# Default ruby lib path "$:" problem

**URL:** <https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/default-ruby-lib-path-problem/194010>\
**Category:** Ruby\
**Created:** [August 27, 2010, 10:13pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/default-ruby-lib-path-problem/194010 "2010-08-27T22:13:03Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![jandr](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/46a35a/32.png) [@jandr](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/jandr)\
**Post date:** [August 27, 2010, 10:13pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/default-ruby-lib-path-problem/194010/1 "2010-08-27T22:13:03Z")

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I am trying to install and run ruby from rpm but I am missing ruby  
library paths

I install irb and try to run it and I get

/usr/bin/irb:10:in `require’: no such file to load – irb (LoadError)  
from /usr/bin/irb:10

bash\> ruby -e “puts $:”

/usr/lib/ruby//site\_ruby  
/usr/lib/ruby//site\_ruby  
/usr/lib/ruby//site\_ruby

.  
bash\>

Where is “$:” set at?

If I cd /usr/lib/ruby/1.8 and run irb it works.

I know setting RUBYLIB will work. But why are lib paths missing?

Thanks.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![jandr](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/46a35a/32.png) [@jandr](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/jandr)\
**Post date:** [August 27, 2010, 10:23pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/default-ruby-lib-path-problem/194010/2 "2010-08-27T22:23:28Z")

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On Aug 27, 5:13 pm, Jandr J. [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) wrote:

> /usr/lib/ruby//site\_ruby  
> /usr/lib/ruby//site\_ruby  
> /usr/lib/ruby//site\_ruby

Please provide more information about Linux version you’re using and  
more important, what version of Ruby are you trying to use (ruby -v)

Some linux distro slice ruby into different pieces so irb is not ship  
with “ruby” package.

With that information, we will be able to help you further.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![jandr](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/46a35a/32.png) [@jandr](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/jandr)\
**Post date:** [August 27, 2010, 10:46pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/default-ruby-lib-path-problem/194010/3 "2010-08-27T22:46:20Z")

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Luis L. wrote:

> On Aug 27, 5:13�pm, Jandr J. [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) wrote:
> 
> > /usr/lib/ruby//site\_ruby  
> > /usr/lib/ruby//site\_ruby  
> > /usr/lib/ruby//site\_ruby
> 
> Please provide more information about Linux version you’re using and  
> more important, what version of Ruby are you trying to use (ruby -v)
> 
> Some linux distro slice ruby into different pieces so irb is not ship  
> with “ruby” package.
> 
> With that information, we will be able to help you further.

Running

CentOS release 5.5 (Final)

Linux host1 2.6.18-194.11.1.el5 #1 SMP Tue Aug 10 19:05:06 EDT 2010  
x86\_64 x86\_64 x86\_64 GNU/Linux

bash\> ruby -v  
ruby 1.8.7 (2010-01-10 patchlevel 249) [x86\_64-linux]

I can run irb when I cd to /usr/lib/ruby/1,8, or set my RUBYLIB to  
include /usr/lib/ruby/1.8.

Here is $LOAD\_PATH.

irb(main):001:0\> $LOAD\_PATH  
=\> [“”, “”, “”, “/usr/lib/ruby//site\_ruby”, “/usr/lib/ruby//site\_ruby”,  
“/usr/lib/ruby//site\_ruby”, “”, “”, “”, “”, “”, “”, “.”]

Thanks.