# Getting started, sort of **URL:** \ **Category:** Rails\ **Created:** [February 25, 2009, 11:04pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/getting-started-sort-of/161369 "2009-02-25T23:04:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![bachcole](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/b/b9e5f3/32.png) [@bachcole](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/bachcole)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 11:04pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/getting-started-sort-of/161369/1 "2009-02-25T23:04:49Z")
I was working with: The Rails Cookbook A Ruby on Rails Crash Course Brian H. [http://www.napcs.com/resources/rails/cookbook/rails\_cookbook.pdf](http://www.napcs.com/resources/rails/cookbook/rails_cookbook.pdf) page 5 And I did this: C:\ruby\>gem install sqlite3-ruby And I got this: Building native extensions. This could take a while… ERROR: Error installing sqlite3-ruby: ERROR: Failed to build gem native extension. c:/ruby/bin/ruby.exe extconf.rb install sqlite3-ruby checking for fdatasync() in rt.lib… no checking for sqlite3.h… no nmake ‘nmake’ is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file. Gem files will remain installed in c:/ruby/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/ sqlite3-ruby-1 .2.4 for inspection. Results logged to c:/ruby/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/sqlite3-ruby-1.2.4/ ext/sqlite3\_ api/gem\_make.out C:\ruby\> Any help or ideas would be appreciated Roger Bird ---
**Author:** ![bachcole](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/b/b9e5f3/32.png) [@bachcole](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/bachcole)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2009, 12:24am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/getting-started-sort-of/161369/2 "2009-02-26T00:24:41Z")
> Any help or ideas would be appreciated Somewhere in here: [http://www.google.com/search?q=windows+sqlite3-ruby+native+extension](http://www.google.com/search?q=windows+sqlite3-ruby+native+extension) ---
**Author:** ![bachcole](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/b/b9e5f3/32.png) [@bachcole](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/bachcole)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2009, 12:44am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/getting-started-sort-of/161369/3 "2009-02-26T00:44:03Z")
This was not all that helpful. I am sure that it is because I am ignorant, but it was nevertheless not helpful. What do I do? Uninstall my current version of gem and install the earlier version? ---
**Author:** ![bachcole](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/b/b9e5f3/32.png) [@bachcole](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/bachcole)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2009, 4:12am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/getting-started-sort-of/161369/4 "2009-02-26T04:12:39Z")
I’ve no experience with running Ruby or sqlite3 on windows, but it looks like the program nmake isn’t working right. I’ll bet that’s the program used to build Ruby extensions for windows. Here’s what I’d do: do a search for the file nmake, and if you find it, make sure it’s in your path. The way I usually do this is just make a copy of it in your windows folder or something. If you can’t find it, it’s gotta come with some software package, or maybe you can just download the executable from somewhere. Hope this helps, and sorry if it doesn’t! I totally understand not being able to find something in google. Check this out, maybe it will help: > Groove P.S. Ease up, guys, let’s not start a flame war. No reason to spite. ---
**Author:** ![bachcole](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/b/b9e5f3/32.png) [@bachcole](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/bachcole)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2009, 4:42pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/getting-started-sort-of/161369/5 "2009-02-26T16:42:37Z")
I think you should install an earlier version of sqlite, I think that the new version of sqlite is not ready for windows, or install mysql instead of sqlite 2009/2/25 bachcole [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) ---
**Author:** ![bachcole](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/b/b9e5f3/32.png) [@bachcole](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/bachcole)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2009, 1:09am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/getting-started-sort-of/161369/6 "2009-02-26T01:09:49Z")
You did ask for “any help,” right? Well that’s weird, then, because from my computer the #1 hit on that search has the exact fix in the comments. Not good enough? ---
**Author:** ![bachcole](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/b/b9e5f3/32.png) [@bachcole](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/bachcole)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2009, 4:51am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/getting-started-sort-of/161369/7 "2009-02-27T04:51:26Z")
I fixed the problem with Eric’s original post. Like I said, I am stupid. End of this discussion. ---
**Author:** ![bachcole](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/b/b9e5f3/32.png) [@bachcole](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/bachcole)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2009, 8:54pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/getting-started-sort-of/161369/8 "2009-02-26T20:54:13Z")
I am sorry. I was told that this is a supportive blog. I guess I was mistaken. I guess it is just another place for people to hone their putdown skills. When I click on that link I get 4,380 websites. Now, let me see. Which one is the right on? When I click on the first site I seem to get something but, it seems to ramble and does not really give very good directions. Perhaps next time I should not ask for “any help” but only “help for stupid people”. Roger Bird ---
**Author:** ![bachcole](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/b/b9e5f3/32.png) [@bachcole](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/bachcole)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2009, 4:11am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/getting-started-sort-of/161369/9 "2009-03-11T04:11:39Z")
Hey, I wrote that 🙂 Should have just sent me an email directly, I’d have helped you get it working. I’ll update the cookbook to reflect that issue. Thanks for reminding me.