# Is the default mysql adapter gem 3 years old? **URL:** \ **Category:** Rails\ **Created:** [March 21, 2009, 5:47pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/is-the-default-mysql-adapter-gem-3-years-old/163536 "2009-03-21T17:47:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 2\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![arjackson](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/57b2e6/32.png) [@arjackson](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/arjackson)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2009, 5:47pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/is-the-default-mysql-adapter-gem-3-years-old/163536/1 "2009-03-21T17:47:46Z")
Hello, There must be some obvious explanation that I’m missing, but I can’t figure out why gem install mysql – as many guides messages instruct – wants to install v 2.7 of the adapter. I’ve tried it on a number of recently installed systems with recent rubygems, and they all want to install v 2.7. That version is three and a half years old! Why aren’t the newer versions in the gem list? Why aren’t the older versions available? Do people just use their distribution’s mysql adapter? Is it that 2.7 does the job so nobody bothers to upgrade? $ gem list --remote mysql \*\*\* REMOTE GEMS \*\*\* mysql (2.7.3, 2.7) mysql\_replication\_adapter (0.4.0) mysql\_retry\_lost\_connection (0.0.1) Ok, let’s try installing v 2.7.3 as it says that version’s available… $ sudo gem install -v 2.7.3 mysql ERROR: could not find gem mysql locally or in a repository Hmm, ok, let’s just install it $ sudo gem install mysql – --with-mysql-config=`which mysql_config` Building native extensions. This could take a while… Successfully installed mysql-2.7 1 gem installed I wonder what other versions there are $ gem list --details mysql \*\*\* LOCAL GEMS \*\*\* mysql (2.7) Author: Homepage: [MySQL/Ruby](http://www.tmtm.org/en/mysql/ruby/) Installed at: /opt/local/lib/ruby/gems/1.8 ``` MySQL/Ruby provides the same functions for Ruby programs that the MySQL C API provides for C programs. ``` Looks like [MySQL/Ruby](http://www.tmtm.org/en/mysql/ruby/) history has 2.7 released 2005-08-22 (3.5 years ago!), and many newer versions since. ---
**Author:** ![arjackson](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/57b2e6/32.png) [@arjackson](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/arjackson)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2009, 9:19pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/is-the-default-mysql-adapter-gem-3-years-old/163536/2 "2009-03-21T21:19:15Z")
I do not have mysql gem installed at lall - all I use is libmysql- ruby1.8 library from Ubuntu apt repository. I think this is preferred way of getting MySQL to work - but please correct me if I’m wrong and should use gem instead…