I need help with installing a Ruby gem straight from its GitHub repository instead of using the standard gem install command. I want to get the most recent version that might not be published to RubyGems yet.
I have been working on a project where I need some features that are only available in the development branch of a particular gem. The published version on RubyGems is outdated and missing the functionality I require.
Can someone explain the proper way to install gems from their GitHub source code? I am looking for the correct syntax and any potential issues I should watch out for when doing this.
I’ve been there - needed a gem with bug fixes that weren’t merged yet. Just update your Gemfile like this: gem 'gem_name', git: 'https://github.com/username/repository.git'. You can target a specific branch with branch: 'branch_name' if needed. Fair warning though - Bundler downloads the entire repo, so installs can be slow with big projects. Plus you’re dealing with unreleased code that might be buggy. Once you find a stable version, lock it to a specific commit.
Here’s another approach - skip the Gemfile and install directly with gem install gem_name --source https://github.com/username/repository.git for quick testing. But this has limits, so stick with the Gemfile method for production. Watch out for dependency conflicts though. GitHub gems often need different dependency versions than your current setup. I learned this the hard way when a dev gem pulled in Rails edge and broke half my app. Always run tests after installing from source and use a separate branch for experimenting.
Pro tip: if you’re using Bundler, just run bundle install --git after adding the GitHub source to your Gemfile. Saves you from manually cloning repos. Also check if the maintainer has a Gemfury or other private gem server first - some devs publish prereleases there. I’ve been burned when a GitHub gem had breaking changes pushed right after I pulled it lol