How to Install Ruby RVM
2018-07-26 note: this article was written in 2013, when RVM was almost the only choice.
Now i recommend rbenv or chruby
- [2018-07-26 https://github.com/rbenv/rbenv ]
- [2018-07-26 https://github.com/postmodern/chruby ]
This page is a quick guide on installing RVM on Linux. I assume you are using Ubuntu 12.04 or later.
RVM is used to install and manage multiple environment/version of Ruby.
If you are new to ruby, see: Ruby: What's RVM, Gem, Rake, Bundler, RDoc, ri, irb? .
Install Prerequisites
Run these and you should have the prerequisites (https://rvm.io/rvm/prerequisites/):
sudo apt-get install build-essential curl git subversion
Install RVM
Run sudo apt-get install ruby-rvm
.
Alternatively:
To install RVM, follow instructions on their site at: https://rvm.io/rvm/install/
basically just run this:
\curl -L https://get.rvm.io | bash
After you have run the above shell code, it'll:
- have create the dir at
~/.rvm
- added lines to your shell init scripts to include the rvm path. (it ads to
~/.bash_profile
,~/.bashrc
, and also zsh init scripts)
You might need to copy that line to the end of your ~/.bashrc
file (because a earlier version doesn't add it to ~/.bashrc
). Then, close the terminal and start a new terminal.
RVM Dir Structure
RVM is a collection of COMPLEX bash shell scripts and functions, and doesn't follow standard practices.
Once installed, all Ruby installations and libs will be installed under the ~/.rvm
dir.
For the rvm dir structure, see: Ruby: RVM Directory Structure .
Uninstall RVM
To uninstall, just delete the ~/.rvm
directory, and delete the lines that adds rvm path in your shell init scripts. Or, you can run rvm implode
Basic RVM Help, Show Version
Type which rvm
. It should show /home/login/.rvm/bin/rvm
.
Type type rvm
will show you if it's a shell script or bash function.
Type rvm --help
.
Sample output: rvm_help.txt.
If it comes up, then you know it's installed.
Type rvm --version
to show version.
Prerequisites for Other Ruby Libs
AFTER YOU'VE INSTALLED RVM, then type rvm requirements
. This will list or install software that many Ruby lib will need (such as Rails). Here's the output:
WARNING: as of , rvm requirements
will install stuff instead of just listing. The documentation rvm --help
, quote:
requirements :: Shows additional OS specific dependencies/requirements for building various rubies.
is incorrect.
◆ rvm requirements
Requirements for Linux "Ubuntu 12.04.1 LTS"
NOTE: 'ruby' represents Matz's Ruby Interpreter (MRI) (1.8.X, 1.9.X)
This is the *original* / standard Ruby Language Interpreter
'ree' represents Ruby Enterprise Edition
'rbx' represents Rubinius
bash >= 4.1 required
curl is required
git is required (>= 1.7 for ruby-head)
patch is required (for 1.8 rubies and some ruby-head's).
To install rbx and/or Ruby 1.9 head (MRI) (eg. 1.9.2-head),
then you must install and use rvm 1.8.7 first.
Additional Dependencies:
# For Ruby / Ruby HEAD (MRI, Rubinius, & REE), install the following:
ruby: /usr/bin/apt-get install build-essential openssl libreadline6 libreadline6-dev curl git-core zlib1g zlib1g-dev libssl-dev libyaml-dev libsqlite3-dev sqlite3 libxml2-dev libxslt-dev autoconf libc6-dev ncurses-dev automake libtool bison subversion pkg-config
# For JRuby, install the following:
jruby: /usr/bin/apt-get install curl Google Plus+ openjdk-6-jre-headless
jruby-head: /usr/bin/apt-get install ant openjdk-6-jdk
# For IronRuby, install the following:
ironruby: /usr/bin/apt-get install curl mono-2.0-devel
# For Opal, install the following:
opal: /usr/bin/apt-get install nodejs npm
On linux, be sure you have everything there installed. Or, just execute it, like this:
sudo apt-get install build-essential openssl libreadline6 libreadline6-dev curl git-core zlib1g zlib1g-dev libssl-dev libyaml-dev libsqlite3-dev sqlite3 libxml2-dev libxslt-dev autoconf libc6-dev ncurses-dev automake libtool bison subversion pkg-config