seniorRuby
How does Bundler manage dependency resolution in Ruby applications?
Updated May 17, 2026
Short answer
Bundler resolves gem dependencies into a locked dependency graph using Gemfile.lock.
Deep explanation
Bundler builds a dependency graph of all gems specified in Gemfile, resolves version conflicts using a SAT-like solver, and locks the resolved versions in Gemfile.lock. At runtime, it ensures only compatible gem versions are activated in the load path.
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