Its command-line tools include Git in the package. Users who don’t have Xcode can install it with a single command: xcode-select -install. With Xcode running on your Mac, you can check whether Git is also available by prompting for the Git version: git -version. The output should display the latest Git release, as in the example below.
Mac users with macOS Mojave and macOS Catalina, and new operating systems in place can now install Command Line Tools from the Xcode IDE without needing to install the entire Xcode package, or opening an Apple developers account.
Did you know: Using Xcode app leaves behind a lot of junk files a.k.a. 'development junk.' These files are usually hidden from view but you can delete them with a Mac maintenance app CleanMyMac X.
In this article, we cover how you can install this optional and highly useful Command Line Tools package.
The command line tools are installed like other OS X packages, so you may need to delete the receipt file from the receipts database (which used to be trivial since you could delete the file from /Library/Receipts but now is more complicated and needs a short article on the receipts database). With the much smaller Xcode Command Line Tools via xcode-select -install; With the much smaller Xcode Command Line Tools via manual download. For people running the latest version of Catalina (10.15.2 at the time of this writing), this has worked when the other two solutions haven't. Installing node-gyp using the full Xcode. Install Command Line Tools Open your terminal to begin the process of installing command-line tools on macOS Catalina. With your terminal opened, type the command below into the prompt and press the return key to execute it. After executing the command below a pop-up window should open with the option to install.
X code 11. Credit: developerinsider
What is the Xcode Command Line Tools package?
For Mac power users — we wouldn't recommend downloading this unless you are comfortable with Terminal — the Xcode Command Line Tools package gives you a complete Unix toolkit accessible through Terminal. No developer account needed and you don't need to download the entire — and quite large Xcode package of executables.
Within the Xcode Command Line toolkit, Mac users gain access to numerous useful tools, utilities, and compilers, including make, GCC, clang, perl, svn, git, size, strip, strings, libtool, cpp, and many others. All of these commands are a default part of Linux systems and programs.
We recommend following these steps for those with the following operating systems running on a Mac: macOS 10.13 High Sierra, macOS 10.14 Mojave, and macOS 10.15 Catalia onward. It isn't always possible to download these Xcode Command Line Tools, following these steps, on Mac’s running older operating systems. Other ways to install command tools and gcc (without needing Xcode) is available through the Apple Developer website.
Here is how you install Xcode Command Line Tools.
How to install Xcode Command Line Tools?
- Go to Terminal in /Applications/Utilities/.
- Input the following command string in Terminal:
xcode-select —install - In the same way when you are downloading new software and apps, a popup update window will appear asking you: “The xcode-select command requires the command line developer tools. Would you like to install the tools now?”
- Select confirm by clicking Install.
- Wait for the Xcode Command Line Tools package to install. It is around 130 MB and usually installs fairly quickly; although it depends on your connection.
- Once everything is installed, the installer goes away and you should be able to any of the new commands that you’ve now got access to. Enjoy using your new Unix command line tools!
Alternative way to install command line tools
If the Terminal combination didn't work, open the Finder > Go to Folder...menu.
Paste in the following path:/System/Library/CoreServices
In that location, find the app called Install Command Line Developer Tools.app — it will have a blue globe icon.
Click this app and then try the Terminal method explained above.
With this new download, you should have access to 61 Unix command line tools. For example, one of the advantages of having these tools is you can install new apps and software directly from the source code instead of needing to go through the package manager and usual download route.
To access or view everything you've now got, go to the following directory:
/Library/Developer/CommandLineTools/
Please note, this is the root /Library of your macOS/OS X, not the ~/Library directory.
All of these tools can also be found in: /Library/Developer/CommandLineTools/usr/bin/
These tools like small executable apps (which they are):
What happens if I encounter problems downloading these?
If you get an error message that says “Can’t install the software because it is not currently available from the Software Update server”, it means you've already got the Xcode package on your Mac. Mac OS X 10.9 onward, Xcode was already installed, which is why you aren't able to download these tools. However, what you can do is uninstall the entire Xcode app if you'd prefer to only access these tools and not a whole load of software that isn’t going to be of much use.
Watch out for Xcode junk
The Xcode junk is one of those types of clutter that is keeps accumulating in remote places on your Mac. It could take up a few gigs of your space. The only app that seems to address this problem is CleanMyMac X by MacPaw. It’s loved by many Mac developers because it collects those specific types of development junk, like Xcode or outdated libraries.
Once you launch the app, click on System Junk > Scan. Then, click “Review Details”
CleanMyMac X is a powerful Mac performance improvement app. It makes your Mac as good as new. Let it scan your system and clear out any unwanted Xcode, development and system junk that is taking up too much space and cluttering up your Mac. In a few clicks, your Mac could be running smoother, quicker and more efficiently.
macOS Catalina
Before we get right to how to install command line tools on macOS, let us look at what macOS Catalina is all about. Apple just made available a major release of its macOS codenamed macOS Catalina (version 10.15). macOS Catalina is the sixteenth release of Apple’s desktop operating system for Macintosh computers. So with the release of macOS Catalina, we say goodbye to macOS Mojave (version 10.14)
macOS Catalina is the first of its kind to support only 64-bit applications and activation lock. Read more about all the new feature of macOS Catalina from apple.com
Command-line tools on macOS Catalina is essential to running of commands and development task. Just like with all new versions of macOS you have to install command-line tools to run commands. The good news is the procedure has not changed much across the various versions of macOS
Install Command Line Tools
Open your terminal to begin the process of installing command-line tools on macOS Catalina. With your terminal opened, type the command below into the prompt and press the return key to execute it. After executing the command below a pop-up window should open with the option to install. The popped-up window should look similar to the image below
Subsequently, click on the Install button to proceed with the installation of command-line developer tools. Most importantly, as with every application, you have to agree to the license to proceed with the installation. Hence click agree on the license agreement window to continue with the installation.
Therefore, as a result of agreeing to license the download the command line tools is triggered. After that, the installation will kick in and should not take too long.
Finally, click on the Done button to complete the installation process.
After that run some beautiful code from the terminal. In conclusion, run your commands from the terminal to confirm the successful installation of command-line tools on macOS Catalina.
Install Command Line Tool Mac
Originally published at https://anansewaa.com on October 11, 2019