# Best way to upgrade from 1.8.2 to 1.8.4 on Linux?

**URL:** <https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/best-way-to-upgrade-from-1-8-2-to-1-8-4-on-linux/102563>\
**Category:** Ruby\
**Created:** [December 20, 2005, 4:05am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/best-way-to-upgrade-from-1-8-2-to-1-8-4-on-linux/102563 "2005-12-20T04:05:13Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![unknown](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/u/4bbf92/32.png) [@unknown](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/unknown)\
**Post date:** [December 20, 2005, 4:05am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/best-way-to-upgrade-from-1-8-2-to-1-8-4-on-linux/102563/1 "2005-12-20T04:05:13Z")

</div>

I have installed from source Ruby in the folder /usr/lib/ruby-1.8.2/.  
(I use Linux)  
If I do “which ruby” I get /usr/local/bin/ruby. It seems that Ruby has  
created the folder /usr/local/bin and filled it with ruby, irb, etc…  
I don’t mind, this is all fine.

Now my question is: when at XMAS Metz dressed like Santa will bring me  
Ruby 1.8.4, how should I upgrade?

I was thinking do to the following:

1. Remove the folder /usr/lib/ruuby-1.8.2/
2. Install Ruby 1.8.4 from source in /usr/lib/ruby-1.8.4/
3. During the Installation of Ruby 1.8.4, it will overwrite  
automatically the folder /usr/local/bin/ with the new versions of ruby,  
irb, etc… I am not sure if it works automatically in this way. Can  
you confirm?  
If it doesn’t happen out-of-the-box, I was thinking to create a  
symbolic link from /usr/local/bin to /usr/lib/ruby-1.8.4/bin/.

Regarding Gem and Rails, I will probably just remove Gem’s folder and  
reinstall it. And then just reinstall the main gems that I am using  
including Rails. The rails websites/application that I have done are  
saved elsewhere and shouldn’t be affected.

Is it a good approach? How will you do it?