Gem::LoadError: Add `gem 'mysql'` to your Gemfile

Question

Gem::LoadError: Specified 'mysql' for database adapter, but the gem is not loaded. Add `gem 'mysql'` to your Gemfile.

I have been getting this error when I was following this guide: http://edgeguides.rubyonrails.org/contributing_to_ruby_on_rails.html and running

$ cd activerecord
$ bundle exec rake test_sqlite3

After searching around for a bit, I've been told I need to modify the Gemfile and add gem 'mysql' then run bundle install. However, I am not able to see mysql in the list.

Resolving dependencies...
Using rake (10.1.0) 
Using i18n (0.6.5) 
Using json (1.8.0) 
Using minitest (5.0.8) 
Using atomic (1.1.14) 
Using thread_safe (0.1.3) 
Using tzinfo (0.3.38) 
Using activesupport (4.1.0.beta) from source at . 
Using rack (1.5.2) 
Using rack-test (0.6.2) 
Using actionpack (4.1.0.beta) from source at . 
Using builder (3.1.4) 
Using activemodel (4.1.0.beta) from source at . 
Using erubis (2.7.0) 
Using actionview (4.1.0.beta) from source at . 
Using mime-types (1.25) 
Using polyglot (0.3.3) 
Using treetop (1.4.15) 
Using mail (2.5.4) 
Using actionmailer (4.1.0.beta) from source at . 
Using arel (4.0.0) 
Using activerecord (4.1.0.beta) from source at . 
Using bcrypt-ruby (3.1.2) 
Using benchmark-ips (1.2.0) 
Using bundler (1.3.5) 
Using coffee-script-source (1.6.3) 
Using execjs (2.0.2) 
Using coffee-script (2.2.0) 
Using thor (0.18.1) 
Using railties (4.1.0.beta) from source at . 
Using coffee-rails (4.0.0) 
Using columnize (0.3.6) 
Using dalli (2.6.4) 
Using debugger-linecache (1.2.0) 
Using debugger-ruby_core_source (1.2.3) 
Using debugger (1.6.2) 
Using hike (1.2.3) 
Using jquery-rails (2.2.2) 
Using mustache (0.99.4) 
Using mini_portile (0.5.1) 
Using nokogiri (1.6.0) 
Using kindlerb (0.1.1) 
Using metaclass (0.0.1) 
Using mocha (0.14.0) 
Using multi_json (1.8.1) 
Using racc (1.4.9) 
Using rack-cache (1.2) 
Using tilt (1.4.1) 
Using sprockets (2.10.0) 
Using sprockets-rails (2.0.0) 
Using rails (4.1.0.beta) from source at . 
Using rdoc (3.12.2) 
Using redcarpet (2.2.2) 
Using sdoc (0.3.20) 
Using sqlite3 (1.3.8) 
Using turbolinks (1.3.0) 
Using uglifier (2.2.1) 
Using w3c_validators (1.2) 
Using yajl-ruby (1.1.0) 
Your bundle is complete!
Gems in the group db were not installed.
Use `bundle show [gemname]` to see where a bundled gem is installed.

Gemfile

source 'https://rubygems.org'

gem 'rails',     path: '/home/terence/rails'
gem 'arel',      github: 'rails/arel'

gem 'mysql', '~> 2.9.1'
gem 'mysql2', '~> 0.3.13'

# Use sqlite3 as the database for Active Record
gem 'sqlite3'

# Use edge version of sprockets-rails
gem 'sprockets-rails', github: 'rails/sprockets-rails'

# Use SCSS for stylesheets
gem 'sass-rails', github: 'rails/sass-rails'

# Use Uglifier as compressor for JavaScript assets
gem 'uglifier', '>= 1.3.0'

# Use CoffeeScript for .js.coffee assets and views
gem 'coffee-rails', github: 'rails/coffee-rails'

# See https://github.com/sstephenson/execjs#readme for more supported runtimes
# gem 'therubyracer', platforms: :ruby

# Use jquery as the JavaScript library
gem 'jquery-rails'

# Turbolinks makes following links in your web application faster. Read more: https://github.com/rails/turbolinks
gem 'turbolinks'

# Build JSON APIs with ease. Read more: https://github.com/rails/jbuilder
gem 'jbuilder', '~> 1.2'

# Run `rails console` in the browser. Read more: https://github.com/rails/web-console
gem 'web-console', group: :development

group :doc do
  # bundle exec rake doc:rails generates the API under doc/api.
  gem 'sdoc', require: false
end

# Use ActiveModel has_secure_password
# gem 'bcrypt-ruby', '~> 3.1.2'

# Use unicorn as the app server
# gem 'unicorn'

# Use Capistrano for deployment
# gem 'capistrano', group: :development

# Use debugger
# gem 'debugger', group: [:development, :test]

But, if I run gem list, my output is the following:

*** LOCAL GEMS ***

actionmailer (4.0.0)
actionpack (4.0.0)
activemodel (4.0.0)
activerecord (4.0.0)
activerecord-deprecated_finders (1.0.3)
activesupport (4.0.0)
arel (4.0.0)
atomic (1.1.14)
bcrypt-ruby (3.1.2)
benchmark-ips (1.2.0)
builder (3.1.4)
bundler (1.3.5)
bundler-unload (1.0.2)
celluloid (0.15.2)
chunky_png (1.2.8)
coderay (1.0.9)
coffee-rails (4.0.0)
coffee-script (2.2.0)
coffee-script-source (1.6.3)
columnize (0.3.6)
compass (0.12.2)
cyaml (0.0.45)
dalli (2.6.4)
debugger (1.6.2)
debugger-linecache (1.2.0)
debugger-ruby_core_source (1.2.3)
em-websocket (0.5.0)
erubis (2.7.0)
eventmachine (1.0.3)
execjs (2.0.2)
executable-hooks (1.2.3)
ffi (1.9.0)
formatador (0.2.4)
fssm (0.2.10)
guard (2.0.3)
guard-compass (1.0.0)
guard-haml (1.1.0)
guard-livereload (2.0.0)
haml (4.0.3)
hike (1.2.3)
http_parser.rb (0.5.3)
i18n (0.6.5)
jbuilder (1.5.1)
jquery-rails (3.0.4, 2.2.2)
json (1.8.0)
kindlerb (0.1.1)
listen (2.0.1)
lumberjack (1.0.4)
mail (2.5.4)
metaclass (0.0.1)
method_source (0.8.2)
mime-types (1.25)
mini_portile (0.5.1)
minitest (5.0.8, 4.7.5)
mocha (0.14.0)
multi_json (1.8.1)
mustache (0.99.4)
mysql (2.9.1)
mysql2 (0.3.13)
nokogiri (1.6.0)
polyglot (0.3.3)
pry (0.9.12.2)
racc (1.4.9)
rack (1.5.2)
rack-cache (1.2)
rack-test (0.6.2)
rails (4.0.0)
railties (4.0.0)
rake (10.1.0)
rb-fsevent (0.9.3)
rb-inotify (0.9.2)
rdoc (3.12.2)
redcarpet (2.2.2)
rubygems-bundler (1.3.4)
rvm (1.11.3.8)
sass (3.2.12)
sass-rails (4.0.0)
sdoc (0.3.20)
slop (3.4.6)
sprockets (2.10.0)
sprockets-rails (2.0.0)
sqlite3 (1.3.8)
thor (0.18.1)
thread_safe (0.1.3)
tilt (1.4.1)
timers (1.1.0)
treetop (1.4.15)
turbolinks (1.3.0)
tzinfo (0.3.38, 0.3.37)
uglifier (2.2.1)
w3c_validators (1.2)
web-console (1.0.3)
yajl-ruby (1.1.0)

database.yml

# SQLite version 3.x
#   gem install sqlite3
#
#   Ensure the SQLite 3 gem is defined in your Gemfile
#   gem 'sqlite3'
development:
  adapter: sqlite3
  database: db/development.sqlite3
  pool: 5
  timeout: 5000

# Warning: The database defined as "test" will be erased and
# re-generated from your development database when you run "rake".
# Do not set this db to the same as development or production.
test:
  adapter: sqlite3
  database: db/test.sqlite3
  pool: 5
  timeout: 5000

production:
  adapter: sqlite3
  database: db/production.sqlite3
  pool: 5
  timeout: 5000

Help please?

Answer 1

I had the same problem. The solution was that i forgot to adapt the Gemfile accordingly. So change into the directory where you created your rails app, then open the Gemfile with sudo vim Gemfile. There you have to add or remove certain gems, according to your needs. In my case i had to exchange the db-gem "sqlite3" with "mysql". After that, save the file with :wq and run rails generate [model/controller/view] <name> again.

That has done the job for me, hope it helps some of you!

Answer 2

I found another cause for this error. While I had the mysql2 gem installed, in my model I specified the string "mysql" to establish_connection:

establish_connection adapter: "mysql", database: "my_database"

Obviously, it should be "mysql2" not "mysql".

Answer 3

SOLVED: This took me a while to figure out, and I blame the guide's fault. Anyways, make SURE you're editing the correct Gemfile, and to do a bundle install in the directory with the Gemfile that you changed. When I ran

$ cd rails
$ bundle exec rails new ~/my-test-app --dev

that actually created a folder called my-test-app (which contained a Gemfile) in my home directory but I had to run $ bundle exec rake test_sqlite3 in my rails directory (which also contained a Gemfile).

Looking at my output above, it said Gems in the group db were not installed. when I ran bundle install, and was referring to lines in my Gemfile that weren't executing, and they just so happened to be the gem lines that install mysql, mysql2, and postgresql. I corrected the file like so:

Gemfile

  # AR
  gem 'sqlite3', '~> 1.3.6'
  gem 'mysql', '~> 2.9.1'
  gem 'mysql2', '~> 0.3.13'
  gem 'pg', '~> 0.17.0'

  group :db do
#    gem 'pg', '>= 0.11.0'
#    gem 'mysql', '>= 2.9.0'
#    gem 'mysql2', '>= 0.3.13'
  end