# \[ANN\] pre compiled gnu scientific library for win one-click-installer

**URL:** <https://rubytalk.org/t/ann-pre-compiled-gnu-scientific-library-for-win-one-click-installer/26708>\
**Category:** ruby-talk\
**Created:** [17 April 2006 21:03 UTC](https://rubytalk.org/t/ann-pre-compiled-gnu-scientific-library-for-win-one-click-installer/26708 "2006-04-17T21:03:17Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Ara.T.Howard6](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/958977/32.png) [@Ara.T.Howard6](https://rubytalk.org/u/Ara.T.Howard6)\
**Post date:** [17 April 2006 21:03 UTC](https://rubytalk.org/t/ann-pre-compiled-gnu-scientific-library-for-win-one-click-installer/26708/1 "2006-04-17T21:03:17Z")

</div>

hi all-

after a but of hacking with msys and mingw i think i've compiled an easy to  
install version of the rb-gsl bindings. for those of you who don't know what  
these are, the gnu scientific library (gsl) is by far the best collection of  
open source algorithms for scientific computing available. you can read about  
the gsl and ruby bindings to it here

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;[http://www.gnu.org/software/gsl/manual/html\_node/](http://www.gnu.org/software/gsl/manual/html_node/)  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;[http://rb-gsl.rubyforge.org/](http://rb-gsl.rubyforge.org/)

the installer also installs the amazing narray package, which integrates  
nicely with the gsl

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;[http://narray.rubyforge.org/index.html.en](http://narray.rubyforge.org/index.html.en)

this is the first thing i've compiled using the msys/mingw approach so i'm not  
100% certain that my approach -- which i'll be writing up on the sciruby wiki  
([http://sciruby.codeforpeople.com](http://sciruby.codeforpeople.com)) in a few days and which applies to  
compiling any posix package under windows in a way that's one-click compatible  
-- is the best one.

because of this please consider this pre-release experimental. the purpose of  
my releasing it now is to uncover any gotchas before writing up the process  
for others to follow.

here are the steps to install

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;- download this tar ball

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;[http://codeforpeople.com/lib/ruby/rb-gsl-win/rb-gsl-1.7.0.tgz](http://codeforpeople.com/lib/ruby/rb-gsl-win/rb-gsl-1.7.0.tgz)

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;- unpack using winzip, etc. if using winzip be aware that you need to tweak  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;your options as the defaults will destroy valid tar balls. this is a  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;'feature' of winzip.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;[http://www.humboldt.edu/~salab/dem\_winzip.html](http://www.humboldt.edu/~salab/dem_winzip.html)

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;- cd do the directory you just unpacked and run

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;ruby install.rb

that's it.

you should now be able to run something like this from the dos prompt

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\> set RUBYOPT=

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\> c:\ruby\bin\ruby -r gsl -e' p GSL::Rng.new.uniform '

which print out a random numder. it's important to unset the RUBYOPT  
environment variable as the gsl and rubygems have a naming conflict with the  
Rational class that i've not yet found a resolution too.

i'm in uncharted territory here so any and all comments are welcome.

enjoy.

-a

> **···**
>
> --  
> be kind whenever possible... it is always possible.  
> - h.h. the 14th dali lama