Repository navigation
Macvim from Homebrew formula missing ruby@4.0 #1697
Description
Steps to reproduce
Install macvim via homebrew via brew install macvim and then either launch the macvim via GUI or terminal. The error message I got is:
dyld[20899]: Library not loaded: /opt/homebrew/opt/ruby@4.0/lib/libruby.4.0.dylib
Referenced from: <52A6DA3C-2DB7-33B3-B925-C83D0C432B8E> /opt/homebrew/Cellar/macvim/9.2.0321/MacVim.app/Contents/MacOS/Vim
Reason: tried: '/opt/homebrew/opt/ruby@4.0/lib/libruby.4.0.dylib' (no such file), '/System/Volumes/Preboot/Cryptexes/OS/opt/homebrew/opt/ruby@4.0/lib/libruby.4.0.dylib' (no such file), '/opt/homebrew/opt/ruby@4.0/lib/libruby.4.0.dylib' (no such file)
Expected behaviour
Launch correctly
Version of MacVim
9.2.0321
MacVim installation method
Homebrew formula: brew install macvim
Environment
macOS 26.6.2
Logs and stack traces
dyld[20830]: Library not loaded: /opt/homebrew/opt/ruby@4.0/lib/libruby.4.0.dylib
Referenced from: <52A6DA3C-2DB7-33B3-B925-C83D0C432B8E> /opt/homebrew/Cellar/macvim/9.2.0321/MacVim.app/Contents/MacOS/Vim
Reason: tried: '/opt/homebrew/opt/ruby@4.0/lib/libruby.4.0.dylib' (no such file), '/System/Volumes/Preboot/Cryptexes/OS/opt/homebrew/opt/ruby@4.0/lib/libruby.4.0.dylib' (no such file), '/opt/homebrew/opt/ruby@4.0/lib/libruby.4.0.dylib' (no such file)Vim and MacVim configuration where issue is reproducable
No response
How was MacVim launched?
- by launching MacVim.app in macOS (by using the Dock, Spotlight, or the
opencommand) - by running mvim/gvim in the terminal
Issue has been tested with clean configuration
- by running
mvim --clean(orgvim, supplied by MacVim distribution). You can also use the File → "New Clean Window" menu item within MacVim. - by running
vim --clean(in terminal, supplied by MacVim distribution) - by running
vim --clean(in terminal, other suppliers, e.g. /usr/bin/vim)
Activity
eirnym commentedon Aug 31, 2026
You always can put correct path for ruby interpreter via a setting in a MacVim's (g)vimrc.
Pluies commentedon Sep 8, 2026
I ran into the same issue and tried setting the interpreter via
~/.vimrcas:But it did not work.
Instead, I symlinked the necessary ruby dylib from the ruby installed by homebrew:
It's ugly, but it works 🤷
chache17 commentedon Sep 18, 2026
This worked for me. Thanks a lot.
eirnym commentedon Sep 19, 2026
It's worth a while to look into formula as I don't see such messages from the GitHub release.
My guess, formula changes from dynamic library linking to static, and Homebrew build environment is different from actual run environment.
I personally don't use Homebrew, so I can't check if dynamic library for the GitHub release is loading correctly.
Mizux commentedon Sep 23, 2026
A little bit more cleaner, regenerate the ruby@4 symlink using:
brew unlink ruby && brew link rubyref: https://github.com/orgs/Homebrew/discussions/7041#discussioncomment-18209263
erikdw commentedon Sep 29, 2026
This is fixed on the Homebrew side by Homebrew/brew#24113 (merged 2026-09-29). MacVim is fine: its bottle links
/opt/homebrew/opt/ruby@4.0/lib/libruby.4.0.dylibbecause that is the install name therubyformula publishes.brew upgrade rubywas deleting theopt/ruby@4.0alias while uninstalling the previous keg.The fix is on Homebrew's main branch. It is not in the 7.0.7 release, so
brew updateis what picks it up.Two cases:
Ruby was already upgraded or reinstalled on a Homebrew from before that fix, so
opt/ruby@4.0is already gone. Updating Homebrew does not recreate it. Run this once:brew unlink ruby && brew link rubyMacVim starts again. Later Ruby upgrades keep the alias, as long as Homebrew includes the fix.
Homebrew is updated to a version that includes the fix while
opt/ruby@4.0still exists. A laterbrew upgrade rubyleaves that alias in place, so MacVim keeps working with no extra step.