NAME

python-config - output build options for python C/C++ extensions or embedding

SYNOPSIS

python-config [ --prefix ] [ --exec-prefix ] [ --includes ] [ --libs ] [ --cflags ] [ --ldflags ] [ --extension-suffix ] [ --configdir ] [ --help ]

DESCRIPTION

python-config helps compiling and linking programs, which embed the Python interpreter, or extension modules that can be loaded dynamically (at run time) into the interpreter.

OPTIONS

--cflags: print the C compiler flags.
--ldflags: print the flags that should be passed to the linker.
--includes: similar to --cflags but only with -I options (path to python header files).
--libs: similar to --ldflags but only with -l options (used libraries).
--prefix: prints the prefix (base directory) under which python can be found.
--exec-prefix: print the prefix used for executable program directories (such as bin, sbin, etc).
--extension-suffix: print suffix used for extension modules (including the _d modified for debug builds).
--configdir: prints the path to the configuration directory under which the Makefile, etc. can be found).
--help: print the usage message.

EXAMPLES

To build the singe-file c program prog against the python library, use

gcc $(python-config --cflags --ldflags) progr.cpp -o progr.cpp

The same in a makefile:

CFLAGS+=$(shell python-config --cflags)

LDFLAGS+=$(shell python-config --ldflags)

all: progr

To build a dynamically loadable python module, use

gcc $(python-config --cflags --ldflags) -shared -fPIC progr.cpp -o progr.so

AUTHORS

This manual page was written by Johann Felix Soden <johfel@gmx.de> for the Debian project (and may be used by others).