Error while using matplotlib: "AttributeError: module 'gi' has no attribute 'require_version'"

Question

I'm on Fedora 41, with a virtualenv with Python 3.12.7 (matplotlib==3.9.2). The following code:

import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
plt.figure(figsize=(10, 7))

or just

import gi
gi.require_version("Gtk", "4.0")

produce the error "AttributeError: module 'gi' has no attribute 'require_version'". When I try to install PyGObject with pip, I get the following error:

$ pip install PyGObject
  ...
  Getting requirements to build wheel ... done
  Preparing metadata (pyproject.toml) ... error
  error: subprocess-exited-with-error
  
  × Preparing metadata (pyproject.toml) did not run successfully.
  │ exit code: 1
  ╰─> [48 lines of output]

      ...
      Compiler for C supports arguments -fvisibility=hidden: YES
      Found pkg-config: YES (/usr/bin/pkg-config) 2.3.0
      Run-time dependency cairo found: YES 1.18.0
      Run-time dependency python found: NO (tried pkgconfig, pkgconfig and sysconfig)
      
      ../cairo/meson.build:51:15: ERROR: Python dependency not found

same error with pip install cairo

I tried MANY solutions given by some similar posts:

$ pkg-config --modversion gtk4
4.16.5

$ pip uninstall gi
WARNING: Skipping gi as it is not installed.

$ pip install PyGTK
Preparing metadata (setup.py) ... error
  error: subprocess-exited-with-error
  
  × python setup.py egg_info did not run successfully.
  │ exit code: 1
  ╰─> [4 lines of output]
      ********************************************************************
      * Building PyGTK using distutils is only supported on windows. *
      * To build PyGTK in a supported way, read the INSTALL file.    *
      ********************************************************************
      [end of output]

$ sudo dnf install python3-gi
Updating and loading repositories:
Repositories loaded.
Failed to resolve the transaction:
No match for argument: python3-gi

$ sudo dnf install python3-gobject
Updating and loading repositories:
Repositories loaded.
The package 'python3-gobject-3.48.2-3.fc41.x86_64' is already installed.

same for python3-gobject-base and gobject-introspection.

Anerdw · Accepted Answer · 2024-11-25 08:52:48Z

2

I was able to fix the problem by running pip install --upgrade pygobject.

I found the solution in this GitHub issue, which received the following reply:

It seems that the error message is related to the version of the Gtk module. the 'gi' module is not the version required by the Stable Diffusion WebUI , the version of Gtk that is being used is not compatible with the version of Matplotlib that is installed.. You could try running this command in your terminal :

" pip install --upgrade pygobject "

This command will upgrade the 'pygobject' module, which contains the 'gi' module .

edited Nov 25, 2024 at 8:52

Anerdw

2,8163 gold badges18 silver badges44 bronze badges

answered Nov 22, 2024 at 20:27

noname-user

211 bronze badge

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

2 Comments

Le Magicien Annonyme Nov 25, 2024 at 14:08

Thank you for the answer, but I trying with --upgrade give me the same result as the original post : ../cairo/meson.build:51:15: ERROR: Python dependency not found (see above).

noname-user Nov 26, 2024 at 18:32

So you can just try to install the necessary dependency: pip install pygobject

Ajal88 · Accepted Answer · 2025-08-26 20:59:45Z

1

I had the same issue while trying to install pycairo and tried all the suggested fixes, but nothing fixed this issue.

I finally fixed it by installing the correct version of python-devel the package, in my case:

sudo dnf install python3.12-devel  # check your python version and install the exact version

answered Aug 26 at 20:59

Ajal88

3812 silver badges8 bronze badges

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

Error while using matplotlib: "AttributeError: module 'gi' has no attribute 'require_version'"

2 Answers 2

2 Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

2 Answers 2

2 Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related