rvm gemset is empty after installing rails to it

Question

I am trying to get a multiple ruby/rails environment set up with rvm but I am having some problems.

If I try to install a legacy rails version (say, ruby 1.8.7 / rails 2.0.2) it goes through the motions but no gems are present at the end of the process. For example:

$ rvm install 1.8.7-head
$ rvm use ruby-1.8.7-head@rails-2.0.2 --create
$ gem install -v=2.0.2 rails
$ gem list

*** LOCAL GEMS ***

$

If I install ruby ruby-1.9.3-p0@rails it works fine.

I am on ArchLinux and I am using the rvm multi-user setup. I have created a non-root account to set up rvm, install the rubies and the gemsets.I have installed rubies ruby-1.8.7-head, ruby-1.8.7-p358 and ruby-1.9.3-p0.

The install of ruby-1.9.3-p0@rails worked fine but the install of ruby1.8.7 and rails-2.0.2 did not. It goes through the motions of an install but the gems aren't there when it finished.

I've added a transcript showing the exact commands I used here: http://pastebin.com/msa3u6w6.

I have followed closely the ArchLinux tutorial and the information on the RVM site also. Having spent several hours trying to fix this, I'd be grateful if anyone can help me.

My rvm info is below:

$ rvm info

ruby-1.8.7-head@rails-2.0.2:

  system:
    uname:       "Linux railsdev1 3.2.1-2-ARCH #1 SMP PREEMPT Mon Jan 23 12:40:01 UTC 2012 x86_64 Intel(R) Core(TM) i7 CPU 920 @ 2.67GHz GenuineIntel GNU/Linux"
    bash:        "/bin/bash => GNU bash, version 4.2.20(2)-release (x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu)"
    zsh:         " => not installed"

  rvm:
    version:      "rvm 1.10.3 by Wayne E. Seguin <wayneeseguin@gmail.com>, Michal Papis <mpapis@gmail.com> [https://rvm.beginrescueend.com/]"
    updated:      "2 hours 12 minutes 19 seconds ago"

  ruby:
    interpreter:  "ruby"
    version:      "1.9.3p125"
    date:         "2012-02-16"
    platform:     "x86_64-linux"
    patchlevel:   "2012-02-16 revision 34643"
    full_version: "ruby 1.9.3p125 (2012-02-16 revision 34643) [x86_64-linux]"

  homes:
    gem:          "/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-1.8.7-head@rails-2.0.2"
    ruby:         "/usr/local/rvm/rubies/ruby-1.8.7-head"

  binaries:
    ruby:         "/usr/bin/ruby"
    irb:          "/usr/bin/irb"
    gem:          "/usr/bin/gem"
    rake:         "/usr/bin/rake"

  environment:
    PATH:         "/usr/local/bin:/usr/bin:/bin:/usr/local/sbin:/usr/sbin:/sbin:/usr/bin/vendor_perl:/usr/bin/core_perl:/usr/local/rvm/bin"
    GEM_HOME:     "/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-1.8.7-head@rails-2.0.2"
    GEM_PATH:     "/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-1.8.7-head@rails-2.0.2:/usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-1.8.7-head@global"
    MY_RUBY_HOME: "/usr/local/rvm/rubies/ruby-1.8.7-head"
    IRBRC:        "/usr/local/rvm/rubies/ruby-1.8.7-head/.irbrc"
    RUBYOPT:      ""
    gemset:       "rails-2.0.2"


$ gem list

*** LOCAL GEMS ***


$ 

Answer 1

I guess you have errors running rvm install 1.8.7-head basically 1.8.7 is already old release and you should have no interest in running head version, try instead:

rvm get head
rvm use 1.8.7@rails-2.0.2 --install --create

This will install & use ruby 1.8.7-p358 (the current patchlevel as of writing this).