You need to qualify your include
#include <python2.7/Python.h>
Or tell gcc where to find Python.h with the
gcc -I /usr/include/python2.7/ program.c
Reddit
reddit.com › r/c_programming › using #include
r/C_Programming on Reddit: Using #include <Python.h>
April 5, 2023 -
I'm trying to write a Python library in C. My code uses #include <Python.h> but VSCode says:
"include errors detected. Please update your includePath. Squiggles are disabled for this translation unit."
What does this mean and how do I go about fixing this? (Sorry if it's obvious, I'm not new to Python but very new to C)
Top answer 1 of 4
13
Try actually compiling the code to see if you get errors, sometimes vscode just wiggs out
2 of 4
3
In my experience LSPs are pretty useless when it comes to writing C extensions (maybe there’s a way to fix it, idk haven’t invested the time to figure it out) I just turn mine off and let the compiler tell me the errors 🤣
Cannot open include file "Python.h" On windows while creating DLL Jun 6, 2025
r/cpp_questions last yr.
Python libraries that use C: how do they work? I go the Python function definitions in the source code and they’re blank Nov 11, 2023
r/learnpython 2y ago
Python
docs.python.org › 3 › c-api › intro.html
Introduction — Python 3.14.7 documentation
Since Python may define some pre-processor definitions which affect the standard headers on some systems, you must include Python.h before any standard headers are included. It is recommended to always define PY_SSIZE_T_CLEAN before including Python.h.
gcc - fatal error: Python.h: No such file or directory - Stack Overflow
By clicking “Sign up”, you ... you have read our privacy policy. ... Stack Internal Implement a knowledge platform layer to power your enterprise and AI tools. Stack Data Licensing Get access to top-class technical expertise with trusted & attributed content. Stack Ads Connect your brand to the world’s most trusted technologist communities. Releases Keep up-to-date on features we add to Stack Overflow and Stack Internal. ... pythonjavascriptc#reactjsja... More on stackoverflow.com
Why is Python.h not found on Ubuntu despite having python-dev installed.
Did you try libpython3-dev? I think that might be the one with the C header file More on reddit.com
11
0
December 13, 2024How to include <Python.h> in a C++ project in Visual Studio Code?
just some thoughts: "Python.h" "python.h" "/somewhere/else/python.h" More on reddit.com
3
2
June 3, 2022Cannot open include file: 'Python.h'
P.S. I have included in my test project the requested path: C:\Program Files\Python39\include But now I got another missing files, which make me to think that I am not going in the right direction to solve this. More on github.com
5
September 8, 2021 Top answer 1 of 2
21
You need to qualify your include
#include <python2.7/Python.h>
Or tell gcc where to find Python.h with the
gcc -I /usr/include/python2.7/ program.c
2 of 2
10
You need to provide GCC with the include path for the Python.h header. This can be done with the -I flag:
gcc -c -I/usr/include/python2.7 sourcefile.c
However, there is a better way: use pkg-config :
pkg-config --cflags python
This will output the flags that need to be passed to GCC in order to compile applications that use the Python headers and libraries.
When linking, use the output of this command to include the appropriate libraries:
pkg-config --libs python
You could even combine both steps with:
gcc `pkg-config --cflags --libs python` sourcefile.c
GitHub
github.com › python › cpython › blob › main › Include › Python.h
cpython/Include/Python.h at main · python/cpython
// C extensions should only #include <Python.h>, and not include directly · // the other Python header files included by <Python.h>. · #ifndef Py_PYTHON_H · #define Py_PYTHON_H · · // Since this is a "meta-include" file, "#ifdef __cplusplus / extern "C" {" // is not needed.
Author: python
Top answer 1 of 16
3620
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 install python-dev # for python2.x installs
sudo apt 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
Important Note: python3-dev/devel does not automatically cover all minor versions of python3.
E.g If you are using python 3.11 you may need to install python3.11-dev / python3.11-devel.
2 of 16
581
On Ubuntu, I was running Python 3 and I had to install
sudo apt-get install python3-dev
If you want to use a version of Python that is not linked to python3, install the associated python3.x-dev package. For example:
sudo apt-get install python3.5-dev
Tutorialspoint
tutorialspoint.com › python › python_further_extensions.htm
Python - Further Extensions
An initialization function. You need to include Python.h header file in your C source file, which gives you the access to the internal Python API used to hook your module into the interpreter.
Python
docs.python.org › 3 › extending › extending.html
1. Extending Python with C or C++ — Python 3.14.7 documentation
To support extensions, the Python ... to most aspects of the Python run-time system. The Python API is incorporated in a C source file by including the header "Python.h"....
GeeksforGeeks
geeksforgeeks.org › python › how-to-fix-fatal-error-python-h-no-such-file-or-directory
How to fix: "fatal error: Python.h: No such file or directory" - GeeksforGeeks
July 23, 2025 - The error message "fatal error: Python.h: No such file or directory" typically occurs when the C/C++ compiler is unable to find the Python.h header file, which is part of the Python development package required for compiling C/C++ code that interacts with Python.
Reddit
reddit.com › r/c_programming › why is python.h not found on ubuntu despite having python-dev installed.
r/C_Programming on Reddit: Why is Python.h not found on Ubuntu despite having python-dev installed.
December 13, 2024 -
I have the latest python3-dev python-dev installed, but the header isn't found. I have read that Python.h is no longer inside python-dev but don't know where, how to get it? I have also tried sudo apt install python-dev-is-python3 but it still doesn't work.
Top answer 1 of 3
11
Did you try libpython3-dev? I think that might be the one with the C header file
2 of 3
10
It's installed, but you're supposed to configure your build through python3-config, which tells your compiler where to find it: $ python3-config --cflags -I/usr/include/python3.11 ... For example, command substitution: $ gcc ... main.c $(python3-config --cflags --libs)
AskPython
askpython.com › python › examples › fix-gcc-python-h-no-such-file
[Fix] gcc - fatal error: Python.h: No such file or directory - AskPython
April 10, 2025 - These files provide access to Python’s C API and definitions needed to build Python-aware extensions. The Python.h file is the major header that gives access to core Python data structures and functions.
BetterBugs
betterbugs.io › blog › how-to-fix-fatal-error-python-h-no-such-file-or-directory
How to Fix “Fatal Error: Python.h: No Such File or Directory” in Python [Updated]
June 10, 2024 - This file is the entry point of the Python C API. The “python.h” file may sometimes not be included by default.
Python
svn.python.org › projects › python › branches › pep-0384 › Include › Python.h
Python.h
#ifndef Py_PYTHON_H #define Py_PYTHON_H /* Since this is a "meta-include" file, no #ifdef __cplusplus / extern "C" { */ /* Include nearly all Python header files */ #include "patchlevel.h" #include "pyconfig.h" #include "pymacconfig.h" #include
Reddit
reddit.com › r/learnprogramming › how to include in a c++ project in visual studio code?
r/learnprogramming on Reddit: How to include <Python.h> in a C++ project in Visual Studio Code?
June 3, 2022 -
I want to create a multi-language project in Visual Studio Code using C++ and Python and I need to call a .py file from my CPP code. I did some research and my CPP code ended up looking like this:
#include <iostream>
include <string>
include <Python.h> //after attempting to compile, an error appears here.
int main()
{
FILE* pf = fopen("test.py", "r");
std::string path = "...";
Py_Initialize();
PyRun_SimpleFile(pf, path.c_str());
Py_Finalize();
}I have added Python310\include to includePath in settings.json as this:
"C_Cpp.default.includePath": [
"...\\Python\\Python310\\include"
]but when I try to compile this code with G++ it returns:
fatal error: Python.h: No such file or directory
I have searched this error but there are no posts of this happening with Visual Studio Code. How can I fix this using VSC on Windows 11?
Jayrambhia
jayrambhia.com › blog › pythonc-api-1
Python/C API: #include "Python.h"
December 9, 2012 - To understand basics, I went through the reference manual on Python website but it was all too complicated and direct. So I directly opened one of the C++ bindings of mahotas and started understanding it. But still went through few topics of Python/C API. To summarize, All function, type and macro definitions are included in Python.h.
Wikibooks
en.wikibooks.org › wiki › Python_Programming › Extending_with_C
Python Programming/Extending with C - Wikibooks, open books for an open world
The above produces files hello.py and hello_wrap.c. The next step is compiling; substitute /usr/include/python2.4/ with the correct path to Python.h for your setup:
GitHub
github.com › Yikun › Python3 › blob › master › Include › Python.h
Python3/Include/Python.h at master · Yikun/Python3
#define Py_PYTHON_H · /* Since this is a "meta-include" file, no #ifdef __cplusplus / extern "C" { */ · /* Include nearly all Python header files */ · #include "patchlevel.h" #include "pyconfig.h" #include "pymacconfig.h" · #include <limits.h> · #ifndef UCHAR_MAX ·
Author: Yikun
GitHub
github.com › lava › matplotlib-cpp › issues › 282
Cannot open include file: 'Python.h' · Issue #282 · lava/matplotlib-cpp
September 8, 2021 - 1>c:\project\matplotlib-cpp\matplotlibcpp.h(5): fatal error C1083: Cannot open include file: 'Python.h': No such file or directory Yes, I know I should use libpython library (I guess), but until there I need to overcome this error: Cannot open include file: 'Python.h'
Author: lava
Jam
jam.dev › blog › python-fatal-error-python-h-no-such-file-or-directory
Fixing Fatal Error: python.h: No Such File or Directory | Easy Solutions
October 3, 2024 - Typically, this error occurs when the C compiler fails to locate the necessary python.h header file.
Python
svn.python.org › projects › python › tags › r271 › Include › Python.h
Python
#ifndef Py_PYTHON_H #define Py_PYTHON_H /* Since this is a "meta-include" file, no #ifdef __cplusplus / extern "C" { */ /* Include nearly all Python header files */ #include "patchlevel.h" #include "pyconfig.h" #include "pymacconfig.h" /* Cyclic gc is always enabled, starting with release 2.3a1.