Install Ruby with RVM on Ubuntu 18.04 and 19.10

Updated on November 21, 2023
Install Ruby with RVM on Ubuntu 18.04 and 19.10 header image

Introduction

This tutorial explains how to install Ruby, using RVM, on Ubuntu 18.04 and Ubuntu 19.10. Ruby is a popular development language. RVM manages multiple Ruby environments and allows you to switch between them.

Requirements

  • A Vultr instance running Ubuntu 18.04 or 19.10.

RVM Installation

Install GPG

$ sudo apt install gnupg

Import RVM Signing Key

Import the RVM code-signing keys. The command below is an example, please verify the keys at https://rvm.io/rvm/security.

$ gpg --keyserver hkp://keyserver.ubuntu.com --recv-keys 409B6B1796C275462A1703113804BB82D39DC0E3 7D2BAF1CF37B13E2069D6956105BD0E739499BDB

Step 2: Download and install RVM

Go to the /tmp folder

$ cd /tmp

Download a stable version of the RVM script.

$ sudo apt-get update && apt-get install curl && curl -sSL https://get.rvm.io | bash -s stable

Add your user account to the rvm group.

$ sudo usermod -a -G rvm username

Log out of your terminal, then log back in again. Group memberships are only evaluated at login time.

Check the RVM version.

$ rvm -v
rvm 1.29.9 (latest) by Michal Papis, Piotr Kuczynski, Wayne E. Seguin [https://rvm.io]

Manage your Ruby Environment

Example: List the known Ruby versions

$ rvm list known

Example: Install a specific version of Ruby.

$ rvm install ruby-2.7.0
$ rvm --default use ruby-2.7.0

Example: Remove a specific version of Ruby.

$ rvm remove ruby-2.7.0

Example: Check the Ruby versions installed with RVM.

$ rvm list

Example: Check the Ruby version.

$ ruby -v

Example: Remove a specific version of Ruby.

$ rvm remove ruby-2.7.0

Uninstall RVM

  1. Remove RVM with:

     $ sudo rvm implode
     $ sudo rm -rf ~/.rvm
     $ sudo rm -rf /etc/rvmrc
     $ sudo rm -rf ~/.rvmrc
     $ sudo groupdel rvm
  2. Delete RVM source lines from all .bashrc, .bash_profile, .profile, and .zshrc files.

  3. Reboot

Conclusion

RVM is a simple way to manage multiple Ruby environments. For more information, see the RVM homepage.