---
name: "ros-install"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "roswell"
version: "26.10.119-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/ros-install"
---

# ros-install(1)

ros-install - Install lisp implementations or quicklisp system

## Synopsis

- •

  **ros install** system \[system ...\]

- •

  **ros install** impl\[/version\] \[param ...\]

## Description

- **system**

  a name specifying a system.

- **impl**

  a name specifying a lisp implementation.

## Installing a Lisp Implementation

When the `impl` or `system` matches to one of the supported implementations, it fetches, downloads and installs it to one of the internal directory managed by roswell (~/.roswell, or `ROSWELL_INSTALL_DIR`). In order to use the installed implementation, you have to run *[ros-use(1)](/ros-use/1.md)*.

For example, the following command downloads the latest sbcl binary from sbcl.org. Note that this may be different from the default binary installed by roswell, called `sbcl-bin`. `sbcl-bin` is a stable and well-tested version of the sbcl binary which is supposed to be a little older than the latest sbcl.

-

  ```
  $ ros install sbcl
  ```

When invoked without a name, it prints the list of installable implementations. (Not to be confused with `ros list installed`, which shows the implementations already installed.)

-

  ```
  Usage: ros install impl [OPTIONS]
  For more details on impl specific options, type:
  ros help install impl
  Candidates impls for installation are:
  ecl
  sbcl
  clisp
  ccl-bin
  sbcl-bin
  ```

The name can be optionally followed by a slash `/` and a version of the implementation.

-

  ```
  $ ros install sbcl/1.2.14
  ```

There might be some *hidden* implementation that are not listed here — they are in the alpha quality, but try the one you like or watch the website (https://github.com/roswell/roswell).

-

  ```
  $ ros install ccl
  $ ros install abcl
  $ ...
  ```

## Installing a quicklisp system and the bundled roswell scripts

If the specified name does not match any of the implementations, roswell tries to find a quicklisp system of the given name.

-

  ```
  $ ros install alexandria
  ```

After compiling and loading the system, it funcalls `ros:*build-hook*` special variable with no argument, if some function is set during the compilation/load.

When the system comes with a **roswell script** created by [*ros-init*(1)](/ros-init/1.md) in the subdirectory `roswell`, they are installed into **ROSWELL\_INSTALL\_DIR/bin**. Setting the path to this directory makes those scripts available from the shell command line.

-

  ```
  $ ros install qlot
  System 'qlot' found. Loading the system..
  Processing build-hook..
  Found 1 scripts: qlot
  Attempting to install the scripts in roswell/ subdirectory of the system...
  /home/user/.roswell/bin/qlot
  $ qlot
  Usage: qlot [install | update | bundle | exec shell-args..]
  ```

## SEE ALSO

[*sbcl*(1)](/sbcl/1.md), [*ros*(1)](/ros/1.md), [*ros-list*(1)](/ros-list/1.md), [*ros-init*(1)](/ros-init/1.md)

## AUTHORS

Roswell Project Team.