XYMer's Home away from Home

If you're trying to do anything more interesting than run the applications Apple bundled on OS X server, and whatever you're doing happens to use a database, you'll very likely need the MySQL header files to get anywhere. Fortunately Apple planned ahead and conveniently bundles MySQL with OS X server. Unfortunately, Apple doesn't see fit to also bundle the client libraries and header files, which stop you dead in your tracks building most software that needs to chat with the database. These files aren't even included with the developer tools.

It is not clear to my why Apple does not include these.

Fortunately Apple has made them available as a slightly inconvenient download, thus saving you the trouble of rebuilding MySQL from source. This is referenced in the Apple knowledge base.

Can someone succinctly explain Apple's likely reasoning in not including these somewhere more convenient, like with the Developer Tools, or just plain preinstalled?

- Anonymous

My only guess is that Apple underestimates the needs and/or sophistication of its users and thinks that header files are too confusing, even for people running servers.

I suppose. I don't don't see the harm in putting them there for people who do need them, since they in no way interfere with the operation of the system. Oh well.

At least they do install easily once you figure out a) that they're inexplicably missing, and b) track down the KB article linked above.

- Anonymous