gem

Search for remote gem(s) and show all available versions

$ gem search [regular_expression] --all

$ gem install [gem_name]

$ gem install [gem_name] --version [1.0.0]

$ gem install [gem_name] --version '~> [1.0]'

$ gem update [gem_name]

$ gem list

$ gem uninstall [gem_name]

$ gem uninstall [gem_name] --version [1.0.0]

gem [options] <command> [arguments]

-v, --version
    Show gem program version.

-h, --help [COMMAND]
    Show help on the gem command or a specific subcommand.

-t, --[no-]trust-policy POLICY
    Specify gem trust policy (e.g., 'trust-policy LowSecurity').

-I, --[no-]include-dependencies
    Include gem dependencies in operations (e.g., uninstall).

-E, --[no-]env-shebang
    Rewrite executables with an environment shebang (#!).

-V, --verbose
    Enable verbose output.

-q, --quiet
    Suppress output.

-s, --source URL
    Specify a gem source URL. Can be specified multiple times.

-u, --[no-]update-sources
    Update gem sources (only during install/update).

-n, --no-document
    Disable generation of documentation.

-N, --no-user-install
    Disable user gem installation.

-w, --[no-]wrappers
    Generate wrappers for executables.

--[no-]build-args ARGS
    Specify build arguments for gem compilation.

--[no-]format-executable
    Make installed executables compatible with environments that only execute files ending in .exe

--[no-]ignore-dependencies
    Ignore specified dependencies.

--[no-]prerelease
    Allow prerelease gems.

--[no-]development
    Include development dependencies.

--[no-]user-install
    Do not install to user's home directory

The gem command is the primary interface for interacting with RubyGems, the Ruby package manager. It allows you to install, uninstall, update, and manage Ruby packages (gems). Gems are self-contained libraries or applications that can be easily distributed and reused. The gem command provides a rich set of options to control various aspects of gem management, including specifying gem sources, resolving dependencies, and managing gem versions.

Using gem, developers can easily leverage existing libraries and tools, promoting code reuse and speeding up development cycles. It is an essential tool for any Ruby developer, enabling efficient management of project dependencies and access to a vast ecosystem of open-source libraries. A gem is essentially an archive file that contains Ruby code, documentation, and metadata.

Requires Ruby to be installed. The availability and functionality of specific commands may vary depending on the RubyGems version installed. Network access is required for installing gems from remote sources.

Some commonly used subcommands include install (to install a gem), uninstall (to remove a gem), update (to update gems), list (to list installed gems), and search (to search for gems on remote repositories).

For example:
gem install rails installs the 'rails' gem.
gem list lists all installed gems.

Gem sources are URLs from which gems can be downloaded. The default source is https://rubygems.org. You can add or remove sources using `gem source -a ` and `gem source -r `, respectively. Use `gem source -l` to list the configured sources.

Gems can be digitally signed to verify their authenticity and integrity. RubyGems supports trust policies to control the level of trust placed in gems from different sources. Ensure to properly configure sources to avoid security issues.

RubyGems was initially developed by Chad Fowler and Rich Kilmer, and was first released in 2003. It has evolved since, becoming the standard package manager for Ruby, heavily influenced by CPAN. The gem command is the primary tool used to manage these gems, allowing Ruby developers to easily share, distribute, and reuse code across projects.

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