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debugrubyCritical

How to install a gem or update RubyGems if it fails with a permissions error

Submitted by: @import:stackoverflow-api··
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errorwithhowpermissionsupdateinstallgemfailsrubygems

Problem

I'm trying to install a gem using gem install mygem or update RubyGems using gem update --system, and it fails with this error:
ERROR: While executing gem ... (Gem::FilePermissionError)
You don't have write permissions for the /Library/Ruby/Gems/2.0.0 directory.


Does anyone have an idea how to solve this?

Solution

You don't have write permissions into the /Library/Ruby/Gems/1.8 directory.

means exactly that, you don't have permission to write there.

That is the version of Ruby installed by Apple, for their own use. While it's OK to make minor modifications to that if you know what you're doing, because you are not sure about the permissions problem, I'd say it's not a good idea to continue along that track.

Instead, I'll strongly suggest you look into using either rbenv or RVM to manage a separate Ruby, installed into a sandbox in your home directory, that you can modify/fold/spindle/change without worrying about messing up the system Ruby.

Between the two, I use rbenv, though I used RVM a lot in the past. rbenv takes a more "hands-off" approach to managing your Ruby installation. RVM has a lot of features and is very powerful, but, as a result is more intrusive. In either case, READ the installation documentation for them a couple times before starting to install whichever you pick.

Context

Stack Overflow Q#14607193, score: 338

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