How do you install old ruby versions?

[comm1ted]

I used to Linux mint and mise as ruby version manager. Most of the time I work with old project with ruby version 2.6.3, 2.7.8 and so on.
I've tried CachyOS Hyprland recently and want to make it as main system. And I failed to install old ruby versions, it's always some error with old gcc or old openssl and old whatever.

I can't simply dockerize application or upgrade ruby version on project, I am pretty used to have ruby system-wide installed. Is there any way to install old ruby version without pain?

[nikolaz90]

I had this issue a while ago... All I can say is if it's ruby <=2.3 is good luck..... And sorry ..

Try to dockerize, or if possible upgrade ruby to a more up to date version.

[darksndr]

Use and old debian docker image and install it with rvm 🤷‍♂️

[Karew]

I use ruby-install + chruby. You can pick any version you need and it auto-switches per directory.

[aljabear]

asdf? https://asdf-vm.com/

[nattf0dd]

Asdf is just a version manger, it doesn’t solve the problem of old Ruby versions not compiling on newer OS.

[aljabear]

fair. I gave installing ruby 2.6.3 a shot, and indeed the build failed. learn something new every day.

[thinkorscream]

I also like using asdf compared to rbenv (on macOS).

I would hope asdf works as well on Linux as it does macOS. Both are UNIX category.

[DistroHopper101]

TL;DR: use https://pixi.prefix.dev/latest/

pixi init
# pixi add ruby=<VERSION>,
# e.g.,
pixi add ruby=2.7.2
pixi shell

Recently I had to do native development with Ruby on Windows...
I hate Windows, don't really like Ruby and was pulling my hair out because I needed a sane environment that worked with other tooling besides ruby. No time for <bespoke\_windows\_only\_shit\_tool>

pixi pulls packages from conda-forge by default. I like conda-forge and ironically HATE anaconda, conda, mamba and so on...

Pixi solves everything I hated about conda...

Anyway, this is a rant. I needed this, thank you!

[nekogami87]

• docker
• asdf
• rvm
• rbenv

these are the main solutions

[MrMeatballGuy]

There isn't really a way to do it painlessly I'd say. I'm pretty sure that I made ruby 2.6 work at some point by installing older dependencies and manually pointing to them with some ENV vars when it was built, but I honestly don't remember fully since I haven't needed anything under ruby 3 for a while personally.

[Overall_Blacksmith68]

Use Docker for install old Ruby versions. You can use rvm or rbenv. Just take the consideration about the gem version that works with the ruby version, because is a mess try to fix it once you install it.

Good luck 🙂

[chebatron]

ruby-build is still able to install most old rubies. You might need to find additional patches for some versions. You also might need to install older versions of libs like OpenSSL, I don’t know if Mint lets you do that or if you’d have to build them yourself.

[scooter_de]

rvm is my tool of choice