How to compile a simple source file with GCC in Linux

Question

I am trying to compile a set of source files in C in Linux (Ubuntu). When I try to run the following command, I am getting an error telling "ruby.h" is not found.

gcc custom_ext.c

This was giving me the following error message.

custom_ext.h:10: fatal error: ruby.h: No such file or directory

So I downloaded the entire Ruby source code and put it in a dummy directory /home/braga/ruby_source/ruby_1_8_7. I know that I need to include this directory in the path so that GCC will be able to identify and pick up ruby.h, but I have no idea on how to do that. Please help!!!

gcc -I/home/braga/ruby_source/ruby_1_8_7 custom_ext.c – Sergey Miryanov Dec 27 '10 at 10:34 — Sergey Miryanov, Dec 27 '10 at 10:34

score 7 · Accepted Answer · answered Dec 27 '10 at 15:13

Did you installed "ruby-dev" package?

All you need is install packages from Ubuntu repositorie (using "apt-get", "aptitude", or any other package manager front-end). No need in downloading sources. Installing package will plcase all tour required headers and libraries in standard directories, so you will not have to deal with compiler keys.

And only if you do not have required packages in repos (or it is so old), you'll have to download sourcecode tarballs and INSTALL it (accordingly included in tarball instructions, often in file INSTALL).

I'm having the same problem on Mac OS X with rbenv, and this doesn't seem to help. — Translunar, Jun 21 '13 at 21:30

score 1 · Answer 2 · answered Dec 27 '10 at 10:34

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-I /home/braga/ruby_source/ruby_1_8_7. Chances are that ruby.h lives in some subdirectory of that though, so you'll have to find it, and use the path to that directory though.

answered Dec 27 '10 at 10:34

Jerry Coffin

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Thanks for the answer. Now I am getting a different error. `/home/braga/ruby_source/ruby_1_8_7/ruby.h:24: fatal error: config.h: No such file or directory`. I searched for config.h in the ruby source, its inside a directory called vms. What should I do now ? – bragboy Dec 27 '10 at 10:51

score 1 · Answer 3 · answered Dec 27 '10 at 10:55

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-I will help you. Add the path that you get using find / -name ruby.h This might be a starting point and you might need to add more paths tobe able successfully compile

answered Dec 27 '10 at 10:55

JRK

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score 1 · Answer 4 · edited May 23 '17 at 12:08

Since you seem to be trying to compile a Ruby extension, this question might be useful to you. Note that it is always a bad idea to download sources or manually hack into something, there is always an official, convenient way to do it. If you found yourself putting files in random places, stop for a while and check to make sure you aren't doing something wrong.

Other than purely for convenience reasons, it is still better to install all the relevant development packages from the repository because the headers you've downloaded may not match binary libraries you are planning to link against. If they do not and if they aren't binary compatible, you find yourself in deep trouble. apt-file search and apt-cache search commands are very useful in finding out the particular package name you need.

How to compile a simple source file with GCC in Linux

4 Answers4