python-config (1)

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

SEE ALSO

python (1)
docs.python.org/extending/extending.html
/usr/share/doc/python/faq/extending.html

AUTHORS

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