When I tried to build and install mysql-python, on my Macbook Pro running Apple OS X Leopard 10.5.5, I encountered a few problems (Setup script exited with error: command ‘gcc’ failed with exit status 1). But thanks to Google and the Python community, there were no problems that couldn’t be fixed.

Step 1 – Download and extract mysql-python

Let’s take it from the top. First you need to download mysql-python from the Sourceforge project page and extract the files.

Step 2 – Locate and edit _mysql.c

Locate the _mysql.c file in your mysql-python directory, open it up and remove the following three rows around row 35.

#ifndef uint
#define uint unsigned int
#endif

Still in _mysql.c, you should change the following two rows around row 480.

uint port = MYSQL_PORT;
uint client_flag = 0;

Change those two rows to:

unsigned int port = MYSQL_PORT;
unsigned int client_flag = 0;

Step 3 – Fix the mysql_config location (not always necessary)

You might need to open up the site.cfg file in your mysql-python directory and change the path to your mysql_config.

#mysql_config = /path to your mysql_config

Step 4 – Open up your terminal

You will need to create a symbolic link between /usr/local/mysql/lib and /usr/local/mysql/lib/mysql. Open up your terminal and do the following.

$ sudo ln -s /usr/local/mysql/lib /usr/local/mysql/lib/mysql

Step 4 – Rebuild and install

All done! You should be able to build and install mysql-python now. With your terminal in the mysql-python directory you should do the following.

$ sudo python setup.py build
$ sudo python setup.py install