How to install Xcode Command Line Tools

Question

How do I get the command-line build tools installed with the current Xcode/Mac OS X v10.8 (Mountain Lion) or later?

Unlike Xcode there is no installer, it\'s just a

Answer 1

You can automate the installation of Command-Line Tools in bash. I needed to do this when I was automating the developer onboarding setup process.

xcode-select --install && sleep 1
osascript -e 'tell application "System Events"' -e 'tell process "Install Command Line Developer Tools"' -e 'keystroke return' -e 'click button "Agree" of window "License Agreement"' -e 'end tell' -e 'end tell'

Answer 2

If you take a look into "Console" while trying to pull the Command Line Tools, you will find out that there is actually an "unofficial" link to the Mountain Lion Command Line Tools!

So just try:

http://adcdownload.apple.com/ios/ios_simulator__resigned/cltools_mountainliondp2_march12.dmg

Here is my Console log:

01/04/2012 15:41:54.258 Xcode: [MT] DVTDownloadable: Download failed. Downloadable: {
    dependencies =     (
    );
    fileSize = 141452226;
    identifier = "Xcode.CLTools.10.8";
    name = "Command Line Tools";
    source = "http://adcdownload.apple.com/ios/ios_simulator__resigned/cltools_mountainliondp2_march12.dmg";
    userInfo =     {
        ActivationPredicate = "$MAC_OS_X_VERSION >= '10.8.0' && $MAC_OS_X_VERSION < '10.9.0'";
        InstallPrefix = "/";
        InstalledIfAllSHA1SumsMatch =         {
            "/usr/bin/clang" = 600c35175775a6002452a88f17e00c570cd2e2d0;
        };
        Summary = "Before installing, note that from within Terminal you can use the XCRUN tool to launch compilers and other tools embedded within the Xcode application. Use the XCODE-SELECT tool to define which version of Xcode is active.  Type \"man xcrun\" from within Terminal to find out more.\n\nDownloading this package will install copies of the core command line tools and system headers into system folders, including the LLVM compiler, linker, and build tools.";
        "Xcode.SDKs" =         (
        );
    };
    version = "1.1.1";
}. Error: Error Domain=NSCocoaErrorDomain Code=3840 "The data couldn’t be read because it has been corrupted." (Encountered unknown ampersand-escape sequence at line 18) UserInfo=0x401bc8e60 {NSDebugDescription=Encountered unknown ampersand-escape sequence at line 18, kCFPropertyListOldStyleParsingError=The data couldn’t be read because it has been corrupted.}

Answer 3

Xcode 5.1 and OSX 10.9. (also works with Xcode 5.1.1 + OSX 10.10)

xcode-select --install worked with version 2333, failed with version 2003. So, try xcode-select --install and if that does not work download as described below.

In early February 2014 xcode-select --install has been reporting that "Can't install the software because it is not currently available from the Software Update server". In late February 2014 the command started only displaying help. The solution is to download directly, see "Separate Download" below.

Xcode 5.0.1 and OSX 10.9

With Xcode 5.0.1 and Mavericks 10.9 the command line tool is no longer available through Xcode. Instead they must be downloaded from the Apple Developer Tools site: https://developer.apple.com/downloads/index.action. This requires signing in with a developer account.

Or via terminal (from the release docs): The Command Line Developer Tools package can be installed on demand using "xcode-select --install” and the installed tools will be automatically updated using Software Update. OS X 10.9 is required for this feature. For earlier versions, continue to use the in-app download in Xcode.

Running the command in terminal produces the following GUI:

Inside Xcode (5.0)

Xcode includes a new "Downloads" preference pane to install optional components such as command line tools, and previous iOS Simulators. To open this pane click the "Xcode" button in the top left of the screen near the Apple logo, then click "Preferences", then click "Downloads".

Xcode 5.0 screenshot:

Xcode 4.x screenshot:

Separate Download

If you do not have Xcode, they are available as a separate download from Apple:

Go to developer.apple.com/downloads/index.action, and sign in with your Apple ID (the download's free). In the pane on the left, search for "command line tools" and choose the package appropriate to your version of OS X. Requires Mac OS X 10.7.3 or later.

Answer 4

UPDATED: On Lion 10.7.4 the Command Line Tools are already available from withing XCode. You can get it freely from App Store.

The GCC for OSX won't compile some packages obtained from macports. https://github.com/kennethreitz/osx-gcc-installer/downloads

Answer 5

xcode command line tools can be downloaded from here: https://developer.apple.com/downloads/index.action#

April 2014 version direct download link (for developers who just want to get started right away) https://developer.apple.com/downloads/download.action?path=Developer_Tools/command_line_tools_os_x_mavericks_for_xcode__april_2014/command_line_tools_for_osx_mavericks_april_2014.dmg

Answer 6

1. Visit the apple More Downloads for Apple Developers page (log in if you're not logged in)
2. Expand the Command Line Tools row with appropriate MacOS Version (we can always view the macOS version from Top Bar > Click on Apple icon > About This Mac > view Version)
3. Download the .dmg file for that Command Line Tools (Screenshot attached)
4. Once the .dmg file is downloaded, we can double click it and install it