Skip to content

Installing the Xcode CLI Tools

Jump to bottom
Ryan Parman edited this page Nov 7, 2024 · 5 revisions

Tip

Initial setup: 1. Updating macOS • 2. Determining your shell • 3. Installing the Xcode CLI Tools • 4. Installing Homebrew

Xcode is a development tool for building apps for Apple’s platforms. It tends to be an extremely large download.

The Xcode CLI Tools are a much smaller download and provides the core CLI tools that are leveraged for all other development on the Mac platform.

⭐ Recommended approach

Xcode icon

Use the xcode-select command to install the CLI tools. This will open a dialog box prompting you to begin the installation process.

xcode-select --install

If you receive the following message…

xcode-select: note: Command line tools are already installed. Use "Software Update" in System Settings or the softwareupdate command line interface to install updates

…this means that the Xcode CLI tools are already installed.

Alternative approach

See Installing Xcode.

Updating macOS • Installing the Xcode CLI Tools • Installing Homebrew • Choosing a Terminal • Choosing a Shell

Fundamentals

  1. Updating macOS
  2. Determining your shell
  3. Installing the Xcode CLI Tools
  4. Installing Homebrew

Extra customizations

  1. Choosing a Terminal (intermediate)
  2. Choosing a Shell (advanced)

Languages

Clouds

Other

Clone this wiki locally