Install Ruby on Ubuntu 24.04 Using rbenv and RVM
Ruby is a flexible and object-oriented programming language, ideal for projects ranging from small scripts to large-scale web development. With its clean syntax and interpreter-based execution, Ruby offers rapid development capabilities. Ubuntu 24.04 is a great platform for setting up Ruby, thanks to its up-to-date features and compatibility with Ruby tools and frameworks.
This tutorial covers two primary methods for installing Ruby on Ubuntu 24.04: using rbenv and RVM.
Install Ruby with rbenv
rbenv allows you to manage multiple Ruby versions on your system and easily switch between them.
Step 1: Install Required Dependencies
Begin by setting up the dependencies necessary for compiling Ruby using the ruby-build plugin:
$ sudo apt install autoconf patch build-essential rustc libssl-dev libyaml-dev libreadline6-dev zlib1g-dev libgmp-dev libncurses5-dev libffi-dev libgdbm6 libgdbm-dev libdb-dev libtool uuid-dev
Step 2: Run the rbenv Installer
Download and run the latest rbenv installation script:
$ curl -fsSL https://github.com/rbenv/rbenv-installer/raw/HEAD/bin/rbenv-installer | bash
Step 3: Update the .bashrc File
Append the rbenv path to your shell configuration file:
$ echo 'export PATH="$HOME/.rbenv/bin:$PATH"' >> ~/.bashrc
Step 4: Reload the Shell Configuration
Activate the updated configuration:
$ source ~/.bashrc
Step 5: Verify rbenv Installation
Check if rbenv was successfully installed:
$ rbenv -v
Expected output:
rbenv 1.3.0-9-gefeab7f
Step 6: List Available Ruby Versions
Display the Ruby versions available for installation:
$ rbenv install -l
Example output:
- 3.1.6
- 3.2.6
- 3.3.6
- jruby-9.4.9.0
- mruby-3.3.0
- picoruby-3.0.0
- truffleruby-24.1.1
- truffleruby+graalvm-24.1.1
Step 7: Install Ruby with rbenv
Choose and install your preferred version, for instance 3.3.6:
$ rbenv install 3.3.6
The installation process typically takes between 3 to 5 minutes.
Step 8: Set Default Ruby Version
Apply the installed version as the system default:
$ rbenv global 3.3.6
Step 9: Confirm Installed Ruby Version
Ensure Ruby is set up correctly by checking the version:
$ ruby --version
Expected result:
ruby 3.3.6 (2024-11-05 revision 75015d4c1f) [x86_64-linux]
Install Ruby with RVM
The Ruby Version Manager (RVM) is a tool for handling multiple Ruby installations on a single server. It allows seamless switching between different Ruby environments.
Step 1: Import RVM GPG Keys
Install the necessary GPG keys:
$ gpg --keyserver keyserver.ubuntu.com --recv-keys 409B6B1796C275462A1703113804BB82D39DC0E3 7D2BAF1CF37B13E2069D6956105BD0E739499BDB
Step 2: Install RVM
Download and install RVM with the following command:
$ curl -sSL https://get.rvm.io | bash -s
Step 3: Activate RVM
Load RVM into your shell session:
$ source ~/.rvm/scripts/rvm
Step 4: Install RVM Dependencies
Execute the following command to install all required packages:
$ rvm requirements
Example output:
Installing required packages: autoconf, automake, bison, libffi-dev, libgdbm-dev, libsqlite3-dev, libtool, libyaml-dev, sqlite3, libgmp-dev, libncurses-dev, libreadline-dev, libssl-dev…
Requirements installation successful.
Step 5: Verify RVM Installation
Ensure RVM is correctly installed by running:
$ rvm -v
Sample output:
rvm 1.29.12-next (master) by Michal Papis, Piotr Kuczynski, Wayne E. Seguin [https://rvm.io]
Step 6: Display Available Ruby Versions
List all Ruby versions that can be installed via RVM:
$ rvm list known
Example list includes:
- [ruby-]1.8.6[-p420]
- [ruby-]2.7[.8]
- [ruby-]3.3[.6]
- ruby-head
Step 7: Install a Ruby Version
Use RVM to install a specific Ruby release like 3.3.6:
$ rvm install 3.3.6
Step 8: Make the Ruby Version Default
Set your preferred version as default in the system:
$ rvm --default use 3.3.6
Step 9: List Installed Ruby Versions
See all Ruby versions installed through RVM:
$ rvm list
Sample output:
=* ruby-3.3.6 [ x86_64 ]
# => - current
# =* - current && default
# * - default
Install Ruby on Ubuntu 24.04 via APT Package Manager
Although Ruby can be installed using the default APT package manager repositories in Ubuntu, be aware that this method may not provide the most recent version. If you prefer to use APT for simplicity, follow the steps outlined below.
Step 1: Update Package Index
Refresh your server’s local package database to ensure you retrieve the latest available package versions:
$ sudo apt update
Step 2: Install Ruby with APT
Install Ruby from the official Ubuntu repository using the following command:
$ sudo apt install ruby-full
Step 3: Verify Ruby Installation
Ensure Ruby has been successfully installed by checking its version:
$ ruby --version
Expected output:
ruby 3.2.3 (2024-01-18 revision 52bb2ac0a6) [x86_64-linux-gnu]
How to Uninstall Ruby on Ubuntu 24.04
If you need to remove Ruby from your system, you can do so based on the method you used to install it. Below are instructions for uninstalling Ruby using rbenv, RVM, or APT.
Remove Ruby Installed with rbenv
Use the following command to remove a specific Ruby version installed via rbenv. Example below uses version 3.3.6:
$ rbenv uninstall 3.3.6
Remove Ruby Installed with RVM
If you installed Ruby using RVM, use this command to remove version 3.3.6 or any other installed version:
$ rvm remove 3.3.6
Uninstall Ruby Installed via APT
Use APT to remove Ruby if it was installed with the package manager:
$ sudo apt autoremove ruby-full
Conclusion
In this guide, you’ve learned how to install Ruby on Ubuntu 24.04 using three different methods: rbenv, RVM, and APT. With rbenv and RVM, you gain more flexibility to handle multiple Ruby versions for various development projects.
