python-dev installed and Python.h in place, but error on include

Question

I work on a u 18.04 and a third party tool (pymesh) that I use needs to include Python.h

I installed python-dev, python3-dev, libpython-dev and libpython3-dev.

Python.h is found in the folders: /usr/include/Python/, /usr/include/Python3.6m/ and /usr/include/Python3.6/.

Still when I try to compile a minimal C-program:

#include<Python.h>
int main(){}

I get the error:

$ gcc test.c 
test.c:1:9: fatal error: Python.h: No such file or directory
 #include<Python.h>
         ^~~~~~~~~~
compilation terminated.

I can fix this by making symbolic links to every header in one of those directories in, e.g., /usr/local/include/ or by specifying the path in the #include statement, but is that the correct way of doing it?

try #include <Python/Python.h> similar to how you would #include <alsa/asoundlib.h> it's fine — cleblanc
– cleblanc, Commented Jun 4, 2018 at 19:55

Jacques Gaudin · Accepted Answer · 2018-06-04 19:29:29Z

1

You should use the -I option of gcc:

gcc -I /usr/local/include test.c

answered Jun 4, 2018 at 19:29

Jacques Gaudin

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3 Comments

jordanm Over a year ago

@steffen are you sure the 3rd part package doesn't have a method of re-generating the makefile (eg. cmake, automake, etc). It's pretty rare for projects to write makefiles without generation.

Jacques Gaudin Over a year ago

Do you have a config script where the location of python.h could be specified as an option?

steffen Over a year ago

Yep, regenerating the makefile is the way

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