Introduction
In this guide, we'll learn how to install Elixir on Ubuntu 24.04. Elixir is a functional and concurrent programming language, ideal for developing distributed applications.
There are two main methods for installing Elixir on Ubuntu: using the apt
package manager or using asdf
, a multiple version manager. I personally use asdf
, but I'll show both methods so you can choose what best suits your needs.
Method 1: Installing Elixir with apt
To install Elixir using Ubuntu's package manager called apt
, you can type the following command in the terminal:
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install elixir erlang erlang-doc
- elixir: This package installs the Elixir compiler and basic tools needed to develop with Elixir.
- erlang: This package installs the Erlang virtual machine (BEAM) and the necessary components to run Elixir applications.
- erlang-doc: This package contains Erlang documentation, which can be useful for reference during development.
Using VS Code with Elixir
As a code editor, you can use VS Code with the ElixirLS extension, which is a language server that enables autocompletion and other functions. You can find it on the Visual Studio Code Marketplace.
Method 2: Installing asdf
on Ubuntu
In my specific case, I use asdf
, which is a multiple version manager, making it easier to have multiple versions of Elixir and Erlang installed on my machine and switch between them for each project.
You can find more information about asdf
at the following address: asdf-vm.com. One of the advantages of asdf
is that you can have a single installation manager supporting multiple languages.
Installing asdf on Ubuntu
Step 1: Install Dependencies
First, install two dependencies:
sudo apt install curl git
Step 2: Clone the asdf
repository
Next, run the following git command in your terminal to install asdf:
git clone https://github.com/asdf-vm/asdf.git ~/.asdf --branch v0.14.0
Step 3: Zsh Configuration
For those using Zsh as their shell, the following configuration should be made in the .zshrc
file by adding the line below:
. "$HOME/.asdf/asdf.sh"
Step 4: Install Additional Dependencies
Now, to install asdf
plugins for each language on Ubuntu, you need to install some dependencies:
sudo apt install dirmngr gpg curl gawk
Plugins I use with asdf:
Node.js
To add the Node.js plugin:
asdf plugin add nodejs https://github.com/asdf-vm/asdf-nodejs.git
To list available versions for installation:
asdf list-all nodejs
Installing a specific version:
asdf install nodejs 20.15.0
Setting the global version:
asdf global nodejs 20.15.0
Erlang
Erlang is necessary to have the virtual machine where Elixir will run.
To add the Erlang plugin:
asdf plugin add erlang https://github.com/asdf-vm/asdf-erlang.git
Install dependencies for Ubuntu (link for more information):
sudo apt install build-essential autoconf m4 libncurses5-dev libwxgtk3.2-dev libwxgtk-webview3.2-dev libgl1-mesa-dev libglu1-mesa-dev libpng-dev libssh-dev unixodbc-dev xsltproc fop libxml2-utils libncurses-dev openjdk-11-jdk
Installing a specific version:
asdf install erlang 27.0
Setting the global version:
asdf global erlang 27.0
Elixir
To add the Elixir plugin:
asdf plugin add elixir https://github.com/asdf-vm/asdf-elixir.git
Installing a specific version:
asdf install elixir 1.17.1
Setting the global version:
asdf global elixir 1.17.1
Verifying Installations
Now you can open a new terminal and run the following commands to verify if they are installed correctly:
node --version
elixir --version
Now you're ready to start your journey into the world of Elixir! With all the necessary tools installed, you can explore the powerful features of this amazing language. Don't hesitate to experiment, explore, and create incredible projects. Good luck and have fun learning Elixir!
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