fatal error: Python.h: No such file or directory

Question

I am trying to build a shared library using a C extension file but first I have to generate the output file using the command below:

gcc -Wall utilsmodule.c -o Utilc

After executing the command, I get this error message:

> utilsmodule.c:1:20: fatal error: Python.h: No such file or directory
compilation terminated.

I have tried all the suggested solutions over the internet but the problem still exists. I have no problem with Python.h. I managed to locate the file on my machine.

Answer 1

Looks like you haven't properly installed the header files and static libraries for python dev. Use your package manager to install them system-wide.

For apt (Ubuntu, Debian...):

sudo apt-get install python-dev   # for python2.x installs
sudo apt-get install python3-dev  # for python3.x installs

For yum (CentOS, RHEL...):

sudo yum install python-devel   # for python2.x installs
sudo yum install python3-devel   # for python3.x installs

For dnf (Fedora...):

sudo dnf install python2-devel  # for python2.x installs
sudo dnf install python3-devel  # for python3.x installs

For zypper (openSUSE...):

sudo zypper in python-devel   # for python2.x installs
sudo zypper in python3-devel  # for python3.x installs

For apk (Alpine...):

# This is a departure from the normal Alpine naming
# scheme, which uses py2- and py3- prefixes
sudo apk add python2-dev  # for python2.x installs
sudo apk add python3-dev  # for python3.x installs

For apt-cyg (Cygwin...):

apt-cyg install python-devel   # for python2.x installs
apt-cyg install python3-devel  # for python3.x installs