How can install sqlite-ruby on linux when sqlite3 is not in /usr/local ?

Question

I am trying to install sqlite3 and sqlite-ruby (ruby 1.8.6) on a linux box where I do not have root.

I downloaded the sqlite3 source, binaries, and shared library and placed them all in a directory called sqlite3

I then try to install sqlite-ruby using

gem install sqlite-ruby --with-sqlite-dir=the_path_sqlite/sqlite3

but I keep getting the error...

checking for main() in -lsqlite... no checking for sqlite.h... no * 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.

Provided configuration options: --with-opt-dir --without-opt-dir --with-opt-include --without-opt-include=${opt-dir}/include --with-opt-lib --without-opt-lib=${opt-dir}/lib --with-make-prog --without-make-prog --srcdir=. --curdir --ruby=/data/scratch/bettbra/common/packages/ruby-1.8.6/bin/ruby --with-sqlite-dir --with-sqlite-include --without-sqlite-include=${sqlite-dir}/include --with-sqlite-lib --without-sqlite-lib=${sqlite-dir}/lib --with-sqlitelib --without-sqlitelib

Answer 1

i'm using ubuntu (debain type linux). i managed to resolve it the following way:

sudo apt-get install sqlite3 libsqlite3-dev sudo gem install sqlite3-ruby

Answer 2

Can you install RVM (Ruby Version Manager) ?

http://rvm.beginrescueend.com/rvm/install/

With RVM you install gems etc. as a user without sudo/root privileges.