x86_64 ar command not found

Are you facing the “x86_64 ar command not found” error while working with your Linux system? This issue can be quite frustrating, especially if you’re new to the command line interface. In this article, I’ll delve into the reasons behind this error and provide you with a step-by-step guide to resolve it. Let’s get started.

Understanding the Error

The “x86_64 ar command not found” error typically occurs when the GNU Archiver (ar) utility is not installed or not found in your system’s PATH. The ar utility is a part of the GNU Binutils package, which is used for manipulating archives. Without it, you won’t be able to create, modify, or extract archives on your system.

Checking the Binutils Package

Before proceeding, it’s essential to check if the Binutils package is installed on your system. You can do this by running the following command in your terminal:

dpkg -l | grep binutils

This command will list all the installed packages that contain the word “binutils.” If you don’t see any output, it means the Binutils package is not installed on your system.

Installing Binutils

Now that you’ve confirmed that the Binutils package is not installed, it’s time to install it. The installation process varies depending on your Linux distribution. Below are the steps for some of the most popular distributions:

Ubuntu/Debian

Open your terminal and run the following command:

sudo apt-get update

Once the update is complete, install Binutils using the following command:

sudo apt-get install binutils

CentOS/RHEL

First, update your package list:

yum update

Then, install Binutils using the following command:

yum install binutils

Fedora

Update your package list:

dnf update

Install Binutils using the following command:

dnf install binutils

Verifying the Installation

After installing Binutils, it’s crucial to verify that the ar command is now available on your system. Run the following command in your terminal:

ar --version

This command should display the version of the GNU Archiver installed on your system. If you still see the “x86_64 ar command not found” error, it’s possible that the ar command is not in your system’s PATH.

Adding ar to the PATH

If the ar command is not found, you need to add it to your system’s PATH. The PATH is an environment variable that contains a list of directories where the system looks for executable files. Here’s how to add the ar command to your PATH:

export PATH=$PATH:/usr/bin

This command adds the /usr/bin directory to your PATH. Now, try running the ar command again:

ar --version

This time, you should see the version of the GNU Archiver without any errors.

Conclusion

The “x86_64 ar command not found” error can be resolved by installing the Binutils package and ensuring that the ar command is in your system’s PATH. By following the steps outlined in this article, you should be able to resolve this issue and continue working with archives on your Linux system.