diff --git a/orca b/orca
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..17ee216
--- /dev/null
+++ b/orca
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+
+# This file is copied into the user's home directory on install,
+# but also can be run from the root of an Orca source checkout.
+
+import os
+import sys
+
+
+root = True
+try:
+    os.stat(".orcaroot")
+except FileNotFoundError:
+    root = False
+
+if root:
+    # Running from Orca source checkout; use local source's scripts.
+
+    scriptdir = os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__))
+    if scriptdir != os.getcwd():
+        # Only print this warning if running the system-installed Orca.
+        # It's annoying to see this if you run ./orca from the source.
+        print("The Orca tool is running from a local source checkout and will")
+        print("use that instead of the system Orca installation.")
+        print()
+
+    sys.path.append(os.getcwd())
+    import scripts.orca
+else:
+    # Running from outside Orca source checkout; use system Orca install.
+    import sys_scripts.orca
diff --git a/scripts/bundle.py b/scripts/bundle.py
index 1e58b73..ca7a62c 100644
--- a/scripts/bundle.py
+++ b/scripts/bundle.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ import shutil
 import subprocess
 from argparse import ArgumentParser
 
-from log import *
+from .log import *
 
 
 def attach_bundle_commands(subparsers):
diff --git a/scripts/checksum.py b/scripts/checksum.py
index e404081..972ce9a 100644
--- a/scripts/checksum.py
+++ b/scripts/checksum.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import hashlib
 import json
 
-from log import *
+from .log import *
 
 
 def checkfile(filepath):
diff --git a/scripts/dev.py b/scripts/dev.py
index 8b453b4..d9a4574 100644
--- a/scripts/dev.py
+++ b/scripts/dev.py
@@ -8,11 +8,11 @@ import shutil
 import subprocess
 from zipfile import ZipFile
 
-import checksum
-from bindgen import bindgen
-from bindgen2 import bindgen2
-from log import *
-from utils import pushd, removeall
+from . import checksum
+from .bindgen import bindgen
+from .bindgen2 import bindgen2
+from .log import *
+from .utils import pushd, removeall
 
 
 ANGLE_VERSION = "2023-07-05"
@@ -20,21 +20,28 @@ ANGLE_VERSION = "2023-07-05"
 
 def attach_dev_commands(subparsers):
     dev_cmd = subparsers.add_parser("dev", help="Commands for building Orca itself. Must be run from the root of an Orca source checkout.")
+    dev_cmd.set_defaults(func=orca_root_only)
 
-    try:
-        os.stat(".orcaroot")
-    except FileNotFoundError:
-        dev_cmd.set_defaults(func=orca_root_only)
-        return
-
-    dev_sub = dev_cmd.add_subparsers(required=True, title='commands')
+    dev_sub = dev_cmd.add_subparsers(required=is_orca_root(), title='commands')
 
     build_cmd = dev_sub.add_parser("build-runtime", help="Build the Orca runtime from source.")
     build_cmd.add_argument("--release", action="store_true", help="compile Orca in release mode (default is debug)")
-    build_cmd.set_defaults(func=shellish(build_runtime))
+    build_cmd.set_defaults(func=dev_shellish(build_runtime))
 
     clean_cmd = dev_sub.add_parser("clean", help="Delete all build artifacts and start fresh.")
-    clean_cmd.set_defaults(func=shellish(clean))
+    clean_cmd.set_defaults(func=dev_shellish(clean))
+
+    install_cmd = dev_sub.add_parser("install", help="Install the Orca tools into a system folder.")
+    install_cmd.add_argument("--no-confirm", action="store_true", help="don't ask the user for confirmation before installing")
+    install_cmd.set_defaults(func=dev_shellish(install))
+
+
+def is_orca_root():
+    try:
+        os.stat(".orcaroot")
+        return True
+    except FileNotFoundError:
+        return False
 
 
 def orca_root_only(args):
@@ -45,6 +52,10 @@ def orca_root_only(args):
     exit(1)
 
 
+def dev_shellish(func):
+    return shellish(func) if is_orca_root() else orca_root_only
+
+
 def build_runtime(args):
     ensure_programs()
     ensure_angle()
@@ -55,9 +66,6 @@ def build_runtime(args):
 
 
 def clean(args):
-    def yeet(path):
-        os.makedirs(path, exist_ok=True)
-        shutil.rmtree(path)
     yeet("build")
     yeet("milepost/build")
     yeet("scripts/files")
@@ -530,3 +538,38 @@ def embed_text_glsl(outputpath, prefix, shaders):
     output.write("#endif // __%s_H__\n" % outSymbol)
 
     output.close()
+
+
+def yeet(path):
+    os.makedirs(path, exist_ok=True)
+    shutil.rmtree(path)
+
+
+def install(args):
+    if not args.no_confirm:
+        dest = os.path.expanduser(os.path.join("~", ".orca"))
+
+        print("The Orca command-line tools will be installed to your home directory in:")
+        print(dest)
+        print()
+        while True:
+            answer = input("Proceed with the installation? (y/n) >")
+            if answer.lower() in ["y", "yes"]:
+                break
+            elif answer.lower() in ["n", "no"]:
+                return
+            else:
+                print("Please enter \"yes\" or \"no\" and press return.")
+
+        bin_dir = os.path.join(dest, "bin")
+        yeet(bin_dir)
+        shutil.copytree("scripts", os.path.join(bin_dir, "sys_scripts"))
+        shutil.copy("orca", bin_dir)
+
+        # TODO: Customize these instructions for Windows
+        print()
+        print("Orca has been installed. Make sure the Orca tools are on your PATH by adding the")
+        print("following to your shell config:")
+        print()
+        print(f"export PATH=\"{bin_dir}:$PATH\"")
+        print()
diff --git a/scripts/orca b/scripts/orca.py
old mode 100755
new mode 100644
similarity index 76%
rename from scripts/orca
rename to scripts/orca.py
index f8b9750..f161b05
--- a/scripts/orca
+++ b/scripts/orca.py
@@ -2,8 +2,8 @@
 
 import argparse
 
-from bundle import attach_bundle_commands
-from dev import attach_dev_commands
+from .bundle import attach_bundle_commands
+from .dev import attach_dev_commands
 
 parser = argparse.ArgumentParser()