diff --git a/install.sh b/install.sh
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c07ef5e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/install.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+# Builds and installs the plugin
+# into the local Inkscape extensions directory.
+# NOTE Linux only! (so far)
+
+# Exit immediately on each error and unset variable;
+# see: https://vaneyckt.io/posts/safer_bash_scripts_with_set_euxo_pipefail/
+#set -Eeuo pipefail
+set -Eeu
+
+# shellcheck source=./
+script_dir=$(dirname "$(readlink -f "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")")
+root="$script_dir"
+cwd="$(pwd)"
+
+EXT_DIR="$HOME/.config/inkscape/extensions/"
+
+# setup
+cd "${root:?}"
+
+# build
+make
+
+# install
+mkdir -p "$EXT_DIR"
+cp -pr inkscape/* "$EXT_DIR/"
+cp -p bitmap2component "$EXT_DIR/svg2shenzhen/bitmap2component_linux64"
+
+# status report
+cd "$EXT_DIR"
+echo
+echo "Installed plugin files:"
+ls -lar ./*svg2shenzhen*
+
+# cleanup
+cd "$cwd"
+echo
+echo "done."