Xcode Command Line Tools
How to install Xcode Command Line Tools. You don't need to install the full Xcode package! The easy way to get Apple's missing development tools. Installing Xcode CLT without all the Xcode extras.
Xcode Command Line Tools are tools for software developers that run on the command line, in the Terminal application.
Out of the box, a Mac doesn't contain all of the software and tools needed for programming. Instead, Apple provides a separate development environment for programmers named Xcode. But the full Xcode programming package is huge and you don't need it unless you are developing for Apple operating systems. Instead, most developers install Xcode Command Line Tools, a smaller package of utility commands. See Apple Command Line Tools for a description.
Before you get started
I recommend using our free app to install the Xcode Command Line Tools and set up your development environment. It is a FREE Mac app that installs Xcode CLT, configures your shell, installs Homebrew and Git, and verifies everything works. It does everything this guide covers, but easier and faster. Here are all the details about the app before you download. Then:
If you're configuring the command line yourself, here is a guide. If you just want to know where to get Xcode CLT, see Download Xcode Command Line Tools.
Install Xcode Command Line Tools - Step by Step
Here's how to install Xcode Command Line Tools.
- Check macOS and upgrade macOS if necessary.
- Open Mac Terminal.
- Are Xcode Command Line Tools Already Installed?.
- Install Xcode Command Line Tools with Homebrew (recommended).
- Install Xcode Command Line Tools Directly (an alternative).
- Install the Full Xcode Package (a cumbersome alternative).
After you install Xcode Command Line Tools, you can Install Homebrew and Configure Your Mac Like a Pro with Git and programming languages such as Python, Java, or Ruby. We have guides for it all.
How to install Xcode Command Line Tools
You have three options to install Xcode Command Line Tools (Xcode CLT). Here's how to choose:
· Install with Homebrew
Most developers need additional programming languages and utilities that don't come installed on macOS and are not included in the Xcode Command Line Tools package. You can use Homebrew, the popular Mac package manager, to install almost any open source developer tool. Homebrew will install Xcode Command Line Tools as part of its installation process. Since you probably need Homebrew, go ahead and use Homebrew to install Xcode Command Line Tools for you. Here's the easy way to Install Xcode Command Line Tools with Homebrew.
· Install from the terminal
If you don't want Homebrew to install Xcode Command Line Tools for you, you can Install Xcode Command Line Tools from the command line.
· Install the full Xcode package
If you intend to develop software for macOS, iOS, tvOS, or watchOS, Install the full Xcode package that includes the command line tools.
Uninstall and Reinstall
After a macOS upgrade, you may need to Reinstall Xcode Command Line Tools from the command line. Finally, if you have problems or want to free disk space, this guide will show you how to completely remove and Uninstall Xcode Command Line Tools.
Continue setting up your Mac
After installing Xcode Command Line Tools, you can set up a development environment with a software version manager and programming languages. You may want to Install Homebrew as a first step. Then Configure Git and add a language version manager (I recommend Mise). For programming languages, I provide guides to installing Java, Python, and Ruby.
Don't miss the full visual roadmap and checklist that shows how to set up a Mac for software development, with all the essential tools and settings you might not yet know about.