FindPython

Added in version 3.12.

Find Python interpreter, compiler and development environment (include directories and libraries).

Added in version 3.19: When a version is requested, it can be specified as a simple value or as a range. For a detailed description of version range usage and capabilities, refer to the find_package() command.

The following components are supported:

  • Interpreter: search for Python interpreter.

  • Compiler: search for Python compiler. Only offered by IronPython.

  • Development: search for development artifacts (include directories and libraries).

    Added in version 3.18: This component includes two sub-components which can be specified independently:

    • Development.Module: search for artifacts for Python module developments.

    • Development.Embed: search for artifacts for Python embedding developments.

    Added in version 3.26:

    • Development.SABIModule: search for artifacts for Python module developments using the Stable Application Binary Interface. This component is available only for version 3.2 and upper.

  • NumPy: search for NumPy include directories.

Added in version 3.14: Added the NumPy component.

If no COMPONENTS are specified, Interpreter is assumed.

If component Development is specified, it implies sub-components Development.Module and Development.Embed.

To ensure consistent versions between components Interpreter, Compiler, Development (or one of its sub-components) and NumPy, specify all components at the same time:

find_package (Python COMPONENTS Interpreter Development)

This module looks preferably for version 3 of Python. If not found, version 2 is searched. To manage concurrent versions 3 and 2 of Python, use FindPython3 and FindPython2 modules rather than this one.

Note

If components Interpreter and Development (or one of its sub-components) are both specified, this module search only for interpreter with same platform architecture as the one defined by CMake configuration. This constraint does not apply if only Interpreter component is specified.

Imported Targets

This module defines the following Imported Targets:

Changed in version 3.14: Imported Targets are only created when CMAKE_ROLE is PROJECT.

Python::Interpreter

Python interpreter. This target is defined only if the Interpreter component is found.

Python::InterpreterDebug

Added in version 3.30.

Python debug interpreter. This target is defined only if the Interpreter component is found and the Python_EXECUTABLE_DEBUG variable is defined. The target is only defined on the Windows platform.

Python::InterpreterMultiConfig

Added in version 3.30.

Python interpreter. The release or debug version of the interpreter will be used, based on the context (platform, configuration). This target is defined only if the Interpreter component is found

Python::Compiler

Python compiler. This target is defined only if the Compiler component is found.

Python::Module

Added in version 3.15.

Python library for Python module. Target defined if component Development.Module is found.

Python::SABIModule

Added in version 3.26.

Python library for Python module using the Stable Application Binary Interface. Target defined if component Development.SABIModule is found.

Python::Python

Python library for Python embedding. Target defined if component Development.Embed is found.

Python::NumPy

Added in version 3.14.

NumPy Python library. Target defined if component NumPy is found.

Result Variables

This module will set the following variables in your project (see Standard Variable Names):

Python_FOUND

System has the Python requested components.

Python_Interpreter_FOUND

System has the Python interpreter.

Python_EXECUTABLE

Path to the Python interpreter.

Python_EXECUTABLE_DEBUG

Added in version 3.30.

Path to the debug Python interpreter. It is only defined on the Windows platform.

Python_INTERPRETER

Added in version 3.30.

Path to the Python interpreter, defined as a generator expression selecting the Python_EXECUTABLE or Python_EXECUTABLE_DEBUG variable based on the context (platform, configuration).

Python_INTERPRETER_ID
A short string unique to the interpreter. Possible values include:

  • Python

  • ActivePython

  • Anaconda

  • Canopy

  • IronPython

  • PyPy

Python_STDLIB

Standard platform independent installation directory.

Information returned by sysconfig.get_path('stdlib').

Python_STDARCH

Standard platform dependent installation directory.

Information returned by sysconfig.get_path('platstdlib').

Python_SITELIB

Third-party platform independent installation directory.

Information returned by sysconfig.get_path('purelib').

Python_SITEARCH

Third-party platform dependent installation directory.

Information returned by sysconfig.get_path('platlib').

Python_SOABI

Added in version 3.17.

Extension suffix for modules.

Information computed from sysconfig.get_config_var('EXT_SUFFIX') or sysconfig.get_config_var('SOABI') or python3-config --extension-suffix.

Python_SOSABI

Added in version 3.26.

Extension suffix for modules using the Stable Application Binary Interface.

Information computed from importlib.machinery.EXTENSION_SUFFIXES if the COMPONENT Interpreter was specified. Otherwise, the extension is abi3 except for Windows, MSYS and CYGWIN for which this is an empty string.

Python_Compiler_FOUND

System has the Python compiler.

Python_COMPILER

Path to the Python compiler. Only offered by IronPython.

Python_COMPILER_ID
A short string unique to the compiler. Possible values include:

  • IronPython

Python_DOTNET_LAUNCHER

Added in version 3.18.

The .Net interpreter. Only used by IronPython implementation.

Python_Development_FOUND

System has the Python development artifacts.

Python_Development.Module_FOUND

Added in version 3.18.

System has the Python development artifacts for Python module.

Python_Development.SABIModule_FOUND

Added in version 3.26.

System has the Python development artifacts for Python module using the Stable Application Binary Interface.

Python_Development.Embed_FOUND

Added in version 3.18.

System has the Python development artifacts for Python embedding.

Python_INCLUDE_DIRS

The Python include directories.

Python_DEFINITIONS

Added in version 3.30.3.

The Python preprocessor definitions.

Python_DEBUG_POSTFIX

Postfix of debug python module. This variable can be used to define the DEBUG_POSTFIX target property.

Python_LINK_OPTIONS

Added in version 3.19.

The Python link options. Some configurations require specific link options for a correct build and execution.

Python_LIBRARIES

The Python libraries.

Python_LIBRARY_DIRS

The Python library directories.

Python_RUNTIME_LIBRARY_DIRS

The Python runtime library directories.

Python_SABI_LIBRARIES

Added in version 3.26.

The Python libraries for the Stable Application Binary Interface.

Python_SABI_LIBRARY_DIRS

Added in version 3.26.

The Python SABI library directories.

Python_RUNTIME_SABI_LIBRARY_DIRS

Added in version 3.26.

The Python runtime SABI library directories.

Python_VERSION

Python version.

Python_VERSION_MAJOR

Python major version.

Python_VERSION_MINOR

Python minor version.

Python_VERSION_PATCH

Python patch version.

Python_PyPy_VERSION

Added in version 3.18.

Python PyPy version.

Python_NumPy_FOUND

Added in version 3.14.

System has the NumPy.

Python_NumPy_INCLUDE_DIRS

Added in version 3.14.

The NumPy include directories.

Python_NumPy_VERSION

Added in version 3.14.

The NumPy version.

Hints

Python_ROOT_DIR

Define the root directory of a Python installation.

Python_USE_STATIC_LIBS

  • If not defined, search for shared libraries and static libraries in that order.

  • If set to TRUE, search only for static libraries.

  • If set to FALSE, search only for shared libraries.

Note

This hint will be ignored on Windows because static libraries are not available on this platform.

Python_FIND_ABI

Added in version 3.16.

This variable defines which ABIs, as defined in PEP 3149, should be searched.

Note

This hint will be honored only when searched for Python version 3.

The Python_FIND_ABI variable is a 4-tuple specifying, in that order, pydebug (d), pymalloc (m), unicode (u) and gil_disabled (t) flags.

Added in version 3.30: A fourth element, specifying the gil_disabled flag (i.e. free threaded python), is added and is optional. If not specified, the value is OFF.

Each element can be set to one of the following:

  • ON: Corresponding flag is selected.

  • OFF: Corresponding flag is not selected.

  • ANY: The two possibilities (ON and OFF) will be searched.

Note

If Python3_FIND_ABI is not defined, any ABI, excluding the gil_disabled flag, will be searched.

From this 4-tuple, various ABIs will be searched starting from the most specialized to the most general. Moreover, when ANY is specified for pydebug and gil_disabled, debug and free threaded versions will be searched after non-debug and non-gil-disabled ones.

For example, if we have:

set (Python_FIND_ABI "ON" "ANY" "ANY" "ON")

The following flags combinations will be appended, in that order, to the artifact names: tdmu, tdm, tdu, and td.

And to search any possible ABIs:

set (Python_FIND_ABI "ANY" "ANY" "ANY" "ANY")

The following combinations, in that order, will be used: mu, m, u, <empty>, dmu, dm, du, d, tmu, tm, tu, t, tdmu, tdm, tdu, and td.

Note

This hint is useful only on POSIX systems except for the gil_disabled flag. So, on Windows systems, when Python_FIND_ABI is defined, Python distributions from python.org will be found only if the value for each flag is OFF or ANY except for the fourth one (gil_disabled).

Python_FIND_STRATEGY

Added in version 3.15.

This variable defines how lookup will be done. The Python_FIND_STRATEGY variable can be set to one of the following:

  • VERSION: Try to find the most recent version in all specified locations. This is the default if policy CMP0094 is undefined or set to OLD.

  • LOCATION: Stops lookup as soon as a version satisfying version constraints is founded. This is the default if policy CMP0094 is set to NEW.

See also Python_FIND_UNVERSIONED_NAMES.

Python_FIND_REGISTRY

Added in version 3.13.

On Windows the Python_FIND_REGISTRY variable determine the order of preference between registry and environment variables. the Python_FIND_REGISTRY variable can be set to one of the following:

  • FIRST: Try to use registry before environment variables. This is the default.

  • LAST: Try to use registry after environment variables.

  • NEVER: Never try to use registry.

Python_FIND_FRAMEWORK

Added in version 3.15.

On macOS the Python_FIND_FRAMEWORK variable determine the order of preference between Apple-style and unix-style package components. This variable can take same values as CMAKE_FIND_FRAMEWORK variable.

Note

Value ONLY is not supported so FIRST will be used instead.

If Python_FIND_FRAMEWORK is not defined, CMAKE_FIND_FRAMEWORK variable will be used, if any.

Python_FIND_VIRTUALENV

Added in version 3.15.

This variable defines the handling of virtual environments managed by virtualenv or conda. It is meaningful only when a virtual environment is active (i.e. the activate script has been evaluated). In this case, it takes precedence over Python_FIND_REGISTRY and CMAKE_FIND_FRAMEWORK variables. The Python_FIND_VIRTUALENV variable can be set to one of the following:

  • FIRST: The virtual environment is used before any other standard paths to look-up for the interpreter. This is the default.

  • ONLY: Only the virtual environment is used to look-up for the interpreter.

  • STANDARD: The virtual environment is not used to look-up for the interpreter but environment variable PATH is always considered. In this case, variable Python_FIND_REGISTRY (Windows) or CMAKE_FIND_FRAMEWORK (macOS) can be set with value LAST or NEVER to select preferably the interpreter from the virtual environment.

Added in version 3.17: Added support for conda environments.

Note

If the component Development is requested (or one of its sub-components) and is not found or the wrong artifacts are returned, including also the component Interpreter may be helpful.

Python_FIND_IMPLEMENTATIONS

Added in version 3.18.

This variable defines, in an ordered list, the different implementations which will be searched. The Python_FIND_IMPLEMENTATIONS variable can hold the following values:

  • CPython: this is the standard implementation. Various products, like Anaconda or ActivePython, rely on this implementation.

  • IronPython: This implementation use the CSharp language for .NET Framework on top of the Dynamic Language Runtime (DLR). See IronPython.

  • PyPy: This implementation use RPython language and RPython translation toolchain to produce the python interpreter. See PyPy.

The default value is:

  • Windows platform: CPython, IronPython

  • Other platforms: CPython

Note

This hint has the lowest priority of all hints, so even if, for example, you specify IronPython first and CPython in second, a python product based on CPython can be selected because, for example with Python_FIND_STRATEGY=LOCATION, each location will be search first for IronPython and second for CPython.

Note

When IronPython is specified, on platforms other than Windows, the .Net interpreter (i.e. mono command) is expected to be available through the PATH variable.

Python_FIND_UNVERSIONED_NAMES

Added in version 3.20.

This variable defines how the generic names will be searched. Currently, it only applies to the generic names of the interpreter, namely, python3 or python2 and python. The Python_FIND_UNVERSIONED_NAMES variable can be set to one of the following values:

  • FIRST: The generic names are searched before the more specialized ones (such as python2.5 for example).

  • LAST: The generic names are searched after the more specialized ones. This is the default.

  • NEVER: The generic name are not searched at all.

See also Python_FIND_STRATEGY.

Artifacts Specification

Added in version 3.16.

To solve special cases, it is possible to specify directly the artifacts by setting the following variables:

Python_EXECUTABLE

The path to the interpreter.

Python_COMPILER

The path to the compiler.

Python_DOTNET_LAUNCHER

Added in version 3.18.

The .Net interpreter. Only used by IronPython implementation.

Python_LIBRARY

The path to the library. It will be used to compute the variables Python_LIBRARIES, Python_LIBRARY_DIRS and Python_RUNTIME_LIBRARY_DIRS.

Python_SABI_LIBRARY

Added in version 3.26.

The path to the library for Stable Application Binary Interface. It will be used to compute the variables Python_SABI_LIBRARIES, Python_SABI_LIBRARY_DIRS and Python_RUNTIME_SABI_LIBRARY_DIRS.

Python_INCLUDE_DIR

The path to the directory of the Python headers. It will be used to compute the variable Python_INCLUDE_DIRS.

Python_NumPy_INCLUDE_DIR

The path to the directory of the NumPy headers. It will be used to compute the variable Python_NumPy_INCLUDE_DIRS.

Note

All paths must be absolute. Any artifact specified with a relative path will be ignored.

Note

When an artifact is specified, all HINTS will be ignored and no search will be performed for this artifact.

If more than one artifact is specified, it is the user's responsibility to ensure the consistency of the various artifacts.

By default, this module supports multiple calls in different directories of a project with different version/component requirements while providing correct and consistent results for each call. To support this behavior, CMake cache is not used in the traditional way which can be problematic for interactive specification. So, to enable also interactive specification, module behavior can be controlled with the following variable:

Python_ARTIFACTS_INTERACTIVE

Added in version 3.18.

Selects the behavior of the module. This is a boolean variable:

  • If set to TRUE: Create CMake cache entries for the above artifact specification variables so that users can edit them interactively. This disables support for multiple version/component requirements.

  • If set to FALSE or undefined: Enable multiple version/component requirements.

Commands

This module defines the command Python_add_library (when CMAKE_ROLE is PROJECT), which has the same semantics as add_library() and adds a dependency to target Python::Python or, when library type is MODULE, to target Python::Module or Python::SABIModule (when USE_SABI option is specified) and takes care of Python module naming rules:

Python_add_library (<name> [STATIC | SHARED | MODULE [USE_SABI <version>] [WITH_SOABI]]
                    <source1> [<source2> ...])

If the library type is not specified, MODULE is assumed.

Added in version 3.17: For MODULE library type, if option WITH_SOABI is specified, the module suffix will include the Python_SOABI value, if any.

Added in version 3.26: For MODULE type, if the option USE_SABI is specified, the preprocessor definition Py_LIMITED_API will be specified, as PRIVATE, for the target <name> with the value computed from <version> argument. The expected format for <version> is major[.minor], where each component is a numeric value. If minor component is specified, the version should be, at least, 3.2 which is the version where the Stable Application Binary Interface was introduced. Specifying only major version 3 is equivalent to 3.2.

When option WITH_SOABI is also specified, the module suffix will include the Python_SOSABI value, if any.

Added in version 3.30: For MODULE type, the DEBUG_POSTFIX target property is initialized with the value of Python_DEBUG_POSTFIX variable if defined.