Ruby gem mysql2 install failing

mysql ruby rubygems mysql2 libmysql

88,464

Solution 1

You have to have 64-bit MySQL installed on your machine, plus the build tools you get when you install xcode.

Solution 2

Ubuntu:

sudo apt-get install libmysqlclient-dev  #(mysql development headers)
sudo gem install mysql2 -- --with-mysql-dir=/etc/mysql/

That's it!

Result:

Building native extensions. This could take a while...
Successfully installed mysql2-0.2.6
1 gem installed
Installing ri documentation for mysql2-0.2.6...
Enclosing class/module 'mMysql2' for class Result not known
Enclosing class/module 'mMysql2' for class Client not known
Installing RDoc documentation for mysql2-0.2.6...
Enclosing class/module 'mMysql2' for class Result not known
Enclosing class/module 'mMysql2' for class Client not known

Solution 3

You need the MySQL development headers for mysql2 to properly compile. This is needed, because much of the functionality is written in C and subsequently linked against MySQL.

A solution is to either point the gem installer to your mysql install folder explicitly like so

gem install mysql2 -- --with-mysql-dir=/usr/local/mysql
# or where ever you installed your mysql server to

or by installing a mysql server to a known location (e.g. by using homebrew.) and then installing the gem

# install the mysql server locally
brew install mysql
# install the gem
gem install mysql2

Both approaches require you to have XCode installed to have the required GCC compiler.

Solution 4

With Brew and MySQL installed, I used the following to install the mysql2 gem

gem install mysql2 -- --with-mysql-config=/usr/local/Cellar/mysql/5.5.10/bin/mysql_config

If you're using Bundler, you can tell bundler about this with command:

bundle config build.mysql2 --with-mysql-config=/usr/local//Cellar/mysql/5.5.10/bin/mysql_config

As documented here: http://gembundler.com/man/bundle-config.1.html

Solution 5

on Mac OSX Moutain Lion, below command worked for me:

gem install mysql2 -- --srcdir=/usr/local/mysql/include

View more solutions

88,464

Tanner

Updated on July 05, 2022

Comments

Tanner almost 2 years

When I try to install the mysql2 gem, it fails with no apparent errors. Does anyone know what to do to work around this so mysql2 installs?

$ sudo gem install mysql2
Building native extensions.  This could take a while...
ERROR:  Error installing mysql2:
    ERROR: Failed to build gem native extension.

/System/Library/Frameworks/Ruby.framework/Versions/1.8/usr/bin/ruby extconf.rb
checking for rb_thread_blocking_region()... no
checking for mysql_query() in -lmysqlclient... no
checking for main() in -lm... yes
checking for mysql_query() in -lmysqlclient... no
checking for main() in -lz... yes
checking for mysql_query() in -lmysqlclient... no
checking for main() in -lsocket... no
checking for mysql_query() in -lmysqlclient... no
checking for main() in -lnsl... no
checking for mysql_query() in -lmysqlclient... no
checking for main() in -lmygcc... no
checking for mysql_query() in -lmysqlclient... no
*** extconf.rb failed ***
Could not create Makefile due to some reason, probably lack of
necessary libraries and/or headers.  Check the mkmf.log file for more
details.  You may need configuration options.

Provided configuration options:
    --with-opt-dir
    --without-opt-dir
    --with-opt-include
    --without-opt-include=${opt-dir}/include
    --with-opt-lib
    --without-opt-lib=${opt-dir}/lib
    --with-make-prog
    --without-make-prog
    --srcdir=.
    --curdir
    --ruby=/System/Library/Frameworks/Ruby.framework/Versions/1.8/usr/bin/ruby
    --with-mysql-config
    --without-mysql-config
    --with-mysql-dir
    --without-mysql-dir
    --with-mysql-include
    --without-mysql-include=${mysql-dir}/include
    --with-mysql-lib
    --without-mysql-lib=${mysql-dir}/lib
    --with-mysqlclientlib
    --without-mysqlclientlib
    --with-mlib
    --without-mlib
    --with-mysqlclientlib
    --without-mysqlclientlib
    --with-zlib
    --without-zlib
    --with-mysqlclientlib
    --without-mysqlclientlib
    --with-socketlib
    --without-socketlib
    --with-mysqlclientlib
    --without-mysqlclientlib
    --with-nsllib
    --without-nsllib
    --with-mysqlclientlib
    --without-mysqlclientlib
    --with-mygcclib
    --without-mygcclib
    --with-mysqlclientlib
    --without-mysqlclientlib


Gem files will remain installed in /Library/Ruby/Gems/1.8/gems/mysql2-0.2.6 for inspection.
Results logged to /Library/Ruby/Gems/1.8/gems/mysql2-0.2.6/ext/mysql2/gem_make.out

Tanner over 13 years

That solved it. Installed 64-bit MySQL on my computer via the link below and all worked fine. Thanks!
Jason over 13 years

The brew solution worked the best for me. If you install the Mac OS X MySQL binary make sure to use the 64bit version.
Holger Just over 13 years

Unfortunately, apt is not yet available on OSX. But your approach does indeed work on Debian/Ubuntu.
Tobias Cohen about 13 years

Thanks, the --with-mysql-dir= option was just what I needed to solve my problem.
WattsInABox over 12 years

I don't understand how this has so many upvotes when it does not correspond to the question.
John over 12 years

It has so many upvotes because others (like myself) have found this useful. It solved my issue.
Abe Petrillo over 12 years

Issue is the same problem but on a different OS
froderik over 11 years

yep - brew install mysql and then gem install mysql without problems - thx!
nruth almost 11 years

This also works if you're using brew versions to install old versions, e.g. brew install mysql51, gem install mysql2 -v '0.3.13' -- --with-mysql-config=/usr/local/Cellar/mysql51/5.1.71/bin/mys‌ql_config (on mountain lion)
hack3r over 10 years

Install another useful gem - sudo gem install mysql2xxxx -- --with-mysql-dir=/etc/mysql/
gregn3 over 10 years

For me the --with-mysql-dir was not enough, and instead I had to use sudo gem install mysql2 -- --with-mysql-include=/usr/include/mysql/ --with-mysql-lib=/usr/lib/mysql/
NullVoxPopuli about 10 years

this helped me install mysql2 on my chromebook. thanks @tunelko!
Josh M. about 10 years

Please not that on Ubuntu 13, at least, you don't have to specify with-mysql-dir. Just install libmysqlclient-dev and then run bundle install and it should work.
Peter Kazazes almost 10 years

Ubuntu 14.01 as well!
AlexC over 9 years

@JoshM.: Fantastic tip. Thanks a lot. Works much smoother that way, including on Debian Wheezy.
Denys Vitali over 9 years

libmysqlclient-dev solved my problem in Ubuntu 14.04. Thanks!
user2490003 almost 9 years

For me the --with-mysql-dir was actually causing an issue. I just left that off and let it install to a default directory. I just direct installed a specific version with gem install mysql2 -v '0.3.18'
Arunabh Das almost 7 years

Thanks : This worked for me : ==> sudo gem install mysql2 -- --with-mysql-dir=/usr/local/mysql
evgpisarchik over 5 years

On macOS Mojave as well!
kevinluo201 about 4 years

only solution to this strange problem in MacOS!