# Need quick check on my rubygems install procedure **URL:** \ **Category:** Ruby\ **Created:** [December 13, 2008, 4:15am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/need-quick-check-on-my-rubygems-install-procedure/155537 "2008-12-13T04:15:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![tbcox23](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/b9bd4f/32.png) [@tbcox23](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/tbcox23)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2008, 4:15am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/need-quick-check-on-my-rubygems-install-procedure/155537/1 "2008-12-13T04:15:18Z")
I’m running Kubuntu Linux 8.10 - a fresh install. I’m setting up Ruby now. I’ve done this before, but it takes very little for me to be in over my head, so I need a quick review from someone who actually ‘has a clue’. I have just installed Ruby 1.8.7 from the source available at the Ruby website. No problems. I then downloaded from Rubyforge the rubygems-1.3.1.tgz module, unpacked it, and launched its setup.rb file. There was no console response other than a new command line. I assume this is normal. Then…I issue a gem -v, and get back “1.2.0”. I’m lost at this point. I thought I just installed v. 1.3.1. “which gem” produces “/usr/bin/gem”. Looking there, I see both a “gem” and a “gem1.9”. Oh boy. Two versions. “gem1.9 -v” also produces “1.2.0”. Now I’m really confused. And why “gem1.9”? What’s THAT about? Being very suspicious at this point, I issue “which ruby1.9” and get back “/usr/bin/ruby1.9”. “ruby1.9 -v” produces “ruby 1.9.0 (2008-06-20 revision 17482) [i486-linux]”. This is just nuts. I didn’t install this. Where did it come from? If I’m going to use my new Ruby 1.8.7 and want it to use the latest rubygems, which I presume IS somewhere in my filesystem, what do I need to do? Anything at all? Can someone please untangle this for me, so I can just get back to work with my ruby learning…? Thanks (very much!) in advance. Tom ---
**Author:** ![tbcox23](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/b9bd4f/32.png) [@tbcox23](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/tbcox23)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2008, 4:28am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/need-quick-check-on-my-rubygems-install-procedure/155537/2 "2008-12-13T04:28:45Z")
Tom C. wrote: > assume this is normal. > really confused. And why “gem1.9”? What’s THAT about? > Can someone please untangle this for me, so I can just get back to > work with my ruby learning…? > > Thanks (very much!) in advance. > > Tom An update - thought I’d try to install a gem, just to see the response. It wasn’t good, and I don’t know what it means… $ sudo gem install RedCloth [sudo] password for tomc: Building native extensions. This could take a while… ERROR: Error installing RedCloth: ERROR: Failed to build gem native extension. /usr/bin/ruby1.9 extconf.rb install RedCloth extconf.rb:1:in `require': no such file to load -- mkmf (LoadError) from extconf.rb:1:in`’ Gem files will remain installed in /var/lib/gems/1.9.0/gems/RedCloth-4.1.1 for inspection. Results logged to /var/lib/gems/1.9.0/gems/RedCloth-4.1.1/ext/redcloth\_scan/gem\_make.out tomc@tomc-desktop:~$ I send this along simply thinking it may give additional useful information. Tom ---
**Author:** ![tbcox23](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/b9bd4f/32.png) [@tbcox23](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/tbcox23)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2008, 2:52am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/need-quick-check-on-my-rubygems-install-procedure/155537/3 "2008-12-14T02:52:16Z")
Tom C. wrote: > > If I’m going to use my new Ruby 1.8.7 and want it to use the latest > > rubygems, which I presume IS somewhere in my filesystem, what do I > > need to do? Anything at all? You’ll need to compile it without suffix (how escapes me right now, I’m afraid, but it is probably ./configure --no-suffix or something like that), and issue “make install” after you are done. However, the easiest way is possibly to apt-get install ruby1.8, and change any symlinks to ruby1.8, instead of ruby1.9, so that the ruby command is actually ruby1.8 (clear as mud?) And Ruby 1.9 could be used by Amarok, or Kubuntu’s own scripts. However, multiple versions can co-exist somewhat happily (Depends on how the scripts by the 3rd party are written. If you are unlucky, they simply assume that /bin/ruby == /bin/ruby1.9 and could break). > extconf.rb:1:in `require’: no such file to load – mkmf (LoadError) > information. > Sorta. For one, it shows that Ruby 1.8 was _not_ installed. At least not > properly. Do you have a ruby1.8 executable? Also, you’ll have to install the build-essentials package to get a compiler toolchain. Cheers, -P P.S.: I’m not using Linux anymore, so take my help with a grain of salt. ---
**Author:** ![tbcox23](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/b9bd4f/32.png) [@tbcox23](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/tbcox23)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2008, 4:46am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/need-quick-check-on-my-rubygems-install-procedure/155537/4 "2008-12-14T04:46:03Z")
> Looking there, I see both a “gem” and a “gem1.9”. I still wonder why debian uses versioned binaries instead of versioned directories/AppDirs. ---
**Author:** ![tbcox23](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/b9bd4f/32.png) [@tbcox23](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/tbcox23)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2008, 3:45pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/need-quick-check-on-my-rubygems-install-procedure/155537/5 "2008-12-14T15:45:02Z")
Marc H. wrote: > > Looking there, I see both a “gem” and a “gem1.9”. > > I still wonder why debian uses versioned binaries instead of versioned > directories/AppDirs. Even from my position of great ignorance, this seems like a good question. It does occur to me, however, that version-labeling the dirs along may not be safe enough in that their contents are not as positively labeled that way (unless I’m totally misunderstanding things here - in which case ignore me!). t. ---
**Author:** ![tbcox23](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/b9bd4f/32.png) [@tbcox23](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/tbcox23)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2008, 3:58am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/need-quick-check-on-my-rubygems-install-procedure/155537/6 "2008-12-14T03:58:58Z")
> /usr/bin/ruby1.9 extconf.rb install RedCloth > I send this along simply thinking it may give additional useful information. > > Tom Is this thread any help? [http://www.ruby-forum.com/topic/122871](http://www.ruby-forum.com/topic/122871) Harry ---
**Author:** ![tbcox23](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/b9bd4f/32.png) [@tbcox23](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/tbcox23)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2008, 6:19pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/need-quick-check-on-my-rubygems-install-procedure/155537/7 "2008-12-14T18:19:46Z")
Harry K. wrote: > > extconf.rb:1:in `require’: no such file to load – mkmf (LoadError) I’m not sure. For one, I’m not confident I understand it. But if I do, the problem it addresses is a debian package problem, and I’ve install ruby 1.8.7 by compiling from source. I’ve verified the success of the compile. I get a ruby version of 1.8.7, and irb fires up, etc. My focus is now on the problem of getting a working install of rubygems. I’ll address that in a separate email. Thanks. t. ---
**Author:** ![tbcox23](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/b9bd4f/32.png) [@tbcox23](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/tbcox23)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 12:12am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/need-quick-check-on-my-rubygems-install-procedure/155537/8 "2008-12-16T00:12:36Z")
On Dec 12, 2008, at 19:05 PM, Tom C. wrote: > file. There was no console response other than a new command line. I > assume this is normal. This is not normal. The output is exceedingly verbose by default (mkdir, install, and release notes). > Then…I issue a gem -v, and get back “1.2.0”. > > I’m lost at this point. I thought I just installed v. 1.3.1. I suspect that you have another ruby installed with it’s own RubyGems install. `gem env` may be illuminating. > didn’t install this. Where did it come from? > > If I’m going to use my new Ruby 1.8.7 and want it to use the latest > rubygems, which I presume IS somewhere in my filesystem, what do I > need to do? Anything at all? I suspect the ruby you built is in /usr/local/ and your PATH has /usr/ bin before /usr/local/bin. > Can someone please untangle this for me, so I can just get back to > work with my ruby learning…? Uninstall any ruby that came with your OS and things should be fine. You may need to reinstall your hand-built ruby and rubygems, though.