Is it possible to automatically create a .install file for a module? I have a content type that I want to install as part of a module or install profile. Is there anyway to automatically create all the field_create_field and field_create_instances code that would go in hook_install or do I have to do all that manually? 

Is there any other way to capture the settings of a content type so I can migrate it and include it in an install profile?
If it's just the field and field instances that you want converted ready for an install file (i.e. if Features is too overkill for you or you don't want the extra dependency), then Field Inspector will give you all the code you need for creating your fields in code.


  Field inspector provides an administrative user interface for the
  Field Info API. This allows users to select what information,
  formatting, and fields they would like to see, and provides output in
  a manner that can be copied into a module, or install profile into a
  hook_install, or hook_update_N function.