[FIXED] fatal error: Python.h: No such file or directory

In this article, we have explored the reason behind the compilation error "fatal error: Python.h: No such file or directory" and presented 3 different fixes to resolve this error.

Table of contents:

1. Reason for error
2. Fix 1: Install python-dev
3. Fix 2: Add include header
4. Fix 3: Update compilation command

Reason for error

During compilation of a C or C++ program, you may face the following compilation error:

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

The reason is that the compiler is not able to locate the required header file Python.h.

The compilation command is usually as follows:

gcc code.c -o code

Fix 1: Install python-dev

The first fix is to re-install python-dev and python3-dev packages in Linux which will reinstall the header files and static/ dynamic libraries in the correct location and fix the error. Use these commands:

sudo apt-get install python-dev
sudo apt-get install python3-dev

If it does not fix, try installing libpython3.10-dev using the following command:

sudo apt install libpython3.10-dev

Note: change the Python version in the above command accordingly.

If you are using Fedora, use the following command:

sudo dnf install python2-devel
sudo dnf install python3-devel

If you are using OpenSUSE, use the following command:

sudo zypper in python-devel
sudo zypper in python3-devel

If you are using CentOS or RHEL, use the following command:

sudo yum install python-devel
sudo yum install python3-devel

If you are using Alpine, use the following command:

sudo apk add python2-dev
sudo apk add python3-dev

Fix 2: Add include header

If the header file is in the path /usr/include/python3.10/Python.h, add the following line in your C/ C++ code:

#include <python3.10/Python.h>

We need not specify the entire path as /usr/include is in the INCLUDE path by default.

If you are not sure where the header file is located in your system, use the following command to locate it:

pkg-config --cflags --libs python

If it works correctly and the header file is present in your system, you will get an output like:

-I/usr/include/python3.10 -lpython3.10

Fix 3: Update compilation command

Locate where Python is installed in your system and use the following flags in your compilation command:

-I/usr/include/python3.10 -lpython3.10

This will help the compiler to identify the header files. Following is the updated compilation command:

gcc -I/usr/include/python3.10 -lpython3.10 code.c -o code

Use the following command to locate it where the header file is in your system:

pkg-config --cflags --libs python

If it works correctly and the header file is present in your system, you will get an output like:

-I/usr/include/python3.10 -lpython3.10

We can use the command to get the path directly in the compilation command:

gcc code.c -o code $(pkg-config --cflags --libs python) 

With this article at OpenGenus, you must have fixed this error by applying the fixes we presented. Continue with your development.