Library not loaded: libmysqlclient.16.dylib error when trying to run "rails server" on OS X 10.6 with mysql2 gem

Solving the "Library not loaded: libmysqlclient.16.dylib" error when running rails server with mysql2 gem on OS X 10.6

📚 Introduction

If you've encountered the "Library not loaded: libmysqlclient.16.dylib" error while trying to run the rails server command on your OS X 10.6 machine with the mysql2 gem, you're not alone. This error usually occurs when the required MySQL client library is not properly linked during the installation of the mysql2 gem. But fret not! In this guide, we'll walk through common issues, provide easy solutions, and make sure you're back up and running in no time.

⚠️ Common Issues

The error message you received contains vital information that points to the root cause of the problem. Let's break it down:

/Library/Ruby/Gems/1.8/gems/mysql2-0.2.6/lib/mysql2/mysql2.bundle: 
dlopen(/Library/Ruby/Gems/1.8/gems/mysql2-0.2.6/lib/mysql2/mysql2.bundle, 9): 
Library not loaded: libmysqlclient.16.dylib (LoadError)
  Referenced from: /Library/Ruby/Gems/1.8/gems/mysql2-0.2.6/lib/mysql2/mysql2.bundle
  Reason: image not found - /Library/Ruby/Gems/1.8/gems/mysql2-0.2.6/lib/mysql2/mysql2.bundle

From this error, we can deduce that the problem lies within the mysql2 gem, specifically with a missing library: libmysqlclient.16.dylib. The fact that the library is not found when referenced from /Library/Ruby/Gems/1.8/gems/mysql2-0.2.6/lib/mysql2/mysql2.bundle indicates a linking issue during the installation process.

🛠️ Solution

To resolve this error, you need to make sure the required library is properly linked. Follow the steps below:

1. Open Terminal and navigate to the directory where the mysql2 gem is located. In this case, follow these commands:

   cd /Library/Ruby/Gems/1.8/gems/mysql2-0.2.6/lib/mysql2

2. Confirm that the mysql2.bundle file is present by running ls. You should see a similar listing:

   client.rb em.rb error.rb mysql2.bundle result.rb

3. Now, let's check if the required library, libmysqlclient.16.dylib, is accessible. Run the following command:

   otool -L mysql2.bundle

   It should display a list of libraries, and you need to ensure that libmysqlclient.16.dylib is present in the output. If it's missing, you'll need to reinstall the mysql2 gem.

4. To reinstall the mysql2 gem properly, use the following command:

   gem uninstall mysql2 && gem install mysql2

   This command will first uninstall the mysql2 gem and then reinstall it, ensuring a proper linking of the required library.

5. After the installation process completes, you should now be able to run your rails server command without encountering the "Library not loaded..." error.

🎉 Congratulations!

You have successfully resolved the "Library not loaded: libmysqlclient.16.dylib" error. Now you can continue developing your Ruby on Rails application with the mysql2 gem on OS X 10.6 without any issues.

💬 Join the Discussion

Have you faced this error before? How did you resolve it? Share your experiences and tips with the community by leaving a comment below. Let's help each other out!

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