chore(release): 1.4.3

Features the install script as the primary path for both install and
upgrade — with both curl and wget examples for the piped form. Adds
a `check` invocation in the upgrade section showing how to query
installed-vs-latest without making changes.

The manual rsync recipes are preserved in collapsible <details> blocks
for users who'd rather not pipe a script to bash. Both manual recipes
also gain the same ownership-preservation treatment via `stat -c
'%U:%G'` + rsync `--chown="$OWNER"`, so even the manual path no
longer leaves files owned by root:root.

.github/workflows/publish-release.yml

@@ -166,3 +166,24 @@ jobs:
           body_path: /tmp/release-notes.md
           draft: false
           prerelease: false
+          make_latest: 'true'
+
+      # Belt-and-suspenders: action-gh-release@v2 has a long-standing
+      # intermittent bug where it creates the release as a draft and silently
+      # fails to flip the draft→published step, even though it reports success.
+      # When that happens the install script + README snippets resolve "latest"
+      # to whatever was last properly published, so users would get an old
+      # version. We explicitly flip to published + latest here as a safety net;
+      # if the action already did it correctly, this is a no-op.
+      #
+      # Security note: TAG and REPO are sourced from earlier `env:` blocks (not
+      # interpolated inline into the run command), matching the same pattern
+      # used elsewhere in this workflow.
+      - name: Force-publish release
+        if: steps.existing.outputs.skip != 'true'
+        env:
+          GH_TOKEN: ${{ github.token }}
+          TAG: ${{ steps.version.outputs.tag }}
+          REPO: ${{ github.repository }}
+        run: |
+          gh release edit "$TAG" --repo "$REPO" --draft=false --latest

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -2,6 +2,17 @@
 
 All notable changes to the VirtFusion Direct Provisioning Module for WHMCS.
 
+## [1.4.3] - 2026-04-25
+
+### Features
+- **`install.sh` helper script with `install` / `upgrade` / `check` subcommands.** Single-file POSIX bash script that handles both first-time installation and upgrades, auto-detects the WHMCS web user from the parent directory's ownership and applies it to new files via rsync `--chown`, optionally syncs the PowerDNS reverse-DNS addon (`--with-addon`), accepts a pinned version (`--version v1.4.1`, default: latest published release), preserves any custom `config/ConfigOptionMapping.php` across the rsync `--delete`, and writes a `.installed-version` marker so the `check` subcommand can report installed-vs-latest without making changes. Pipeable via curl or wget. Exit codes for `check` (0=current, 1=outdated, 2=not installed) make it usable as a cron-driven update monitor. Closes the long-standing pitfall where rsyncing as root left files owned by `root:root` and the web server couldn't read them — the classic "module installed but invisible in WHMCS" symptom.
+
+### Bug Fixes
+- **Release workflow now force-publishes new releases to non-draft and marks them `--latest`.** `softprops/action-gh-release@v2` has a long-standing intermittent bug where it creates a release as a draft and silently fails to flip it to published, despite reporting success. v1.4.0, v1.4.1, and v1.4.2 all shipped as drafts because of this — meaning the GitHub `releases/latest` API returned v1.3.0, the install snippets and the new `install.sh` would all download v1.3.0, and users would never get the storage-type-code fix even after running the documented upgrade. Added a `make_latest: 'true'` input to the action and a follow-up `gh release edit --draft=false --latest` step that runs unconditionally as a safety net. v1.4.0/1/2 were manually re-published as a one-off cleanup.
+
+### Documentation
+- README install/upgrade sections rewritten to feature the `install.sh` script as the primary path (with both `curl` and `wget` examples), with the manual rsync recipe preserved in collapsible `<details>` blocks for users who prefer not to pipe scripts to bash. The manual recipe also gained a `stat -c '%U:%G'` ownership probe and `--chown="$OWNER"` flag, fixing the same root-owned-file pitfall the script handles automatically.
+
 ## [1.4.2] - 2026-04-25
 
 ### Documentation

README.md

@@ -130,17 +130,42 @@ You also need a VirtFusion API token with the following permissions:
 
 ## Installation
 
+The fastest path is the install script. It auto-detects the WHMCS web user from your `modules/servers` directory ownership and applies it to the new files — without that, rsyncing as root would leave files owned by `root:root` and the web server couldn't read them ("module installed but invisible in WHMCS").
+
+```bash
+curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/EZSCALE/virtfusion-whmcs-module/main/install.sh \
+  | sudo bash -s -- install /path/to/whmcs
+```
+
+Same thing with `wget`:
+```bash
+wget -qO- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/EZSCALE/virtfusion-whmcs-module/main/install.sh \
+  | sudo bash -s -- install /path/to/whmcs
+```
+
+Flags:
+- `--with-addon` — also install the PowerDNS reverse-DNS addon (`modules/addons/VirtFusionDns/`).
+- `--version v1.4.1` — pin a specific release tag (default: latest published release; any tag from [Releases](https://github.com/EZSCALE/virtfusion-whmcs-module/releases)).
+
+The database table, schema migrations, and custom fields are all created automatically on first load.
+
+<details>
+<summary><b>Manual install</b> (if you'd rather not pipe a script to bash)</summary>
+
 ```bash
 WHMCS=/path/to/whmcs
 VERSION=${VERSION:-$(curl -fsSL https://api.github.com/repos/EZSCALE/virtfusion-whmcs-module/releases/latest \
   | sed -n 's/.*"tag_name": *"\([^"]*\)".*/\1/p')}
+OWNER=$(stat -c '%U:%G' "$WHMCS/modules/servers")
 curl -fsSL "https://github.com/EZSCALE/virtfusion-whmcs-module/archive/refs/tags/${VERSION}.tar.gz" -o /tmp/vf.tar.gz \
   && mkdir -p /tmp/vf && tar -xzf /tmp/vf.tar.gz -C /tmp/vf --strip-components=1 \
-  && rsync -ahP --delete /tmp/vf/modules/servers/VirtFusionDirect/ "$WHMCS/modules/servers/VirtFusionDirect/" \
+  && rsync -ahP --delete --chown="$OWNER" /tmp/vf/modules/servers/VirtFusionDirect/ "$WHMCS/modules/servers/VirtFusionDirect/" \
   && rm -rf /tmp/vf /tmp/vf.tar.gz
 ```
 
-Set `WHMCS` once at the top — it's reused in every path below. The snippet defaults to the latest published release (queried live from the GitHub API); to pin a specific version, prepend `VERSION=v1.4.1` (or any tag from [Releases](https://github.com/EZSCALE/virtfusion-whmcs-module/releases)) before the command. The database table, schema migrations, and custom fields are all created automatically on first load.
+`--chown="$OWNER"` ensures the new files match your WHMCS web user (`www-data`, `apache`, etc.) instead of `root:root`. Requires rsync 3.1+ and root (or already running as the matching user). To pin a version, prepend `VERSION=v1.4.1` before the command.
+
+</details>
 
 Then configure in WHMCS Admin:
 
@@ -152,24 +177,42 @@ That's it. Hooks activate automatically and custom fields are created on module
 
 ## Upgrading
 
+```bash
+curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/EZSCALE/virtfusion-whmcs-module/main/install.sh \
+  | sudo bash -s -- upgrade /path/to/whmcs
+```
+
+Add `--with-addon` if you also use the PowerDNS addon. Pin a version with `--version v1.4.1` for controlled rollouts or rollbacks. Addon settings live in `tbladdonmodules` and survive file updates. The script automatically backs up and restores any custom `config/ConfigOptionMapping.php` across the rsync `--delete`.
+
+To check whether you're current without making any changes:
+```bash
+curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/EZSCALE/virtfusion-whmcs-module/main/install.sh \
+  | bash -s -- check /path/to/whmcs
+```
+Exit codes: `0` = up-to-date, `1` = outdated (or version unknown), `2` = not installed. Useful in cron-driven monitoring.
+
+If you use theme-overridden templates, review them for any new template variables. Clear the WHMCS template cache after upgrading: **Configuration > System Settings > General Settings > clear template cache**.
+
+<details>
+<summary><b>Manual upgrade</b> (if you'd rather not pipe a script to bash)</summary>
+
 ```bash
 WHMCS=/path/to/whmcs
 VERSION=${VERSION:-$(curl -fsSL https://api.github.com/repos/EZSCALE/virtfusion-whmcs-module/releases/latest \
   | sed -n 's/.*"tag_name": *"\([^"]*\)".*/\1/p')}
+OWNER=$(stat -c '%U:%G' "$WHMCS/modules/servers")
 curl -fsSL "https://github.com/EZSCALE/virtfusion-whmcs-module/archive/refs/tags/${VERSION}.tar.gz" -o /tmp/vf.tar.gz \
   && mkdir -p /tmp/vf && tar -xzf /tmp/vf.tar.gz -C /tmp/vf --strip-components=1 \
-  && rsync -ahP --delete /tmp/vf/modules/servers/VirtFusionDirect/ "$WHMCS/modules/servers/VirtFusionDirect/" \
+  && rsync -ahP --delete --chown="$OWNER" /tmp/vf/modules/servers/VirtFusionDirect/ "$WHMCS/modules/servers/VirtFusionDirect/" \
-  && rsync -ahP --delete /tmp/vf/modules/addons/VirtFusionDns/ "$WHMCS/modules/addons/VirtFusionDns/" \
+  && rsync -ahP --delete --chown="$OWNER" /tmp/vf/modules/addons/VirtFusionDns/ "$WHMCS/modules/addons/VirtFusionDns/" \
   && rm -rf /tmp/vf /tmp/vf.tar.gz
 ```
 
-The second `rsync` line is only needed if you use the Reverse DNS addon; skip it otherwise. Addon settings live in `tbladdonmodules` and survive file updates.
+The second `rsync` line is only needed if you use the Reverse DNS addon; skip it otherwise.
 
-The default behavior pulls the latest release. To pin a specific version (e.g. for a controlled rollout, or to roll back to a known-good version), prepend `VERSION=v1.4.1` (or any tag from [Releases](https://github.com/EZSCALE/virtfusion-whmcs-module/releases)) before the command.
+> **Note:** If you have a custom `config/ConfigOptionMapping.php`, back it up first — `--delete` will remove it. Restore it after. The helper script does this automatically.
 
-> **Note:** If you have a custom `config/ConfigOptionMapping.php`, back it up first — `--delete` will remove it. Restore it after upgrading.
+</details>
-
-If you use theme-overridden templates, review them for any new template variables. Clear the WHMCS template cache after upgrading: **Configuration > System Settings > General Settings > clear template cache**.
 
 ## Configuration
 

install.sh

@@ -0,0 +1,190 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+#
+# install.sh — Manage the VirtFusion Direct WHMCS module.
+#
+# Subcommands:
+#   install   First-time install. Refuses if already present (use upgrade).
+#   upgrade   Refresh an existing install. Refuses if nothing is installed.
+#   check     Report installed version vs latest available. No changes.
+#
+# Flags (install/upgrade only):
+#   --with-addon, -a       Also sync the PowerDNS rDNS addon.
+#   --version, -v vX.Y.Z   Pin a specific release tag (default: latest).
+#
+# Exit codes for `check`:
+#   0  installed and up-to-date
+#   1  installed but outdated (or installed-version unknown)
+#   2  not installed
+#
+# Pipeable:
+#   curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/EZSCALE/virtfusion-whmcs-module/main/install.sh \
+#     | sudo bash -s -- install /path/to/whmcs
+#
+#   wget -qO- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/EZSCALE/virtfusion-whmcs-module/main/install.sh \
+#     | sudo bash -s -- upgrade --with-addon /path/to/whmcs
+#
+#   curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/EZSCALE/virtfusion-whmcs-module/main/install.sh \
+#     | bash -s -- check /path/to/whmcs
+#
+# Why a script? rsync into a directory owned by the WHMCS web user (e.g.
+# www-data, apache) lands files as root:root by default, which the web server
+# can't read — the classic "module installed but invisible in WHMCS" symptom.
+# This script reads the parent directory's owner and applies it via --chown, so
+# a `sudo bash` install ends up with correct ownership. It also preserves any
+# custom config/ConfigOptionMapping.php across --delete.
+
+set -euo pipefail
+
+REPO="EZSCALE/virtfusion-whmcs-module"
+MARKER=".installed-version"
+
+err()  { printf '\033[1;31merror:\033[0m %s\n' "$*" >&2; }
+warn() { printf '\033[1;33mwarn:\033[0m  %s\n' "$*" >&2; }
+info() { printf '\033[1;32m==>\033[0m %s\n' "$*"; }
+
+usage() {
+  cat <<USAGE
+Usage:
+  install.sh install [--with-addon] [--version vX.Y.Z] /path/to/whmcs
+  install.sh upgrade [--with-addon] [--version vX.Y.Z] /path/to/whmcs
+  install.sh check                                     /path/to/whmcs
+
+Examples:
+  curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/$REPO/main/install.sh \\
+    | sudo bash -s -- install /path/to/whmcs
+
+  wget -qO- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/$REPO/main/install.sh \\
+    | sudo bash -s -- upgrade --with-addon /path/to/whmcs
+
+  curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/$REPO/main/install.sh \\
+    | bash -s -- check /path/to/whmcs
+USAGE
+  exit 2
+}
+
+resolve_latest() {
+  curl -fsSL "https://api.github.com/repos/$REPO/releases/latest" \
+    | sed -n 's/.*"tag_name": *"\([^"]*\)".*/\1/p'
+}
+
+read_installed_version() {
+  local marker="$1/modules/servers/VirtFusionDirect/$MARKER"
+  if [ -f "$marker" ]; then
+    tr -d '[:space:]' < "$marker"
+  else
+    echo "unknown"
+  fi
+}
+
+cmd_check() {
+  local WHMCS="$1"
+  if [ ! -d "$WHMCS/modules/servers/VirtFusionDirect" ]; then
+    warn "Not installed at $WHMCS"
+    exit 2
+  fi
+  local current latest
+  current=$(read_installed_version "$WHMCS")
+  latest=$(resolve_latest)
+  [ -n "$latest" ] || { err "Could not resolve latest version from GitHub API"; exit 1; }
+  printf '  installed: %s\n  latest:    %s\n' "$current" "$latest"
+  if [ "$current" = "$latest" ]; then
+    info "Up to date"
+    exit 0
+  fi
+  warn "Update available: $current → $latest"
+  exit 1
+}
+
+cmd_sync() {
+  local mode="$1"; shift
+  local WITH_ADDON=0 VERSION="${VERSION:-}" WHMCS=""
+
+  while [ $# -gt 0 ]; do
+    case "$1" in
+      --with-addon|-a) WITH_ADDON=1; shift ;;
+      --version|-v)    VERSION="${2:-}"; shift 2 ;;
+      -h|--help)       usage ;;
+      -*)              err "Unknown flag: $1"; usage ;;
+      *)               WHMCS="$1"; shift ;;
+    esac
+  done
+
+  [ -n "$WHMCS" ] || { err "Missing WHMCS path"; usage; }
+  [ -d "$WHMCS/modules/servers" ] || {
+    err "Not a WHMCS install: $WHMCS/modules/servers not found"; exit 1;
+  }
+
+  local target="$WHMCS/modules/servers/VirtFusionDirect"
+  if [ "$mode" = "install" ] && [ -d "$target" ]; then
+    err "Already installed at $target — use 'upgrade' to refresh."
+    exit 1
+  fi
+  if [ "$mode" = "upgrade" ] && [ ! -d "$target" ]; then
+    err "Not currently installed at $target — use 'install' instead."
+    exit 1
+  fi
+
+  if [ -z "$VERSION" ]; then
+    VERSION=$(resolve_latest)
+    [ -n "$VERSION" ] || { err "Could not resolve latest version from GitHub API"; exit 1; }
+  fi
+  info "Target version: $VERSION"
+
+  local OWNER
+  OWNER=$(stat -c '%U:%G' "$WHMCS/modules/servers" 2>/dev/null || true)
+  [ -n "$OWNER" ] || { err "Could not detect parent directory owner via stat"; exit 1; }
+  info "Owner (from $WHMCS/modules/servers): $OWNER"
+
+  local TMP
+  TMP=$(mktemp -d)
+  trap 'rm -rf "$TMP"' EXIT
+
+  info "Downloading $VERSION..."
+  curl -fsSL "https://github.com/$REPO/archive/refs/tags/$VERSION.tar.gz" -o "$TMP/src.tar.gz"
+  mkdir -p "$TMP/src"
+  tar -xzf "$TMP/src.tar.gz" -C "$TMP/src" --strip-components=1
+
+  local SRC="$TMP/src/modules/servers/VirtFusionDirect"
+  [ -d "$SRC" ] || { err "Tarball did not contain modules/servers/VirtFusionDirect"; exit 1; }
+
+  # Preserve user's custom configurable-option mapping across --delete.
+  local MAP_FILE="$target/config/ConfigOptionMapping.php"
+  local MAP_BACKUP=""
+  if [ -f "$MAP_FILE" ]; then
+    MAP_BACKUP="$TMP/ConfigOptionMapping.php.bak"
+    cp -p "$MAP_FILE" "$MAP_BACKUP"
+    info "Backed up custom ConfigOptionMapping.php"
+  fi
+
+  info "Syncing server module → $target/"
+  rsync -ahP --delete --chown="$OWNER" "$SRC/" "$target/"
+
+  if [ -n "$MAP_BACKUP" ]; then
+    cp -p "$MAP_BACKUP" "$MAP_FILE"
+    chown "$OWNER" "$MAP_FILE"
+    info "Restored custom ConfigOptionMapping.php"
+  fi
+
+  printf '%s\n' "$VERSION" > "$target/$MARKER"
+  chown "$OWNER" "$target/$MARKER"
+
+  if [ "$WITH_ADDON" = 1 ]; then
+    local addon_src="$TMP/src/modules/addons/VirtFusionDns"
+    local addon_target="$WHMCS/modules/addons/VirtFusionDns"
+    [ -d "$addon_src" ] || { err "Tarball did not contain modules/addons/VirtFusionDns"; exit 1; }
+    info "Syncing PowerDNS addon → $addon_target/"
+    rsync -ahP --delete --chown="$OWNER" "$addon_src/" "$addon_target/"
+    printf '%s\n' "$VERSION" > "$addon_target/$MARKER"
+    chown "$OWNER" "$addon_target/$MARKER"
+  fi
+
+  info "$mode complete: $VERSION (owner $OWNER)"
+}
+
+case "${1:-}" in
+  install) shift; cmd_sync install "$@" ;;
+  upgrade) shift; cmd_sync upgrade "$@" ;;
+  check)   shift; [ $# -eq 1 ] || usage; cmd_check "$1" ;;
+  -h|--help|"") usage ;;
+  *) err "Unknown command: $1"; usage ;;
+esac