# Can't install sqlite-ruby gem on OS X 10.5.5

**URL:** <https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/cant-install-sqlite-ruby-gem-on-os-x-10-5-5/158552>\
**Category:** Rails\
**Created:** [January 24, 2009, 7:12pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/cant-install-sqlite-ruby-gem-on-os-x-10-5-5/158552 "2009-01-24T19:12:44Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![adammontgomery](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@adammontgomery](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/adammontgomery)\
**Post date:** [January 24, 2009, 7:12pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/cant-install-sqlite-ruby-gem-on-os-x-10-5-5/158552/1 "2009-01-24T19:12:44Z")

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I’m new to OS X. I’ve been messing with Rails for about a year.

I’ve cloned my rails app using git. script/server starts, and I get an  
error in my browser about sqlite3.

So, I try to install sqlite-ruby gem and I fail as follows:

[lostsync@alice ~/projects/motleylane-deploy]$ sudo gem install  
sqlite-ruby  
Password:  
Building native extensions. This could take a while…  
ERROR: Error installing sqlite-ruby:  
ERROR: Failed to build gem native extension.

/usr/local/bin/ruby extconf.rb install sqlite-ruby  
checking for main() in -lsqlite… no  
checking for sqlite.h… 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:

/\* snipped \*/

Gem files will remain installed in  
/usr/local/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/sqlite-ruby-2.2.3 for inspection.  
Results logged to  
/usr/local/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/sqlite-ruby-2.2.3/ext/gem\_make.out

[lostsync@alice ~/projects/motleylane-deploy]$ which sqlite3  
/usr/bin/sqlite3

I cannot figure this out and Google is not turning up much help.  
Thanks.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![adammontgomery](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@adammontgomery](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/adammontgomery)\
**Post date:** [January 24, 2009, 7:14pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/cant-install-sqlite-ruby-gem-on-os-x-10-5-5/158552/2 "2009-01-24T19:14:26Z")

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On 24 Jan 2009, at 18:12, Adam M. wrote:

> I’m new to OS X. I’ve been messing with Rails for about a year.
> 
> I’ve cloned my rails app using git. script/server starts, and I get  
> an  
> error in my browser about sqlite3.
> 
> So, I try to install sqlite-ruby gem and I fail as follows:

Are the dev tools installed ?

Fred

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![adammontgomery](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@adammontgomery](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/adammontgomery)\
**Post date:** [January 24, 2009, 7:36pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/cant-install-sqlite-ruby-gem-on-os-x-10-5-5/158552/3 "2009-01-24T19:36:17Z")

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Frederick C. wrote:

> Are the dev tools installed ?
> 
> Fred

Yes. I reinstalled them just to be sure. The error persists.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![adammontgomery](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@adammontgomery](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/adammontgomery)\
**Post date:** [January 24, 2009, 9:06pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/cant-install-sqlite-ruby-gem-on-os-x-10-5-5/158552/4 "2009-01-24T21:06:15Z")

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Just a guess here but…

I notice that your install target directory is /usr/local/… while  
“which sqlite3” points at /usr/bin. I’m suspecting that the path to  
the library is not set right in your environment - you need to be able  
to find the sqlite includes and libraries during the install. Not  
sure what’s the simplest way to do this but here’s what works for me.

I use /opt/local/… for my personal install root as OSX upgrades  
overwrite the /usr/local directory. I built (ppc pre-built not  
available) and installed my own copy of sqlite3 in /opt/local/bin and  
have /opt/local/bin at the front of my search path. I’m running OSX  
10.5.6, here are my RoR specs:

Ruby version 1.8.7 (powerpc-darwin9)  
RubyGems version 1.3.1  
Rails version 2.2.2  
Active Record version 2.2.2  
Action Pack version 2.2.2  
Active Resource version 2.2.2  
Action Mailer version 2.2.2  
Active Support version 2.2.2  
Application root /Users/rick/sqlite-test  
Environment development  
Database adapter sqlite3

Hope this helps…

Rick

On Jan 24, 8:12 am, Adam M. [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![adammontgomery](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@adammontgomery](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/adammontgomery)\
**Post date:** [January 24, 2009, 8:46pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/cant-install-sqlite-ruby-gem-on-os-x-10-5-5/158552/5 "2009-01-24T20:46:55Z")

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Ah, I know what’s up. Try installing sqlite3-ruby instead (you were  
trying to install the gem for sqlite 2)

Sent from my iPhone

On 24 Jan 2009, at 18:36, Adam M. \<rails-mailing-list@andreas-

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![adammontgomery](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@adammontgomery](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/adammontgomery)\
**Post date:** [January 24, 2009, 9:53pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/cant-install-sqlite-ruby-gem-on-os-x-10-5-5/158552/6 "2009-01-24T21:53:46Z")

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Frederick C. wrote:

> Ah, I know what’s up. Try installing sqlite3-ruby instead (you were  
> trying to install the gem for sqlite 2)
> 
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
> On 24 Jan 2009, at 18:36, Adam M. \<rails-mailing-list@andreas-

Well, that’s mildly embarrassing. 😉

Thank you. Works now.