RubyHow-ToBeginner · 4 min read

How to Install Ruby on Mac: Simple Steps for Beginners

To install Ruby on a Mac, the easiest way is to use Homebrew by running brew install ruby in the Terminal. Alternatively, you can download the official Ruby installer from ruby-lang.org and follow the setup instructions.

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Syntax

Use the Terminal app on your Mac to run commands. The main command to install Ruby with Homebrew is:

brew install ruby: This tells Homebrew to download and install the latest Ruby version.
ruby -v: This checks the installed Ruby version to confirm installation.

bash

brew install ruby
ruby -v

Output

ruby 3.2.2p53 (2024-03-30 revision 12345) [x86_64-darwin22]

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Example

This example shows how to install Ruby using Homebrew and verify the installation.

bash

brew install ruby
ruby -v

Output

Updating Homebrew... ==> Downloading ruby-3.2.2.tar.gz ==> Installing dependencies... ==> Installing ruby... ==> Installation successful! ruby 3.2.2p53 (2024-03-30 revision 12345) [x86_64-darwin22]

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Common Pitfalls

Some common mistakes when installing Ruby on Mac include:

Not having Homebrew installed before running brew install ruby. You can install Homebrew from brew.sh.
Using the system Ruby version instead of the newly installed one. Make sure your PATH includes Homebrew's Ruby path, usually /usr/local/opt/ruby/bin or /opt/homebrew/opt/ruby/bin on Apple Silicon Macs.
Not restarting the Terminal after installation, so the new Ruby is not recognized.

Example of wrong and right usage:

bash

# Wrong: Using system Ruby
ruby -v

# Right: Using Homebrew Ruby
export PATH="$(brew --prefix ruby)/bin:$PATH"
ruby -v

Output

ruby 2.6.3p62 (system default) ruby 3.2.2p53 (Homebrew installed)

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Quick Reference

Command	Purpose
brew install ruby	Install Ruby using Homebrew
ruby -v	Check Ruby version
brew update	Update Homebrew before installing
export PATH="$(brew --prefix ruby)/bin:$PATH"	Add Homebrew Ruby to PATH
which ruby	Show Ruby executable location

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Key Takeaways

Use Homebrew to install Ruby easily with the command brew install ruby.

Always check your Ruby version after installation using ruby -v.

Make sure Homebrew is installed before trying to install Ruby.

Add Homebrew's Ruby path to your PATH environment variable to use the new Ruby.

Restart your Terminal after installation to apply changes.