Gem installation

I see that when I install a gem, it gets installed under
/usr/local/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/{gem-name}.

What does the 1.8 represent?
Is it the version of Ruby required to use the gem?
Depending on what other gems I install, could I also have a
/usr/local/lib/ruby/gems/1.6 directory?

Mark V. wrote:

I see that when I install a gem, it gets installed under
/usr/local/lib/ruby/gems/1.8/gems/{gem-name}.

What does the 1.8 represent?
Is it the version of Ruby required to use the gem?
Depending on what other gems I install, could I also have a
/usr/local/lib/ruby/gems/1.6 directory?

If you used Ruby 1.6 to execute “gem install foo”, then foo would be
installed in “…/ruby/gems/1.6/…”. I’m pretty sure that’s what the
1.8 means.

Except, that is, that “gem” requires Ruby 1.8 to run :slight_smile:

Gavin