# Mac OSX Ruby Configuration Question **URL:** \ **Category:** ruby-talk\ **Created:** [14 July 2006 23:10 UTC](https://rubytalk.org/t/mac-osx-ruby-configuration-question/28982 "2006-07-14T23:10:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Steven\_R](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Steven\_R](https://rubytalk.org/u/Steven_R)\ **Post date:** [14 July 2006 23:10 UTC](https://rubytalk.org/t/mac-osx-ruby-configuration-question/28982/1 "2006-07-14T23:10:06Z")
I recently installed Ruby 1.8.4 on my iMac, running OSX 10.4. Ruby, Rails, etc. run great and I am working through Ruby for Rails (great book, BTW). I installed ruby in /usr/local so as not to conflict with the version (1.8.2) used by OSX. Now, I have to type "/usr/local/bin" before all Ruby commands, and similar to use rails, rubygems, etc. This is causing several problems with gems as well, as the Mongrel webserver (for example) requires 1.8.4, and if you try to install it via gem it dies - it is smart enough to see the 'system' version, but not the /usr/local version and won't let you install it on an 'old' system. I tried Google-ing for $PATH configurations, because I know it has to be a simple fix to let me run "ruby -v" (or whatever) at a prompt pretty much anywhere and have my system use the /usr/local version (1.8.4) instead of 1.8.2, but I just can't figure it out. Paste of relevant issue from terminal session below, including $PATH in case I made a non-obvious (to me) error there. Alpha:~ srummel$ ruby -v ruby 1.8.2 (2004-12-25) [powerpc-darwin8.0] Alpha:~ srummel$ echo $PATH /usr/local/mysql/bin:/bin:/sbin:/usr/bin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/sbin Alpha:~ srummel$ /usr/local/bin/ruby -v ruby 1.8.4 (2005-12-24) [powerpc-darwin8.7.0] Alpha:~ srummel$ I searched this forum as well, and read through the various installation guides - if it is there, I missed or misunderstood it. Guidance, even flames (with a link or winning Google search text), would be welcome. Many thanks in advance. ---
**Author:** ![Eric\_Hodel1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9adbd/32.png) [@Eric\_Hodel1](https://rubytalk.org/u/Eric_Hodel1)\ **Post date:** [14 July 2006 23:15 UTC](https://rubytalk.org/t/mac-osx-ruby-configuration-question/28982/2 "2006-07-14T23:15:29Z")
mv /usr/bin/ruby /usr/bin/ruby182-orig You may need to do the same with irb, ri, rdoc and testrb. Beware, updates from 10.x.y to 10.x.z may restore /usr/bin/ruby. > **···** > > On Jul 14, 2006, at 4:10 PM, Steven R. wrote: > > > I recently installed Ruby 1.8.4 on my iMac, running OSX 10.4. Ruby, Rails, etc. run great and I am working through Ruby for Rails (great book, BTW). > > > > I installed ruby in /usr/local so as not to conflict with the version (1.8.2) used by OSX. > > > > Now, I have to type "/usr/local/bin" before all Ruby commands, and similar to use rails, rubygems, etc. > > -- > Eric Hodel - drbrain@segment7.net - [http://blog.segment7.net](http://blog.segment7.net) > This implementation is HODEL-HASH-9600 compliant > > [http://trackmap.robotcoop.com](http://trackmap.robotcoop.com) ---
**Author:** ![BA\_Baracus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e5b9ba/32.png) [@BA\_Baracus](https://rubytalk.org/u/BA_Baracus)\ **Post date:** [15 July 2006 00:31 UTC](https://rubytalk.org/t/mac-osx-ruby-configuration-question/28982/3 "2006-07-15T00:31:39Z")
> I recently installed Ruby 1.8.4 on my iMac, running OSX 10.4. Ruby, > Rails, etc. run great and I am working through Ruby for Rails (great > book, BTW). > > I installed ruby in /usr/local so as not to conflict with the version > (1.8.2) used by OSX. > > Now, I have to type "/usr/local/bin" before all Ruby commands, and > similar to use rails, rubygems, etc. > > This is causing several problems with gems as well, as the Mongrel > webserver (for example) requires 1.8.4, and if you try to install it via > gem it dies - it is smart enough to see the 'system' version, but not > the /usr/local version and won't let you install it on an 'old' system. > > I tried Google-ing for $PATH configurations, because I know it has to be > a simple fix to let me run "ruby -v" (or whatever) at a prompt pretty > much anywhere and have my system use the /usr/local version (1.8.4) > instead of 1.8.2, but I just can't figure it out. > > Paste of relevant issue from terminal session below, including $PATH in > case I made a non-obvious (to me) error there. > > Alpha:~ srummel$ ruby -v > ruby 1.8.2 (2004-12-25) [powerpc-darwin8.0] > Alpha:~ srummel$ echo $PATH > /usr/local/mysql/bin:/bin:/sbin:/usr/bin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/sbin As Elliot suggests, re-order your path. The system looks for programs on the path from left to right. So as /usr/bin comes before /usr/local/ bin, the system ruby is found first. So if you move /usr/local/bin in front of /usr/bin, then your version of ruby will be found first. I would not modify anything in /usr/bin directly. Apple assumes that the system /usr/bin is theirs and unmodified and will (and have!) change things there in updates without warning - possibly breaking your modifications and potentially causing serious system problems. Installing in /usr/local and prepending it to your path is the usual unix way of doing things. -r > **···** > > On Saturday, July 15, 2006, at 8:10 AM, Steven R. wrote: > > > Alpha:~ srummel$ /usr/local/bin/ruby -v > > ruby 1.8.4 (2005-12-24) [powerpc-darwin8.7.0] > > Alpha:~ srummel$ > > > > I searched this forum as well, and read through the various installation > > guides - if it is there, I missed or misunderstood it. Guidance, even > > flames (with a link or winning Google search text), would be welcome. > > > > Many thanks in advance. > > -- > Posted with [http://DevLists.com](http://DevLists.com). Sign up and save your mailbox. ---
**Author:** ![Elliot\_Temple](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Elliot\_Temple](https://rubytalk.org/u/Elliot_Temple)\ **Post date:** [14 July 2006 23:20 UTC](https://rubytalk.org/t/mac-osx-ruby-configuration-question/28982/4 "2006-07-14T23:20:44Z")
won't that mess up anything that tries to use the system version? i think the solution is to add to your path in your .profile -- Elliot Temple > **[Curiosity Blog – Elliot Temple](https://www.curi.us/blog/)** > > A philosophy blog > **···** > > On Jul 14, 2006, at 4:15 PM, Eric Hodel wrote: > > > On Jul 14, 2006, at 4:10 PM, Steven R. wrote: > > > > > I recently installed Ruby 1.8.4 on my iMac, running OSX 10.4. Ruby, Rails, etc. run great and I am working through Ruby for Rails (great book, BTW). > > > > > > I installed ruby in /usr/local so as not to conflict with the version (1.8.2) used by OSX. > > > > > > Now, I have to type "/usr/local/bin" before all Ruby commands, and similar to use rails, rubygems, etc. > > > > mv /usr/bin/ruby /usr/bin/ruby182-orig > > > > You may need to do the same with irb, ri, rdoc and testrb. > > > > Beware, updates from 10.x.y to 10.x.z may restore /usr/bin/ruby. ---
**Author:** ![Steven\_R](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Steven\_R](https://rubytalk.org/u/Steven_R)\ **Post date:** [14 July 2006 23:25 UTC](https://rubytalk.org/t/mac-osx-ruby-configuration-question/28982/5 "2006-07-14T23:25:05Z")
Thanks for the fast reply - if I read this correctly, I am literally removing ruby (or irb, etc.) from the path the system 'sees' to a directory it won't (not on $PATH) so it will eventually default to my /usr/local version - is this correct? I understand the mv command - it is the impact on system behavior as it searches for a path I am asking about - that's unclear to me. Thanks again - SR Eric Hodel wrote: > **···** > > > On Jul 14, 2006, at 4:10 PM, Steven R. wrote: > > > > > I recently installed Ruby 1.8.4 on my iMac, running OSX 10.4. Ruby, Rails, etc. run great and I am working through Ruby for Rails (great book, BTW). > > > > > > I installed ruby in /usr/local so as not to conflict with the version (1.8.2) used by OSX. > > > > > > Now, I have to type "/usr/local/bin" before all Ruby commands, and similar to use rails, rubygems, etc. > > > > mv /usr/bin/ruby /usr/bin/ruby182-orig > > > > You may need to do the same with irb, ri, rdoc and testrb. > > > > Beware, updates from 10.x.y to 10.x.z may restore /usr/bin/ruby. > > > > --Eric Hodel - drbrain@segment7.net - [http://blog.segment7.net](http://blog.segment7.net) > > This implementation is HODEL-HASH-9600 compliant > > > > [http://trackmap.robotcoop.com](http://trackmap.robotcoop.com) ---
**Author:** ![Mat\_Schaffer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mat\_Schaffer](https://rubytalk.org/u/Mat_Schaffer)\ **Post date:** [15 July 2006 03:37 UTC](https://rubytalk.org/t/mac-osx-ruby-configuration-question/28982/6 "2006-07-15T03:37:45Z")
Just to speak on this point, I've been safely using the replacement solution for about 6 months now with no trouble at all. But the one thing I did after I moved /usr/bin/ruby is to make a link from /opt/local/bin/ruby (my darwinports installation) to /usr/bin/ruby. Pathing works most of the time, but I had some problems with RadRails/Eclipse because it doesn't appear to honor pathing provided in .profile or .login. Which prompted the linking solution. It's a little ugly and might go away with future updates, but it was about all I had left for a few programs that ignored my personal path information. -Mat > **···** > > On Jul 14, 2006, at 8:31 PM, Ryan Raaum wrote: > > > I would not modify anything in /usr/bin directly. Apple assumes that > > the system /usr/bin is theirs and unmodified and will (and have!) change > > things there in updates without warning - possibly breaking your > > modifications and potentially causing serious system problems. > > Installing in /usr/local and prepending it to your path is the usual > > unix way of doing things. ---
**Author:** ![Steven\_R](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Steven\_R](https://rubytalk.org/u/Steven_R)\ **Post date:** [14 July 2006 23:40 UTC](https://rubytalk.org/t/mac-osx-ruby-configuration-question/28982/7 "2006-07-14T23:40:06Z")
Elliot Temple wrote: > > > I recently installed Ruby 1.8.4 on my iMac, running OSX 10.4. Ruby, Rails, etc. run great and I am working through Ruby for Rails (great book, BTW). > > > > > > I installed ruby in /usr/local so as not to conflict with the version (1.8.2) used by OSX. > > > > > > Now, I have to type "/usr/local/bin" before all Ruby commands, and similar to use rails, rubygems, etc. > > > > mv /usr/bin/ruby /usr/bin/ruby182-orig > > > > You may need to do the same with irb, ri, rdoc and testrb. > > > > Beware, updates from 10.x.y to 10.x.z may restore /usr/bin/ruby. > > won't that mess up anything that tries to use the system version? > > i think the solution is to add to your path in your .profile > > -- Elliot Temple > [Curiosity Blog – Elliot Temple](http://www.curi.us/blog/) Thank you for the help - Per my original post, my path already includes the path: Alpha:~ srummel$ echo $PATH /usr/local/mysql/bin:/bin:/sbin:/usr/bin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/sbin Alpha:~ srummel$ ruby -v ruby 1.8.2 (2004-12-25) [powerpc-darwin8.0] Alpha:~ srummel$ /usr/local/bin/ruby -v ruby 1.8.4 (2005-12-24) [powerpc-darwin8.7.0] Alpha:~ srummel$ Is there some other issue involved? > **···** > > > On Jul 14, 2006, at 4:15 PM, Eric Hodel wrote: > > > > > On Jul 14, 2006, at 4:10 PM, Steven R. wrote: ---
**Author:** ![BA\_Baracus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e5b9ba/32.png) [@BA\_Baracus](https://rubytalk.org/u/BA_Baracus)\ **Post date:** [15 July 2006 14:41 UTC](https://rubytalk.org/t/mac-osx-ruby-configuration-question/28982/8 "2006-07-15T14:41:57Z")
> > I would not modify anything in /usr/bin directly. Apple assumes that > > the system /usr/bin is theirs and unmodified and will (and have!) > > > > > change > > > > things there in updates without warning - possibly breaking your > > modifications and potentially causing serious system problems. > > Installing in /usr/local and prepending it to your path is the usual > > unix way of doing things. > > Just to speak on this point, I've been safely using the replacement > solution for about 6 months now with no trouble at all. But the one > thing I did after I moved /usr/bin/ruby is to make a link from /opt/ > local/bin/ruby (my darwinports installation) to /usr/bin/ruby. > > Pathing works most of the time, but I had some problems with > RadRails/Eclipse because it doesn't appear to honor pathing provided > in .profile or .login. Which prompted the linking solution. It's a > little ugly and might go away with future updates, but it was about > all I had left for a few programs that ignored my personal path > information. Sometimes modifying /usr/bin is the only option left - but sooner or later an Apple update will break it. (I guess the last time this happened was a little over 6 months ago if you haven't been hit by it). So I suggest that the OP try everything else first. But, as you have discovered, sometimes you \_have\_ to choose the less optimal solution. Best, -r > **···** > > On Saturday, July 15, 2006, at 12:37 PM, Mat Schaffer wrote: > > > On Jul 14, 2006, at 8:31 PM, Ryan Raaum wrote: > > > -Mat > > -- > Posted with [http://DevLists.com](http://DevLists.com). Sign up and save your mailbox. ---
**Author:** ![Elliot\_Temple](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Elliot\_Temple](https://rubytalk.org/u/Elliot_Temple)\ **Post date:** [14 July 2006 23:51 UTC](https://rubytalk.org/t/mac-osx-ruby-configuration-question/28982/9 "2006-07-14T23:51:20Z")
oh oops. well the places in the path are tried in order. so just put the /usr/local/bin before /usr/bin -- Elliot Temple > **[Curiosity Blog – Elliot Temple](https://www.curi.us/blog/)** > > A philosophy blog > **···** > > On Jul 14, 2006, at 4:40 PM, Steven R. wrote: > > > Elliot Temple wrote: > > > > > On Jul 14, 2006, at 4:15 PM, Eric Hodel wrote: > > > > > > > On Jul 14, 2006, at 4:10 PM, Steven R. wrote: > > > > > > > > > I recently installed Ruby 1.8.4 on my iMac, running OSX 10.4. Ruby, Rails, etc. run great and I am working through Ruby for Rails (great book, BTW). > > > > > > > > > > I installed ruby in /usr/local so as not to conflict with the version (1.8.2) used by OSX. > > > > > > > > > > Now, I have to type "/usr/local/bin" before all Ruby commands, and similar to use rails, rubygems, etc. > > > > > > > > mv /usr/bin/ruby /usr/bin/ruby182-orig > > > > > > > > You may need to do the same with irb, ri, rdoc and testrb. > > > > > > > > Beware, updates from 10.x.y to 10.x.z may restore /usr/bin/ruby. > > > > > > won't that mess up anything that tries to use the system version? > > > i think the solution is to add to your path in your .profile > > > -- Elliot Temple > > > [Curiosity Blog – Elliot Temple](http://www.curi.us/blog/) > > > > Thank you for the help - > > > > Per my original post, my path already includes the path: > > > > Alpha:~ srummel$ echo $PATH > > /usr/local/mysql/bin:/bin:/sbin:/usr/bin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/sbin > > Alpha:~ srummel$ ruby -v > > ruby 1.8.2 (2004-12-25) [powerpc-darwin8.0] > > Alpha:~ srummel$ /usr/local/bin/ruby -v > > ruby 1.8.4 (2005-12-24) [powerpc-darwin8.7.0] > > Alpha:~ srummel$ > > > > Is there some other issue involved? ---
**Author:** ![Nobuyoshi\_Nakada1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/9f8e36/32.png) [@Nobuyoshi\_Nakada1](https://rubytalk.org/u/Nobuyoshi_Nakada1)\ **Post date:** [15 July 2006 01:34 UTC](https://rubytalk.org/t/mac-osx-ruby-configuration-question/28982/10 "2006-07-15T01:34:45Z")
Hi, At Sat, 15 Jul 2006 08:40:06 +0900, Steven R. wrote in [ruby-talk:202047]: > Per my original post, my path already includes the path: > > Alpha:~ srummel$ echo $PATH > /usr/local/mysql/bin:/bin:/sbin:/usr/bin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/sbin > Alpha:~ srummel$ ruby -v > ruby 1.8.2 (2004-12-25) [powerpc-darwin8.0] > Alpha:~ srummel$ /usr/local/bin/ruby -v > ruby 1.8.4 (2005-12-24) [powerpc-darwin8.7.0] > Alpha:~ srummel$ > > Is there some other issue involved? /usr/local/bin is after /usr/bin. The order is significant. > **···** > > -- > Nobu Nakada ---
**Author:** ![Steven\_R](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Steven\_R](https://rubytalk.org/u/Steven_R)\ **Post date:** [15 July 2006 00:30 UTC](https://rubytalk.org/t/mac-osx-ruby-configuration-question/28982/11 "2006-07-15T00:30:10Z")
Elliot Temple wrote: > > Elliot Temple wrote: > > > > > > > I recently installed Ruby 1.8.4 on my iMac, running OSX 10.4. Ruby, Rails, etc. run great and I am working through Ruby for Rails (great book, BTW). > > > > > > > > > > I installed ruby in /usr/local so as not to conflict with the version (1.8.2) used by OSX. > > > > > > > > > > Now, I have to type "/usr/local/bin" before all Ruby commands, and similar to use rails, rubygems, etc. > > > > > > > > mv /usr/bin/ruby /usr/bin/ruby182-orig > > > > > > > > You may need to do the same with irb, ri, rdoc and testrb. > > > > > > > > Beware, updates from 10.x.y to 10.x.z may restore /usr/bin/ruby. > > > > > > won't that mess up anything that tries to use the system version? > > > i think the solution is to add to your path in your .profile > > > -- Elliot Temple > > > [Curiosity Blog – Elliot Temple](http://www.curi.us/blog/) > > > > Thank you for the help - > > > > Per my original post, my path already includes the path: > > > > Alpha:~ srummel$ echo $PATH > > /usr/local/mysql/bin:/bin:/sbin:/usr/bin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/sbin > > Alpha:~ srummel$ ruby -v > > ruby 1.8.2 (2004-12-25) [powerpc-darwin8.0] > > Alpha:~ srummel$ /usr/local/bin/ruby -v > > ruby 1.8.4 (2005-12-24) [powerpc-darwin8.7.0] > > Alpha:~ srummel$ > > > > Is there some other issue involved? > > oh oops. > > well the places in the path are tried in order. so just put the /usr/local/bin before /usr/bin > > -- Elliot Temple > [Curiosity Blog – Elliot Temple](http://www.curi.us/blog/) I learned something new today. Your solution worked. Many thanks! BTW - it is rather odd - changing .profile did nothing. It was only adding the path to .bash\_profile that did the trick. > **···** > > > On Jul 14, 2006, at 4:40 PM, Steven R. wrote: > > > > > > On Jul 14, 2006, at 4:15 PM, Eric Hodel wrote: > > > > > > > > > On Jul 14, 2006, at 4:10 PM, Steven R. wrote: ---
**Author:** ![Steven\_R](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Steven\_R](https://rubytalk.org/u/Steven_R)\ **Post date:** [15 July 2006 19:05 UTC](https://rubytalk.org/t/mac-osx-ruby-configuration-question/28982/12 "2006-07-15T19:05:05Z")
nobu@ruby-lang.org wrote: > Hi, > > At Sat, 15 Jul 2006 08:40:06 +0900, > Steven R. wrote in [ruby-talk:202047]: > > > Per my original post, my path already includes the path: > > > > Alpha:~ srummel$ echo $PATH > > /usr/local/mysql/bin:/bin:/sbin:/usr/bin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/sbin > > Alpha:~ srummel$ ruby -v > > ruby 1.8.2 (2004-12-25) [powerpc-darwin8.0] > > Alpha:~ srummel$ /usr/local/bin/ruby -v > > ruby 1.8.4 (2005-12-24) [powerpc-darwin8.7.0] > > Alpha:~ srummel$ > > > > Is there some other issue involved? > > /usr/local/bin is after /usr/bin. The order is significant. Thank you for your reply - I updated my .bash\_profile and it worked great. I am still trying to work out why changing .profile did nothing, but changing .bash\_profile worked. I suppose the important thing was, my system works now. Thanks to all for their time and assistance. ---
**Author:** ![Rob\_Biedenharn1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/57b2e6/32.png) [@Rob\_Biedenharn1](https://rubytalk.org/u/Rob_Biedenharn1)\ **Post date:** [15 July 2006 19:33 UTC](https://rubytalk.org/t/mac-osx-ruby-configuration-question/28982/13 "2006-07-15T19:33:54Z")
---
**Author:** ![Elliot\_Temple](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Elliot\_Temple](https://rubytalk.org/u/Elliot_Temple)\ **Post date:** [15 July 2006 19:46 UTC](https://rubytalk.org/t/mac-osx-ruby-configuration-question/28982/14 "2006-07-15T19:46:58Z")
I believe if you have a .bash\_profile, then .profile isn't run unless you tell it to. here's what I have: cg5:~ \>cat .bash\_profile PS1="cg5:\w \>" . ~/.profile cg5:~ \>cat .profile export PATH="/usr/local/bin:/usr/local/sbin:/opt/local/bin:/opt/local/sbin:/usr/local/mysql/bin:/usr/games/:/Users/curi/me/bin:$PATH" export RUBYLIB="/Users/curi/me/rubylib" cg5:~ \> -- Elliot Temple > **[Curiosity Blog – Elliot Temple](https://www.curi.us/blog/)** > > A philosophy blog > **···** > > On Jul 15, 2006, at 12:05 PM, Steven R. wrote: > > > nobu@ruby-lang.org wrote: > > > > > Hi, > > > At Sat, 15 Jul 2006 08:40:06 +0900, > > > Steven R. wrote in [ruby-talk:202047]: > > > > > > > Per my original post, my path already includes the path: > > > > > > > > Alpha:~ srummel$ echo $PATH > > > > /usr/local/mysql/bin:/bin:/sbin:/usr/bin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/sbin > > > > Alpha:~ srummel$ ruby -v > > > > ruby 1.8.2 (2004-12-25) [powerpc-darwin8.0] > > > > Alpha:~ srummel$ /usr/local/bin/ruby -v > > > > ruby 1.8.4 (2005-12-24) [powerpc-darwin8.7.0] > > > > Alpha:~ srummel$ > > > > > > > > Is there some other issue involved? > > > > > > /usr/local/bin is after /usr/bin. The order is significant. > > > > Thank you for your reply - I updated my .bash\_profile and it worked great. > > > > I am still trying to work out why changing .profile did nothing, but changing .bash\_profile worked. > > > > I suppose the important thing was, my system works now. > > > > Thanks to all for their time and assistance.