Why can't I install Rails on Lion using RVM?

Question

I\'m running into issues trying to install Rails on OS X Lion using RVM.

So far, I have done the following:

1. Installed Mac OS X Lion Version 10.7 (Build

Answer 1

Using macport and ruby-1.9.x version. I did successfully install rails with ruby gem.

Answer 2

Check which version of gcc you have like this:

ls -Al `which gcc-4.2`

I followed the instructions here: http://robots.thoughtbot.com/post/27985816073/the-hitchhikers-guide-to-riding-a-mountain-lion

brew update
brew tap homebrew/dupes
brew install apple-gcc42

Then reinstall:

Check again what your path to gcc is (to use for CC=):

ls -Al `which gcc-4.2`

(optional) You can set this in your .bashrc for example:

export CC=/usr/bin/gcc-4.2

(optional) remove any old version of ruby

rvm remove 1.8.7

Then:

CC=/usr/local/bin/gcc-4.2 rvm --verify-downloads 1 reinstall 1.8.7-p357 --without-tcl --without-tk 

or if you have set CC in your profile

rvm --verify-downloads 1 reinstall 1.8.7-p357 --without-tcl --without-tk 

Note the flags on the rvm install. I had trouble verifying the checksum on the ftp server and some problems with tck and what not. You may be able to omit those flags.

Also: you might need to remove an old version of your gemset:

rvm gemset delete <gemset>

Then

gem install bundler
bundle install

Hope this helps.

Answer 3

Make sure that you remove 1.8.7 if you already installed it before using "export CC=/usr/bin/gcc-4.2" by doing "rvm remove 1.8.7"

Answer 4

If you have installed Xcode 4.2, it actually doesn't install non-LLVM gcc anymore, so you have to add it. For some reason downgrading to 4.1 after you've installed 4.2 doesn't work correctly (at least it didn't for me and others have had similar issues).

After quite a bit of thrashing, this is what finally worked for me:

1. Install Xcode 4.2 from App Store
2. Install darwin gcc using the OSX gcc installer
3. Install REE making sure you remove any vestiges of previous attempts:

Close any open terminal windows, open a fresh one and

rvm remove ree
export CC=/usr/bin/gcc-4.2
rvm install ree

This worked for me with rvm 1.8.6, OS X 10.7.2 and gcc-4.2 version 4.2.1 (Apple build 5666).

If you have already installed Xcode 4.1, resist the urge to upgrade to 4.2 and you should be okay.

Answer 5

I had the same issue on my system. I installed the Xcode command line tools from Apple which ships with LLVM compiler and without an LLVM free one.

Ruby 1.8.7 won't work with an LLVM compiler not even with CC=clang, so installing an LLVM free gcc solves the problem.

There are multiple options listed here:

https://github.com/mxcl/homebrew/wiki/Custom-GCC-and-cross-compilers

Long story short, install GCC v4.2 with Homebrew:

brew install https://raw.github.com/Homebrew/homebrew-dupes/master/apple-gcc42.rb

and then install ruby 1.8.7:

CC=gcc-4.2 rvm install 1.8.7

Answer 6

Even with all the other suggestions on this page I was still getting segfaults and getting frustrated, so I said "screw it!" and use the system-provided Ruby 1.8.7:

rvm use system

You need to use sudo for installing gems, but still waay less headache.