How to resolve Python mysqlclient install error on Mac

Question

I’m trying to install Python interface to MySQL (mysqlclient 2.1.0) for use with Django project (to be developed in MS Code) on my MacBook with M1 chip. When I’m trying to install mysqlclient for python I get an error and I’m unable to resolve it. I have seen other people having similar kind of issues, but mine is not the same judging by error text I get from below

Please help

My system details: MAC (M1), OS Monterey 12.3, terminal zsh

1. Download and install new python 3.10.3 (but also tried with 3.9.11)
2. Create and activate python venv

Last login: Fri Mar 18 09:16:39 on ttys000
/Users/luklys/.zshrc:18: command not found: Password:
luklys@Luklys-MacBook-Air ~ % cd Documents/Code\ Projects/hello_django 
luklys@Luklys-MacBook-Air hello_django % python3 -m venv .myvenv
luklys@Luklys-MacBook-Air hello_django % source .myvenv/bin/activate
(.myvenv) luklys@Luklys-MacBook-Air hello_django %

3. Try to install python MySQL client using MAC instructions from https://pypi.org/project/mysqlclient/

(.myvenv) luklys@Luklys-MacBook-Air hello_django % brew install mysql-client
Warning: mysql-client 8.0.28 is already installed and up-to-date.
To reinstall 8.0.28, run:
  brew reinstall mysql-client
(.myvenv) luklys@Luklys-MacBook-Air hello_django %

(.myvenv) luklys@Luklys-MacBook-Air hello_django % echo 'export PATH="/usr/local/opt/mysql-client/bin:$PATH"' >> ~/.zshrc       
(.myvenv) luklys@Luklys-MacBook-Air hello_django % export PATH="/usr/local/opt/mysql-client/bin:$PATH"

4. Error message

(.myvenv) luklys@Luklys-MacBook-Air hello_django % pip install mysqlclient
Collecting mysqlclient
  Using cached mysqlclient-2.1.0.tar.gz (87 kB)
  Preparing metadata (setup.py) ... error
  error: subprocess-exited-with-error
  
  × python setup.py egg_info did not run successfully.
  │ exit code: 1
  ╰─> [16 lines of output]
      /bin/sh: mysql_config: command not found
      /bin/sh: mariadb_config: command not found
      /bin/sh: mysql_config: command not found
      Traceback (most recent call last):
        File "<string>", line 2, in <module>
        File "<pip-setuptools-caller>", line 34, in <module>
        File "/private/var/folders/pw/87hvnxc51gdcwf3ck25n95tw0000gn/T/pip-install-y_1qn9ke/mysqlclient_48574969a7ff4372b5ff326147c56ec6/setup.py", line 15, in <module>
          metadata, options = get_config()
        File "/private/var/folders/pw/87hvnxc51gdcwf3ck25n95tw0000gn/T/pip-install-y_1qn9ke/mysqlclient_48574969a7ff4372b5ff326147c56ec6/setup_posix.py", line 70, in get_config
          libs = mysql_config("libs")
        File "/private/var/folders/pw/87hvnxc51gdcwf3ck25n95tw0000gn/T/pip-install-y_1qn9ke/mysqlclient_48574969a7ff4372b5ff326147c56ec6/setup_posix.py", line 31, in mysql_config
          raise OSError("{} not found".format(_mysql_config_path))
      OSError: mysql_config not found
      mysql_config --version
      mariadb_config --version
      mysql_config --libs
      [end of output]
  
  note: This error originates from a subprocess, and is likely not a problem with pip.
error: metadata-generation-failed

× Encountered error while generating package metadata.

Answer 1

You have to install mysql on your local laptop/server first to install mysqlclient.

You can download the latest version of MySQL from https://dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/8.0/en/macos-installation-pkg.html

and then add path export PATH=${PATH}:/usr/local/mysql/bin/ to .zshrc and .zsh_profile

after adding just run source .zshrc and source .zsh_profile

Now try to do mysql -u root -p if it works it will prompt to enter password or directly take you to mysql.

Now you can install mysqlclient in python.