Installing MySQL gem for Ruby 1.9.x

As of this writing, the MYSQL gem cannot be installed by simply doing a GEM INSTALL with ruby 1.9.1. In order to install the gem, follow these easy steps.

First download the mysql gem from rubyforge, and unzip it:

sudo wget https://rubyforge.org/frs/download.php/51087/mysql-ruby-2.8.1.tar.gz

 sudo tar -xzvf mysql-ruby-2.8.1.tar.gz

 cd mysql-ruby-2.8.1

Now, you will need to compile the gem, do the following:

sudo ruby extconf.rb

There are a few options you can use with extconf.rb:
–with-mysql-include=dir
MySQL header file directory. Default is /usr/local/include.

–with-mysql-lib=dir
MySQL library directory. Default is /usr/local/lib.

–with-mysql-dir=dir
Same as –with-mysql-include=dir/include, –with-mysql-lib=dir/lib.

–with-mysql-config[=/path/to/mysql_config]
Get compile-parameter from mysql_config command.

On Ubuntu Hardy we were able to not specify any options before we compiled it. Compile now:

sudo make

If you wish to test your settings, you can run the following:

sudo ruby ./test.rb -- [hostname [user [passwd [dbname [port [socket [flag]]]]]]]

Now to install the gem:

sudo make install

For more in depth details for setting up mysql gem and gem details, go here:
https://www.tmtm.org/en/mysql/ruby/

** If you get an error when trying to do this, and it says a library is missing, odds are you need the mysql dev library:

 sudo apt-get install libmysql++-dev