How can I install local gem?

Question

If I download a .gem file to a folder in my computer, can I install it later using gem install?

Answer 1

Yup, when you do gem install, it will search the current directory first, so if your .gem file is there, it will pick it up. I found it on the gem reference, which you may find handy as well:

gem install will install the named gem. It will attempt a local installation (i.e. a .gem file in the current directory), and if that fails, it will attempt to download and install the most recent version of the gem you want.

Answer 2

Also, you can use gem install --local path_to_gem/filename.gem

This will skip the usual gem repository scan that happens when you leave off --local.

You can find other magic with gem install --help.