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Install Jekyll with rbenv on Linux

Last reviewed: July 18, 2026 - Author: Tobias Geiser

Jekyll projects are easier to maintain when each repository defines its own Ruby version. rbenv provides a clean way to install Ruby, select the version per project, and keep Bundler and Jekyll isolated from the system Ruby.

This guide shows a step-by-step setup for Debian, Ubuntu, Red Hat-family distributions, openSUSE, and Arch Linux using rbenv, ruby-build, Bundler, and Jekyll.

1. Install Linux packages

Install the compiler, headers, and libraries required by ruby-build before compiling Ruby.

For Debian and Ubuntu, install the build tools and development libraries with apt.

sudo apt update
sudo apt install git curl build-essential autoconf patch rustc libssl-dev libyaml-dev libreadline-dev zlib1g-dev libgmp-dev libncurses-dev libffi-dev libgdbm-dev libdb-dev uuid-dev libsqlite3-dev

For Fedora, Red Hat Enterprise Linux, CentOS Stream, Rocky Linux, and AlmaLinux, install the build tools and development libraries with dnf.

sudo dnf install git curl gcc make patch openssl-devel readline-devel zlib-devel libyaml-devel libffi-devel gdbm-devel ncurses-devel sqlite-devel

For openSUSE, install the build tools and development libraries with zypper.

sudo zypper refresh
sudo zypper install git curl gcc make patch zlib-devel libopenssl-devel readline-devel libyaml-devel libffi-devel gdbm-devel ncurses-devel sqlite3-devel

If your workstation uses a minimal development setup, also install the base development pattern.

sudo zypper install -t pattern devel_basis

For Arch Linux, install the build tools and development libraries with pacman.

sudo pacman -Syu
sudo pacman -S git curl base-devel openssl readline zlib libyaml libffi gdbm ncurses sqlite

2. Install rbenv and ruby-build

Install rbenv and ruby-build from your distribution repositories where available.

On Debian and Ubuntu:

sudo apt install rbenv ruby-build

On Fedora and Red Hat-family distributions:

sudo dnf install rbenv ruby-build

Depending on the distribution release, these packages may require EPEL or another additional repository.

On openSUSE:

sudo zypper install rbenv ruby-build

On Arch Linux:

sudo pacman -S rbenv ruby-build

Distribution packages can lag behind current Ruby releases. If rbenv install 3.3.12 fails or rbenv install --list does not show the Ruby version you need, update ruby-build or install a newer ruby-build release.

3. Initialize rbenv for the current shell

Initialize rbenv for the current Bash session.

eval "$(rbenv init - bash)"

To make this persistent, add the initialization to ~/.bashrc.

printf '%s\n' 'eval "$(rbenv init - bash)"' >> ~/.bashrc

Open a new shell or reload the file.

source ~/.bashrc

Confirm that rbenv is available.

rbenv --version

4. Install Ruby

Install the Ruby version used by the project.

rbenv install 3.3.12

Confirm the installed version is available.

rbenv versions

5. Select Ruby for the project with rbenv local

Run this command in the Jekyll project directory. It writes a .ruby-version file for the repository.

rbenv local 3.3.12
ruby -v

Use rbenv local when a project should consistently use the same Ruby version.

6. Select Ruby for the shell with rbenv shell

Use rbenv shell when you need a temporary Ruby version for the current terminal session only.

rbenv shell 3.3.12
ruby -v

Clear the temporary override when it is no longer needed.

rbenv shell --unset

7. Install Bundler and project dependencies

Install Bundler for the selected Ruby version.

gem install bundler

Install the gems defined by the Jekyll project.

bundle install

8. Build and serve the Jekyll site

Build the site first to catch configuration, theme, and dependency issues.

bundle exec jekyll build

Serve the site locally while working on content. Add --livereload so the browser refreshes when files change.

bundle exec jekyll serve --livereload

To include draft posts during local preview, add --drafts.

bundle exec jekyll serve --drafts --livereload

Operational notes