Question

Based on my previous thread : RVM installed by Ruby not working? where i had installed RVM using the root user, I then had to entirely remove the RVM install and now i am installing as a user.

So i did :

1. Create a new user by doing : useradd newuser
2. Follow the instructions on the RVM website and execute the command : bash < <( curl http://rvm.beginrescueend.com/releases/rvm-install-head )

Now, i get the error : mkdir: cannot create directory `/usr/local/rvm’: Permission denied

The new user i created does not have access to this directory. I manually tried creating the folder but the same error. Please help.

EDIT : The original problem occured because i did not restart the terminal and it was still using the old settings.

Now, I got a new problem : After installing RVM, i cannot run it and it gives me an error : rvm command not found.

Here is the output of my ~/.bash_profile

# .bash_profile

# Get the aliases and functions
if [ -f ~/.bashrc ]; then
        . ~/.bashrc
fi

# User specific environment and startup programs

PATH=$PATH:$HOME/bin

export PATH
[[ -s "$HOME/.rvm/scripts/rvm" ]] && source "$HOME/.rvm/scripts/rvm"  # This loads RVM into a shell session.

And here is output from ~/.bashrc file

# .bashrc

# Source global definitions
if [ -f /etc/bashrc ]; then
        . /etc/bashrc
fi

# User specific aliases and functions
[[ -s "$HOME/.rvm/scripts/rvm" ]] && source "$HOME/.rvm/scripts/rvm"  # This loads RVM into a shell session.

Answer 1

RVM is easy to install, but you are making it harder by trying to mix and match installation types. You do NOT need to create a new user. When run, RVM will create a directory in your home directory: ~/.rvm, and install everything inside it. That means you will have all the correct permissions. You do NOT need to be running as root, you do NOT need to use sudo. I’d recommend closing all your command-lines and open one fresh and start at your home directory. If you are running as root, log out, and log back in to your normal account. For a single-user install you do NOT need to be root.

For a single user, using RVM as their Ruby sandbox, use the single-user installation docs. Follow ALL the instructions on that page, INCLUDING the “Post Install” section.

Close your terminal window, and reopen it. If you have correctly followed the instructions above, typing rvm info should spit out a template of what is to come once you install a Ruby instance. If you see nothing output, or get an error, then retrace your steps in the “Post Install” section, and go through the “Troubleshooting” section. Most of the problems people have occur because they didn’t bother to read the directions.

Once RVM is installed, type rvm notes and read what dependencies you need to install. If you do not add those files your Rubies installed will be missing functionality. They will work, but some of the creature comforts you’ll hear about won’t work and you will wonder why.

After installing the dependencies you should be in good shape to install Rubies. Type rvm list known for all the Rubies RVM can install. If you want 1.8.7 type rvm install 1.8.7, and, similarly, rvm install 1.9.2 for Ruby 1.9.2. If you want a particular revision you can add that, based on the ones in the list.

It’s important to periodically update RVM using rvm get head. That will add features, fix bugs, and tell RVM about new versions of Ruby it can install if you request.

After installing a Ruby, type rvm list and it should show up in the list, looking something like this:

rvm rubies

   ruby-1.8.7-p334 [ x86_64 ]
   ruby-1.9.2-p180 [ x86_64 ]

Type rvm use 1.9.2 --default to set a default Ruby that will be sticky between logins. Use the version of whatever Ruby you want to default to if 1.9.2 doesn’t float your boat. Once you’ve defined a default it should look something like:

rvm rubies

   ruby-1.8.7-p334 [ x86_64 ]
=> ruby-1.9.2-p180 [ x86_64 ]

Before you begin installing gems into a RVM-managed Ruby, read “RVM and RubyGems “, in particular the part that says “DO NOT use sudo… “. I repeat. Do NOT use sudo to install any gems, in spite of what some blog or web page says. RVM’s author knows better when it comes to working with RVM controlled Rubies. That is another mistake people use with RVM, again as a result of not reading the directions.

On Mac OS, you’ll need the latest version of XCode for your OS. Do NOT use the XCode that came with Snow Leopard on the DVD. It is buggy. Download and install a new version from Apple’s Developer site. It’s a free download requiring a free registration. It’s a big file, approximately 8GB, so you’ll want to start it and walk away. Install XCode, and you should be ready to have RVM install Rubies.

Finally, RVM installs easily, as will the Rubies you ask it to install. I have it on about four or five different machines and VMs on Mac OS, Ubuntu and CentOS. It takes me about a minute to install it and another minute to configure it and start installing a new Ruby. It really is that easy.