# Question about mysql gem

**URL:** <https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/question-about-mysql-gem/184500>\
**Category:** Ruby\
**Created:** [March 3, 2010, 3:35pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/question-about-mysql-gem/184500 "2010-03-03T15:35:50Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![msiles](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/59ef9b/32.png) [@msiles](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/msiles)\
**Post date:** [March 3, 2010, 3:35pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/question-about-mysql-gem/184500/1 "2010-03-03T15:35:50Z")

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Hi all,

sorry if this question shouldn’t be here, but when I tried to install  
the mysql gem I getting the following error

When I ran gem install mysql

gem install mysql  
ERROR: While executing gem … (Errno::EACCES)  
Permission denied - /Library/Ruby/Gems/1.8/gems/mysql-2.8.1/  
COPYING

when I ran sudo gem install mysql

Building native extensions. This could take a while…  
ERROR: Error installing mysql:  
ERROR: Failed to build gem native extension.

/System/Library/Frameworks/Ruby.framework/Versions/1.8/usr/bin/ruby  
extconf.rb  
mkmf.rb can’t find header files for ruby at /System/Library/Frameworks/  
Ruby.framework/Versions/1.8/usr/lib/ruby/ruby.h

Gem files will remain installed in /Library/Ruby/Gems/1.8/gems/  
mysql-2.8.1 for inspection.  
Results logged to /Library/Ruby/Gems/1.8/gems/mysql-2.8.1/ext/  
mysql\_api/gem\_make.out

I’m not sure what could be the problem :S

thanks

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![msiles](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/59ef9b/32.png) [@msiles](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/msiles)\
**Post date:** [March 3, 2010, 3:40pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/question-about-mysql-gem/184500/2 "2010-03-03T15:40:30Z")

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On Mar 3, 3:30 pm, msiles [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) wrote:

> COPYING  
> Ruby.framework/Versions/1.8/usr/lib/ruby/ruby.h
> 
> Gem files will remain installed in /Library/Ruby/Gems/1.8/gems/  
> mysql-2.8.1 for inspection.  
> Results logged to /Library/Ruby/Gems/1.8/gems/mysql-2.8.1/ext/  
> mysql\_api/gem\_make.out
> 
> I’m not sure what could be the problem :S

What version of OSX are you using?

Do you have mysql installed either by macports or from binary package?

If so, is mysql\_config or mysql\_config5 available in the path? (which  
mysql\_config will tell you if so)

To build mysql you need mysql installed.

## HTH,

Luis L.