How to install command line tools in macOS

Using command line tools on macOS greatly enhances the ability to manage, modify, and configure your system and software. Not only do these tools enable better control over the macOS environment, but they also provide developers with essential utilities.

By default, macOS comes with a range of pre-installed command line utilities. However, for software development or more advanced tasks, you might require tools that are not bundled with macOS. These can be conveniently installed using the Command Line Tools package provided by Apple for Xcode. This package includes compilers and other utilities crucial for programming and system management.

Whether you're diving into programming, managing databases, or just trying to troubleshoot an issue using the command line, installing these tools is a key step to unlocking macOS's full potential.

1. Launch the Terminal application.
2. Enter the following command to prompt macOS to install the Command Line Tools.

   $ xcode-select --install

3. A pop-up window will appear. Click “Install” to download and install the tools.
4. Wait for the download and installation process to complete.
5. Confirm installation by checking the version of installed tools.

   $ gcc --version

   This will display the version of GCC (GNU Compiler Collection) that was installed with the Command Line Tools package.

6. Additionally, you can install full-fledged Xcode from the App Store if you need a complete development environment.

   Note: Installing full Xcode will require significantly more disk space than just the Command Line Tools package.

7. Close the Terminal once the installation is complete or continue with your tasks.