# Install a specific Bob release

This guide installs a named Bob version, either by compiling the Git tag or by unpacking a GitHub Release archive. For the latest checkout instead, use [Install Bob](<https://bobs-org.github.io/start/install/index.md>).

## Before you start

Pick a `vX.Y.Z` tag from [GitHub Releases](<https://github.com/bobs-org/bob-cli/releases>) or `CHANGELOG.md`. You need a directory on `PATH` that you can write.

From source you also need a Rust toolchain at 1.95 or later and `cargo`. See [Requirements and compatibility](<https://bobs-org.github.io/reference/compatibility/index.md>). Prebuilt archives cover Linux x86\_64 and macOS arm64 only.

The Cargo package is `bob-obsidian`. `cargo install bob-cli` installs a different project.

## 1\. Install Bob at that tag

Replace `vX.Y.Z` with the tag you chose. Use one of the two commands below.

From source:

```
cargo install --git https://github.com/bobs-org/bob-cli.git --tag vX.Y.Z --locked bob-obsidian
```

Cargo writes `bob` and the companion binaries into `${CARGO_INSTALL_ROOT:-${CARGO_HOME:-~/.cargo}}/bin`. Do not pass `--force`.

On Linux x86\_64 or macOS arm64, a GitHub Release archive skips the compile. Download the matching file:

| Platform | Archive |
| --- | --- |
| Linux x86\_64 | `bob-x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu.tar.gz` |
| macOS arm64 | `bob-aarch64-apple-darwin.tar.gz` |

```
curl -fsSL -o bob-x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu.tar.gz \
  https://github.com/bobs-org/bob-cli/releases/download/vX.Y.Z/bob-x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu.tar.gz
mkdir -p "$HOME/.local/bin"
tar -xzf bob-x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu.tar.gz -C "$HOME/.local/bin"
```

On Apple silicon, use `bob-aarch64-apple-darwin.tar.gz` and the same `tar` layout. The archive contains `bob`, `bob_pomodoro`, `bob_notify`, and `tmux_bob_pomodoro`. Put that directory on `PATH`.

## 2\. Install shell completion

```
bob completion install
```

`bob completion install` never edits rc files. Inspect the state with `bob completion` (same as `bob completion status`).

## 3\. Confirm the version

```
bob --version
```

Output

```
bob 0.2.0
```

The printed number should match the tag you installed (`v0.2.0` prints `bob 0.2.0`). The check passes when the command prints a version and exits 0.

## If it goes wrong

If cargo reports `binary bob already exists … as part of bob-cli`, run `cargo install --list`. For a path or Git `bob-cli` entry:

```
cargo uninstall bob-cli
```

Then retry the install command. For a registry `bob-cli` entry, that package is a different project; do not uninstall it. Install Bob with `--root` pointing at a directory you control, or unpack the prebuilt archive there, and put that `bin` directory on `PATH` ahead of the other `bob`. Do not pass `--force`.

## Related

- [Install Bob](<https://bobs-org.github.io/start/install/index.md>)
- [Install everything with one command](<https://bobs-org.github.io/guides/install-everything/index.md>)
- [Releases and versions](<https://bobs-org.github.io/reference/releases/index.md>)
- [Requirements and compatibility](<https://bobs-org.github.io/reference/compatibility/index.md>)
- [Shell completion](<https://bobs-org.github.io/completion/index.md>)