Troubleshooting tree command not found in CentOS / Linux / Docker
When you try to use the tree command to get directory structure graphically, you get the error Message:
bash: tree: command not found
Error: bash: tree command not found
SOLUTION: Install the tree tool
If you get an error bash: tree: order not found in your Linux box (or in containers), there is a way to install it, provided you have root access
The solution: Installing tree command in CentOS using Yum repository
If you can install the tree command, follow the below-given steps. If you can’t install tree, such as lightweight containers such as Docker, there are alternative methods where you can use other Linux commands close to tree command output. -> Tree command alternatives.
# Linux / RHEL / CentOS based machine or containers:
sudo yum install tree
# Ubuntu based machine or container:
sudo apt-get install tree
Demonstrating the yum install tree command
[root@codetryout ~]# yum install tree
Loaded plugins: fastestmirror
Determining fastest mirrors
* base: centos.xxxx
* extras: centos.xxxx
* updates: centos.xxxxxx
base | 3.6 kB 00:00:00
extras | 2.9 kB 00:00:00
updates | 2.9 kB 00:00:00
(1/4): extras/7/x86_64/primary_db | 153 kB 00:00:00
(2/4): base/7/x86_64/group_gz | 165 kB 00:00:00
(3/4): updates/7/x86_64/primary_db | 2.8 MB 00:00:02
(4/4): base/7/x86_64/primary_db | 6.0 MB 00:00:06
Resolving Dependencies
--> Running transaction check
---> Package tree.x86_64 0:1.6.0-10.el7 will be installed
--> Finished Dependency Resolution
Dependencies Resolved
=========================================================================================================================================
Package Arch Version Repository Size
=========================================================================================================================================
Installing:
tree x86_64 1.6.0-10.el7 base 46 k
Transaction Summary
=========================================================================================================================================
Install 1 Package
Total download size: 46 k
Installed size: 87 k
Is this ok [y/d/N]:
Give Y to continue
Downloading packages:
tree-1.6.0-10.el7.x86_64.rpm | 46 kB 00:00:00
Running transaction check
Running transaction test
Transaction test succeeded
Running transaction
Installing : tree-1.6.0-10.el7.x86_64 1/1
Verifying : tree-1.6.0-10.el7.x86_64 1/1
Installed:
tree.x86_64 0:1.6.0-10.el7
Complete!
Testing tree command with a practical example
[root@codetryout ~]# tree
.
├── anaconda-ks.cfg
├── PASSWORD.zip
├── test
│ ├── files1.txt
│ ├── files2.txt
│ ├── files3.txt
│ ├── files4.txt
│ ├── files5.txt
│ ├── files6.txt
│ ├── files7.txt
│ ├── files8.txt
│ └── files9.txt
├── tester.sh
└── zipfile.zip
1 directory, 13 files
Yum, the command will work in CentOS8, CentOS 7, CentOS 6, Linux, RHEL, Fedora Linux, and all Ubuntu flavours for complete OS or containers.
Conclusion
One of the most common errors Linux newbie users face is the tree command not found error. This article explained how to troubleshoot this error and fix it. If you have difficulty installing, such as not having sudo / root permission to do it, consider tree command alternatives.