> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://prospect-io.gitbook.io/developer-playbook/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://prospect-io.gitbook.io/developer-playbook/our-stack/ruby/rbenv.md).

# Rbenv

Manage your ruby version

`Rbenv` is a ruby version management tool that allows you to handle several versions of ruby on a same machine. Combined with `ruby-build`, it also allows to install a given ruby version.

{% embed url="<https://github.com/rbenv/rbenv>" %}

## Installation

On MacOS, `Rbenv` can be installed using homebrew. It comes by default with ruby-build included.

```
$ brew install rbenv
```

Then init your rbenv environment:&#x20;

```
$ rbenv init
```

## Usage

### Install a given ruby version

```
# list all available versions:
$ rbenv install -l

# install a Ruby version:
$ rbenv install 2.0.0-p247
```

### Set the global ruby version

The version that will be used by default in your shell if no local version is specified.

```
$ rbenv global 1.8.7-p352
```

This will define the ruby version in `~/.rbenv/version`.

### Use a local ruby version

A version that will be used in a given directory/for a given project can be installed like this:

```
# in the directory you want to use the local ruby version 
$ rbenv local 1.9.3-p327
```

The ruby version is defined in a `.ruby-version` file in the given directory. Therefore, sharing a git repo with a `.ruby-version` file in the root directory will automatically set the ruby version used for the project.&#x20;

## Useful commands

```
# List all known ruby-versions (installed ones are marked by an asterisk)
$ rbenv versions

# Show the currently used ruby version
$ rbenv version
```