find-libpython

Warnings

• gotcha Python installations (especially custom builds or newer Linux defaults) may produce a *static* `libpython.a` instead of a *shared* `libpython.so` or `.dylib`. `find-libpython` is designed to locate *shared* libraries. If `find_libpython()` returns `None`, it often indicates that the Python interpreter was compiled without `--enable-shared` or similar flags, making `libpython` unavailable for dynamic linking.
  Fix: Ensure your Python installation is configured to build shared libraries (e.g., pass `--enable-shared` during Python compilation) if you require dynamic linking.
• gotcha Relying solely on environment variables like `LD_LIBRARY_PATH` (Linux) or `DYLD_LIBRARY_PATH` (macOS) to make `libpython` discoverable can be brittle and inconsistent, especially in complex deployment scenarios or when embedding Python. While these might offer temporary fixes, system-wide linker configuration (e.g., `ldconfig` on Linux, or correct RPATHs during compilation) provides a more robust solution.
  Fix: Use `find-libpython` to programmatically identify the correct path, then ensure your application or build system correctly links against it, potentially by configuring system linker paths or using `rpath`.
• gotcha In environments with multiple Python installations (e.g., system Python, Conda, Pyenv, virtual environments), `find-libpython` attempts to find the `libpython` associated with the *currently active* Python interpreter. Issues can arise if the desired Python environment is not properly activated or if the `PATH` variable leads to an unexpected interpreter, causing `find_libpython()` to return an incorrect path or `None`.
  Fix: Always ensure the correct Python environment is activated before running code that calls `find_libpython` to guarantee it targets the intended interpreter's shared library.

Install

• pip install find-libpython Install with pip

Imports

• find_libpython

  from find_libpython import find_libpython

Quickstart

This quickstart demonstrates how to import and use the `find_libpython` function to locate the shared library. It returns the path as a string or `None` if not found.

from find_libpython import find_libpython

lib_path = find_libpython()
if lib_path:
    print(f"Found libpython at: {lib_path}")
else:
    print("Could not find libpython for the current environment.")