Missing MySQL client - mysql

Question

So I was following along with this tutorial:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MX6wYbsUO-Y
It uses git.bash to install the mysql2 gem, and I'm stuck on the final step. The process he uses won't work for me, so instead, i just type:
gem install mysql2 -s http://rubygems.org
After this, it begins to work, but then it says the mysql client is missing:
gem install mysql2-0.3.7.gem --platform=ruby -- --with-mysql-dir=X: --with-mysql-lib=X:\lib
ERROR: Failed to build gem native extension.
c:/RailsInstaller/Ruby2.1.0/bin/ruby.exe extconf.rb
checking for ruby/thread.h... yes
checking for rb_thread_call_without_gvl() in ruby/thread.h... yes
checking for rb_thread_blocking_region()... yes
checking for rb_wait_for_single_fd()... yes
checking for rb_hash_dup()... yes
checking for rb_intern3()... yes
checking for mysql_query() in -lmysqlclient... no
-----
mysql client is missing. Check your installation of MySQL or Connector/C, and try again.
-----
*** extconf.rb failed ***
Could not create Makefile due to some reason, probably lack of necessary
libraries and/or headers. Check the mkmf.log file for more details. You may
need configuration options.
I am very new to using mysql, and I don't even know where to begin, if anything, could anyone simply direct me to a resource where I could figure it out myself?

Answer 1

First of all please provide the version numbers when you are asking specific platform related questions
This is a 2 year old question but the problem still exists when starting ruby on windows
here are some steps needed to solve it ( as of aug 2017)
Please install Devkit and MSYS(now comes with ruby installer)
when installing mysql2 gem check if the version supplied from the rubygem repo is actually for your architecture and ruby version e.g. mysql2 0.4.9 does not provide compiled version for windows for ruby 2.4
if it is not provided then you need to compile it
3.a. First download the Mysql c connector from here the zip version is better
https://dev.mysql.com/downloads/connector/c/
important please keep in mind of your os architecture for example you must download 64 bit if you want to run it on 64 bit machine
3.b. Second extract it somewhere and the run this command
gem install mysql2 --platform=ruby -- '--with-mysql-lib="[your_full_path_to_extracted_mysql_connector]\lib" --with-mysql-include="[your_full_path_to_extracted_mysql_connector]\include"'
please keep in mind of the ' at the end it is important
It should say 1 gem installed
Check your connection using this command
rails db:schema:dump inside your project root directory. you will see a
new file in the db folder named schema.rb it means that it is working.
You will see specific problems displayed in the console, if any search it in the google you will find answers.
good luck :)

Answer 2

You need to download and install MySQL first.
If it's still not able to be found after you've installed it, supply the path on gem install.