Error in building native extensions on mac / ruby?

If you encounter errors when a ruby gem on your mac (error in building native extensions), read more for a solution that worked for me.

I was trying to install ffi on my mac and got the following error:

sudo gem install ffi -v '1.0.7'


Building native extensions.  This could take a while...
ERROR:  Error installing ffi:
ERROR: Failed to build gem native extension.

/System/Library/Frameworks/Ruby.framework/Versions/1.8/usr/bin/ruby extconf.rb
mkmf.rb can't find header files for ruby at /System/Library/Frameworks/Ruby.framework/Versions/1.8/usr/lib/ruby/ruby.h


Gem files will remain installed in /Library/Ruby/Gems/1.8/gems/ffi-1.0.7 for inspection.
Results logged to /Library/Ruby/Gems/1.8/gems/ffi-1.0.7/ext/ffi_c/gem_make.out


Here is what you need to do resolve the issue:

• Install xcode
• Install the "Command Line Tools" from xcode -> Preferences -> Downloads -> Components

Now you will be able to install the gem and build its native extensions on your mac.

An important UPDATE from my good friend Oscar Reiken:

Oscar Rieken5:52 PM (edited)

good tip ;) but that only works with newer versions of mac OSX where the latest version of Xcode is included, you might also want to add that if you dont have access to the latest xcode you can use brew(http://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/38222/how-do-i-install-gcc-via-homebrew) or install GCC directly(https://github.com/kennethreitz/osx-gcc-installer) 

New version of WAAT-ruby gem available

I finally got around to pushing out a new version of WAAT-ruby (1.4.1) on rubygems.org. The only change in this version is the removal of a dependency on a particular version of bundler. See the WAAT-ruby project on github for more information.

Watch this space for a new version of WAAT-ruby that overcomes the limitation of doing web analytics automation for https urls.

vodQA Pune - Going Beyond the Usual

The next edition of vodQA is coming up on Saturday, 13th October 2012 in Pune. The theme for this edition is "Going Beyond the Usual". There is going to be focus on functional and cross-functional areas like Security, Usability, Scalability and Performance, within industries such as Manufacturing and Banking, among others.

You can register as a speaker here, or as an attendee here. 

Whats next for WAAT?

It has been quite some time that I updated WAAT. The released version has been working well - but it does have its limitations as listed in the FAQs on github.

The biggest limitation I feel about the current release version of WAAT is that it does not work in a pure https kind of an environment. (http://essenceoftesting.blogspot.in/2011/06/waat-and-https.html)

Of late I have been spiking out different ways to overcome this limitation. I have experimented to create a HttpsSniffer, and hit various different road-blocks in that. That has forced me to look at another strategy. 

So I have changed direction in coming to a solution. I am looking at creating something like a JSInjector / JSSniffer plugin - which executes a javascript in the browser from where the action is invoked. This is not as straight forward to use as the earlier approaches. The user of this plugin will need to understand the DOM and some javascripts better, maybe take help from the development team, but then once the way to retrive the basic information is known, then we are in calm waters again :)

If you are facing this similar issue in a pure https environment for web analytics testing, look out for more information in this space.

My plan is to update WAAT, followed-by WAAT-Ruby and then lastly release a new version of the WAAT-Ruby gem following that.

vodQA - The ABCs of Testing

I am late in writing about this, but if I do not share this, I am sure I will be feeling very bad later on.

I am very happy to write the next vodQA is happening in Bangalore on Saturday, 8th Sept 2012. The theme for this event is "The ABCs of Testing (Automation, Big Data Analytics, Could Testing)". Also look at our vodQA group on facebook for more information.

There are great topics lined up by great speakers. There are going to be sessions across multiple tracks, fish bowl sessions and am sure a lot of thought-provoking interactions.

I will write an update with links to presentations, pictures and videos after the event. See you all there!