Stage 1 · Lesson 2 of 8

Xcode Command Line Tools

The are Apple's developer basics: (programs that turn source code into something the computer runs), git, make and similar tools. You get them without the full Xcode app. Install them with xcode-select --install, or let install them for you.

Many packages compile code while they install. Without these tools, those installs fail with confusing compiler errors. After a major upgrade, the tools are sometimes removed or broken.

If git or a build suddenly stops working after an upgrade, reinstalling them is the first fix to try.

Common trapdownloading the full Xcode app, which is many gigabytes, when you only need the command line tools.

A question to check yourself, an AI practice session and 1 cheat sheet entry come when you add the roadmap to your account. Add it

Resources for this stage

Start with

CourseFree
The Missing Semester of Your CS Education
MIT · Beginner
The first lecture introduces the shell with exercises that work in the macOS terminal

Keep handy

Homebrew
The install command and documentation for the package manager you will use for every tool
Visual Studio Code
The editor used through this roadmap, with official set-up guides for each operating system

Also worth your time

roadmap.sh: LinuxGo deeper
A map of the whole Linux topic, to see how much there is beyond this stage