
 
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/include/cppship/core/resolver.h b/include/cppship/core/resolver.h
index 696b03f..92a8804 100644
--- a/include/cppship/core/resolver.h
+++ b/include/cppship/core/resolver.h
@@ -1,14 +1,15 @@
 #pragma once
 
-#include "cppship/core/dependency.h"
-#include "cppship/core/manifest.h"
-
 #include <functional>
-#include <gsl/pointers>
 #include <queue>
 #include <set>
 #include <vector>
 
+#include <gsl/pointers>
+
+#include "cppship/core/dependency.h"
+#include "cppship/core/manifest.h"
+
 namespace cppship {
 
 struct ResolveResult {
@@ -45,4 +46,4 @@ class Resolver {
     std::set<std::string> mPackageSeen;
 };
 
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/include/cppship/util/assert.h b/include/cppship/util/assert.h
index d4ca947..80f778f 100644
--- a/include/cppship/util/assert.h
+++ b/include/cppship/util/assert.h
@@ -15,4 +15,4 @@ inline void enforce(bool expr, std::string_view msg)
     }
 }
 
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/include/cppship/util/fs.h b/include/cppship/util/fs.h
index 562d69d..aaaf1ec 100644
--- a/include/cppship/util/fs.h
+++ b/include/cppship/util/fs.h
@@ -26,13 +26,9 @@ class ScopedCurrentDir {
     fs::path mPrevCwd;
 };
 
-inline void create_if_not_exist(const fs::path& path)
-{
-    if (fs::exists(path)) {
-        return;
-    }
+void create_if_not_exist(const fs::path& path);
 
-    fs::create_directory(path);
-}
+inline constexpr std::string_view kCppShipDirName = ".cppship";
+fs::path get_cppship_dir();
 
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/include/cppship/util/io.h b/include/cppship/util/io.h
index fb105b1..cda2028 100644
--- a/include/cppship/util/io.h
+++ b/include/cppship/util/io.h
@@ -12,4 +12,4 @@ std::string read_as_string(const fs::path& file);
 
 std::string read_as_string(std::istream& iss);
 
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/lib/cmake/generator.cpp b/lib/cmake/generator.cpp
index 1f4aed5..ec20409 100644
--- a/lib/cmake/generator.cpp
+++ b/lib/cmake/generator.cpp
@@ -1,12 +1,4 @@
 #include "cppship/cmake/generator.h"
-#include "cppship/cmake/bin.h"
-#include "cppship/cmake/cfg_predicate.h"
-#include "cppship/cmake/dep.h"
-#include "cppship/cmake/group.h"
-#include "cppship/cmake/lib.h"
-#include "cppship/cmake/naming.h"
-#include "cppship/core/manifest.h"
-#include "cppship/exception.h"
 
 #include <boost/algorithm/string/join.hpp>
 #include <boost/algorithm/string/replace.hpp>
@@ -19,6 +11,15 @@
 #include <range/v3/view/concat.hpp>
 #include <range/v3/view/transform.hpp>
 
+#include "cppship/cmake/bin.h"
+#include "cppship/cmake/cfg_predicate.h"
+#include "cppship/cmake/dep.h"
+#include "cppship/cmake/group.h"
+#include "cppship/cmake/lib.h"
+#include "cppship/cmake/naming.h"
+#include "cppship/core/manifest.h"
+#include "cppship/exception.h"
+
 using namespace ranges::views;
 
 using namespace cppship;
@@ -460,4 +461,4 @@ void CmakeGenerator::fill_profile_(Profile profile)
         appender.output(profile_str, config, "\t");
         mOut << "endif()\n\n";
     }
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/lib/cmake/msvc.cpp b/lib/cmake/msvc.cpp
index 41917e2..2f8ef75 100644
--- a/lib/cmake/msvc.cpp
+++ b/lib/cmake/msvc.cpp
@@ -1,8 +1,9 @@
 #include "cppship/cmake/msvc.h"
-#include "cppship/util/io.h"
 
 #include <boost/algorithm/string.hpp>
 
+#include "cppship/util/io.h"
+
 using namespace cppship;
 
 fs::path msvc::fix_bin_path(const cppship::cmd::BuildContext& ctx, std::string_view bin)
@@ -13,4 +14,4 @@ fs::path msvc::fix_bin_path(const cppship::cmd::BuildContext& ctx, std::string_v
     }
 
     return bin;
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/lib/cmake/package_configurer.cpp b/lib/cmake/package_configurer.cpp
index 9d40a95..dbe4df4 100644
--- a/lib/cmake/package_configurer.cpp
+++ b/lib/cmake/package_configurer.cpp
@@ -1,13 +1,14 @@
 #include "cppship/cmake/package_configurer.h"
+
+#include <fmt/core.h>
+#include <fmt/format.h>
+
 #include "cppship/cmake/lib.h"
 #include "cppship/core/layout.h"
 #include "cppship/core/manifest.h"
 #include "cppship/util/io.h"
 #include "cppship/util/repo.h"
 
-#include <fmt/core.h>
-#include <fmt/format.h>
-
 using namespace cppship;
 using namespace fmt::literals;
 
@@ -27,7 +28,9 @@ void cmake::config_packages(
 add_library({target} INTERFACE IMPORTED)
 target_include_directories({target} INTERFACE {cmake_deps_dir}/{package}/include)
 )",
-                    "target"_a = cmake_target, "package"_a = dep.package, "cmake_deps_dir"_a = options.cmake_deps_dir));
+                    "target"_a = cmake_target,
+                    "package"_a = dep.package,
+                    "cmake_deps_dir"_a = options.cmake_deps_dir));
 
             continue;
         }
@@ -56,4 +59,4 @@ target_include_directories({target} INTERFACE {cmake_deps_dir}/{package}/include
 
         write(package_cmake_config_file, content);
     }
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/lib/cmd/bench.cpp b/lib/cmd/bench.cpp
index 3ba0843..092bab8 100644
--- a/lib/cmd/bench.cpp
+++ b/lib/cmd/bench.cpp
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+#include "cppship/cmd/bench.h"
+
 #include <cstdlib>
 
 #include <boost/process/system.hpp>
@@ -8,7 +10,6 @@
 
 #include "cppship/cmake/msvc.h"
 #include "cppship/cmake/naming.h"
-#include "cppship/cmd/bench.h"
 #include "cppship/cmd/build.h"
 #include "cppship/core/manifest.h"
 #include "cppship/util/fs.h"
@@ -64,4 +65,4 @@ int cmd::run_bench(const BenchOptions& options)
     }
 
     return result;
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/lib/cmd/build.cpp b/lib/cmd/build.cpp
index 0c22776..af28f47 100644
--- a/lib/cmd/build.cpp
+++ b/lib/cmd/build.cpp
@@ -1,16 +1,4 @@
 #include "cppship/cmd/build.h"
-#include "cppship/cmake/generator.h"
-#include "cppship/cmake/group.h"
-#include "cppship/cmake/package_configurer.h"
-#include "cppship/core/compiler.h"
-#include "cppship/core/dependency.h"
-#include "cppship/core/resolver.h"
-#include "cppship/exception.h"
-#include "cppship/util/cmd.h"
-#include "cppship/util/fs.h"
-#include "cppship/util/git.h"
-#include "cppship/util/io.h"
-#include "cppship/util/log.h"
 
 #include <fstream>
 #include <sstream>
@@ -29,6 +17,19 @@
 #include <spdlog/spdlog.h>
 #include <toml.hpp>
 
+#include "cppship/cmake/generator.h"
+#include "cppship/cmake/group.h"
+#include "cppship/cmake/package_configurer.h"
+#include "cppship/core/compiler.h"
+#include "cppship/core/dependency.h"
+#include "cppship/core/resolver.h"
+#include "cppship/exception.h"
+#include "cppship/util/cmd.h"
+#include "cppship/util/fs.h"
+#include "cppship/util/git.h"
+#include "cppship/util/io.h"
+#include "cppship/util/log.h"
+
 using namespace cppship;
 using namespace boost::process;
 using namespace fmt::literals;
@@ -181,8 +182,10 @@ void cmd::conan_install(const BuildContext& ctx)
         return;
     }
 
-    const auto cmd = fmt::format("conan install {} -of {}/conan -pr {} --build=missing", ctx.build_dir.string(),
-        ctx.profile_dir.string(), ctx.conan_profile_path.string());
+    const auto cmd = fmt::format("conan install {} -of {}/conan -pr {} --build=missing",
+        ctx.build_dir.string(),
+        ctx.profile_dir.string(),
+        ctx.conan_profile_path.string());
 
     status("dependency", "install dependencies: {}", cmd);
     int res = run_cmd(cmd);
@@ -233,7 +236,8 @@ void cmd::cmake_setup(const BuildContext& ctx)
     const auto result = std::move(resolver).resolve();
 
     ResolvedDependencies deps = toml::get<ResolvedDependencies>(toml::parse(ctx.dependency_file));
-    CmakeGenerator gen(&ctx.layout, ctx.manifest,
+    CmakeGenerator gen(&ctx.layout,
+        ctx.manifest,
         GeneratorOptions {
             .deps = cmake::resolve_deps(result.dependencies, deps),
             .dev_deps = cmake::resolve_deps(result.dev_dependencies, deps),
@@ -242,7 +246,10 @@ void cmd::cmake_setup(const BuildContext& ctx)
 
     const std::string cmd = fmt::format("cmake -B {} -S build -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE={} -DCMAKE_EXPORT_COMPILE_COMMANDS=ON "
                                         "-DCONAN_GENERATORS_FOLDER={} -DCPPSHIP_DEPS_DIR={}",
-        ctx.profile_dir.string(), ctx.profile, (ctx.profile_dir / "conan").string(), ctx.deps_dir.string());
+        ctx.profile_dir.string(),
+        ctx.profile,
+        (ctx.profile_dir / "conan").string(),
+        ctx.deps_dir.string());
 
     status("config", "config cmake: {}", cmd);
     const int res = run_cmd(cmd);
@@ -291,7 +298,9 @@ std::string_view to_cmake_group(cmd::BuildGroup group, const std::string_view li
 
 int cmd::cmake_build(const BuildContext& ctx, const BuildOptions& options)
 {
-    auto cmd = fmt::format("cmake --build {} -j {} --config {}", ctx.profile_dir.string(), options.max_concurrency,
+    auto cmd = fmt::format("cmake --build {} -j {} --config {}",
+        ctx.profile_dir.string(),
+        options.max_concurrency,
         to_string(options.profile));
     if (options.target) {
         cmd += fmt::format(" --target {}", *options.target);
@@ -305,4 +314,4 @@ int cmd::cmake_build(const BuildContext& ctx, const BuildOptions& options)
 
     status("build", "{}", cmd);
     return run_cmd(cmd);
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/lib/cmd/cmake.cpp b/lib/cmd/cmake.cpp
index 620673a..7c7cf98 100644
--- a/lib/cmd/cmake.cpp
+++ b/lib/cmd/cmake.cpp
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+#include "cppship/cmd/cmake.h"
+
 #include <cstdlib>
 
 #include <boost/algorithm/string/replace.hpp>
@@ -6,7 +8,6 @@
 
 #include "cppship/cmake/generator.h"
 #include "cppship/cmd/build.h"
-#include "cppship/cmd/cmake.h"
 #include "cppship/core/resolver.h"
 #include "cppship/util/io.h"
 #include "cppship/util/log.h"
@@ -30,7 +31,8 @@ int cmd::run_cmake(const CmakeOptions&)
 
     ResolvedDependencies deps = toml::get<ResolvedDependencies>(toml::parse(ctx.dependency_file));
     const auto declared_deps = concat(result.dependencies, result.dev_dependencies) | ranges::to<std::vector>();
-    CmakeGenerator gen(&ctx.layout, ctx.manifest,
+    CmakeGenerator gen(&ctx.layout,
+        ctx.manifest,
         GeneratorOptions {
             .deps = cmake::resolve_deps(result.dependencies, deps),
             .dev_deps = cmake::resolve_deps(result.dev_dependencies, deps),
@@ -45,4 +47,4 @@ int cmd::run_cmake(const CmakeOptions&)
     fs::copy_file(ctx.conan_file, ctx.root / "conanfile.txt", fs::copy_options::overwrite_existing);
 
     return 0;
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/lib/cmd/fmt.cpp b/lib/cmd/fmt.cpp
index 557ce2c..d6e0d5b 100644
--- a/lib/cmd/fmt.cpp
+++ b/lib/cmd/fmt.cpp
@@ -41,4 +41,4 @@ int cmd::run_fmt(const FmtOptions& options)
     }
 
     return exit_code;
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/lib/cmd/install.cpp b/lib/cmd/install.cpp
index 8e413a5..af002af 100644
--- a/lib/cmd/install.cpp
+++ b/lib/cmd/install.cpp
@@ -1,10 +1,11 @@
+#include "cppship/cmd/install.h"
+
 #include <cstdlib>
 
 #include <gsl/narrow>
 #include <spdlog/spdlog.h>
 
 #include "cppship/cmd/build.h"
-#include "cppship/cmd/install.h"
 #include "cppship/core/manifest.h"
 #include "cppship/util/fs.h"
 #include "cppship/util/log.h"
@@ -30,9 +31,11 @@ int cmd::run_install([[maybe_unused]] const InstallOptions& options)
         return EXIT_SUCCESS;
     }
 
-    const auto dst = fmt::format("/usr/local/bin/{}", manifest.name());
-    status("install", "{} to {}", bin_file.string(), dst);
+    const auto root = fs::path(options.root);
+    const auto dst = root / "bin" / manifest.name();
+    create_if_not_exist(dst.parent_path());
+    status("install", "{} to {}", bin_file.string(), dst.string());
     fs::copy_file(bin_file, dst, fs::copy_options::overwrite_existing);
     return EXIT_SUCCESS;
 #endif
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/lib/cmd/lint.cpp b/lib/cmd/lint.cpp
index e78bbc0..5bd84ed 100644
--- a/lib/cmd/lint.cpp
+++ b/lib/cmd/lint.cpp
@@ -50,4 +50,4 @@ int cmd::run_lint(const LintOptions& options)
     pool.wait_for_tasks();
 
     return ranges::any_of(tasks, [](auto& fut) { return fut.get() != 0; }) ? EXIT_FAILURE : EXIT_SUCCESS;
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/lib/cmd/run.cpp b/lib/cmd/run.cpp
index bae6dd6..36e5221 100644
--- a/lib/cmd/run.cpp
+++ b/lib/cmd/run.cpp
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+#include "cppship/cmd/run.h"
+
 #include <cstdlib>
 
 #include <boost/process/system.hpp>
@@ -7,7 +9,6 @@
 #include "cppship/cmake/msvc.h"
 #include "cppship/cmake/naming.h"
 #include "cppship/cmd/build.h"
-#include "cppship/cmd/run.h"
 #include "cppship/core/manifest.h"
 #include "cppship/util/cmd.h"
 #include "cppship/util/fs.h"
@@ -79,4 +80,4 @@ int cmd::run_run(const RunOptions& options)
     const auto cmd = fmt::format("{} {}", bin_file.string(), options.args);
     status("run", "{}", cmd);
     return boost::process::system(cmd);
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/lib/cmd/test.cpp b/lib/cmd/test.cpp
index e5732da..76f195a 100644
--- a/lib/cmd/test.cpp
+++ b/lib/cmd/test.cpp
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+#include "cppship/cmd/test.h"
+
 #include <cstdlib>
 
 #include <boost/process/system.hpp>
@@ -6,7 +8,6 @@
 
 #include "cppship/cmake/naming.h"
 #include "cppship/cmd/build.h"
-#include "cppship/cmd/test.h"
 #include "cppship/util/fs.h"
 #include "cppship/util/log.h"
 
@@ -45,4 +46,4 @@ int cmd::run_test(const TestOptions& options)
 
     status("test", "{}", cmd);
     return boost::process::system(cmd, boost::process::shell);
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/lib/core/compiler.cpp b/lib/core/compiler.cpp
index 29b6730..d85338f 100644
--- a/lib/core/compiler.cpp
+++ b/lib/core/compiler.cpp
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 #include "cppship/core/compiler.h"
-#include "cppship/util/cmd.h"
 
 #include <cctype>
 #include <cstdlib>
@@ -8,6 +7,8 @@
 
 #include <boost/algorithm/string.hpp>
 
+#include "cppship/util/cmd.h"
+
 using namespace std::literals;
 using namespace cppship;
 using namespace cppship::compiler;
@@ -113,4 +114,4 @@ CompilerInfo::CompilerInfo()
 
     mId = get_compiler_id(out);
     mLibCxx = get_libcxx(mId);
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/lib/core/dependency.cpp b/lib/core/dependency.cpp
index 20ef669..e42eaa1 100644
--- a/lib/core/dependency.cpp
+++ b/lib/core/dependency.cpp
@@ -1,9 +1,10 @@
 #include "cppship/core/dependency.h"
-#include "cppship/exception.h"
-#include "cppship/util/string.h"
 
 #include <boost/algorithm/string.hpp>
 
+#include "cppship/exception.h"
+#include "cppship/util/string.h"
+
 using namespace cppship;
 
 namespace {
@@ -95,4 +96,4 @@ ResolvedDependencies cppship::collect_conan_deps(const fs::path& conan_dep_dir,
     }
 
     return deps;
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/lib/core/resolver.cpp b/lib/core/resolver.cpp
index 485a1ca..8244b37 100644
--- a/lib/core/resolver.cpp
+++ b/lib/core/resolver.cpp
@@ -1,13 +1,14 @@
 #include "cppship/core/resolver.h"
-#include "cppship/core/manifest.h"
-#include "cppship/util/io.h"
-#include "cppship/util/log.h"
-#include "cppship/util/repo.h"
 
 #include <fmt/format.h>
 #include <range/v3/action/push_back.hpp>
 #include <range/v3/action/reverse.hpp>
 
+#include "cppship/core/manifest.h"
+#include "cppship/util/io.h"
+#include "cppship/util/log.h"
+#include "cppship/util/repo.h"
+
 using namespace cppship;
 using namespace fmt::literals;
 
@@ -138,4 +139,4 @@ void Resolver::resolve_package_(std::string_view package, const fs::path& packag
 
         mUnresolved.push(sub_dep);
     }
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/lib/util/fs.cpp b/lib/util/fs.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..07ff415
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/util/fs.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+#include "cppship/util/fs.h"
+
+#include <cstdlib>
+#include <filesystem>
+
+void cppship::create_if_not_exist(const fs::path& path)
+{
+    if (fs::exists(path)) {
+        return;
+    }
+    fs::create_directories(path);
+}
+
+fs::path cppship::get_cppship_dir() { return fs::path(std::getenv("HOME")) / kCppShipDirName; }
diff --git a/src/main.cpp b/src/main.cpp
index c6d83cd..a84f17d 100644
--- a/src/main.cpp
+++ b/src/main.cpp
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
 
 #include "cppship/cppship.h"
 #include "cppship/exception.h"
+#include "cppship/util/fs.h"
 #include "cppship/util/log.h"
 
 #ifndef CPPSHIP_VERSION
@@ -161,6 +162,7 @@ std::list<SubCommand> build_commands(const ArgumentParser& common)
     auto& install = commands.emplace_back("install", common, [](const ArgumentParser& cmd) {
         return cmd::run_install({
             .profile = parse_profile(cmd.get("--profile")),
+            .root = cmd.get("--root"),
         });
     });
 
@@ -169,6 +171,10 @@ std::list<SubCommand> build_commands(const ArgumentParser& common)
         .help("build with specific profile")
         .metavar("profile")
         .default_value(std::string { kProfileRelease });
+    install.parser.add_argument("--root")
+        .help("specify the installation root")
+        .metavar("root")
+        .default_value(get_cppship_dir().string());
 
     // run
     auto& run = commands.emplace_back("run", common, [](const ArgumentParser& cmd) {
@@ -322,4 +328,4 @@ try {
 } catch (const std::exception& e) {
     error("unknown error {}", e.what());
     return EXIT_FAILURE;
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/tests/cmake/package_configurer.cpp b/tests/cmake/package_configurer.cpp
index cac96d7..4045961 100644
--- a/tests/cmake/package_configurer.cpp
+++ b/tests/cmake/package_configurer.cpp
@@ -1,8 +1,4 @@
 #include "cppship/cmake/package_configurer.h"
-#include "cppship/core/dependency.h"
-#include "cppship/util/fs.h"
-#include "cppship/util/io.h"
-#include "cppship/util/repo.h"
 
 #include <string>
 
@@ -10,6 +6,11 @@
 #include <fmt/core.h>
 #include <gtest/gtest.h>
 
+#include "cppship/core/dependency.h"
+#include "cppship/util/fs.h"
+#include "cppship/util/io.h"
+#include "cppship/util/repo.h"
+
 using namespace cppship;
 using namespace std::string_literals;
 
@@ -33,7 +34,8 @@ TEST(package_configurer, HeaderOnly)
         },
     } };
 
-    cmake::config_packages(deps, deps,
+    cmake::config_packages(deps,
+        deps,
         {
             .deps_dir = deps_dir,
             .post_process
@@ -81,7 +83,8 @@ fmt = "9.1.0"
         .cmake_target = "fmt::fmt",
     });
 
-    cmake::config_packages(deps, all_deps,
+    cmake::config_packages(deps,
+        all_deps,
         {
             .deps_dir = deps_dir,
             .post_process
@@ -142,7 +145,8 @@ fmt = "9.1.0"
         .cmake_target = "fmt::fmt",
     });
 
-    cmake::config_packages(deps, all_deps,
+    cmake::config_packages(deps,
+        all_deps,
         {
             .deps_dir = deps_dir,
             .post_process
@@ -163,4 +167,4 @@ target_link_libraries(test_pack_lib PUBLIC fmt::fmt)
 
 add_library(cppship::test_pack ALIAS test_pack_lib)
 )");
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/tests/util/fs.cpp b/tests/util/fs.cpp
index 11b4d24..3cc3f87 100644
--- a/tests/util/fs.cpp
+++ b/tests/util/fs.cpp
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
-#include <gtest/gtest.h>
-
 #include "cppship/util/fs.h"
 
+#include <gtest/gtest.h>
+
 using namespace cppship;
 
 TEST(fs, ScopedCurrentDir)
@@ -16,4 +16,39 @@ TEST(fs, ScopedCurrentDir)
     }
 
     EXPECT_EQ(fs::current_path(), cwd);
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
+
+TEST(fs, CreateIfNotExist)
+{
+    const auto tmpdir = fs::temp_directory_path();
+    const auto testdir = fs::path("cppship-unitests");
+
+    ScopedCurrentDir guard(tmpdir);
+
+    if (fs::exists(testdir)) {
+        fs::remove_all(testdir);
+    }
+    fs::create_directory(testdir);
+
+    {
+        ScopedCurrentDir guard2(testdir);
+        const auto newdir = fs::path("subdir1");
+        EXPECT_FALSE(fs::exists(newdir));
+        cppship::create_if_not_exist(newdir);
+        EXPECT_TRUE(fs::exists(newdir));
+    }
+    {
+        ScopedCurrentDir guard2(testdir);
+        const auto newdir = fs::path("./subdir2/subsubdir1");
+        EXPECT_FALSE(fs::exists(newdir));
+        cppship::create_if_not_exist(newdir);
+        EXPECT_TRUE(fs::exists(newdir));
+    }
+    {
+        ScopedCurrentDir guard2(testdir);
+        const auto newdir = fs::path("subdir3/subsubdir1/subsubsubdir1");
+        EXPECT_FALSE(fs::exists(newdir));
+        cppship::create_if_not_exist(newdir);
+        EXPECT_TRUE(fs::exists(newdir));
+    }
+}