FindPython — CMake 4.1.4 Documentation

# 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`.

Changed in version 4.1: In a cross-compiling mode (i.e. the `CMAKE_CROSSCOMPILING` variable is defined to true), the following constraints, when the policy `CMP0190` is set to `NEW`, now apply to the requested components:

- `Interpreter` or `Compiler` alone: the host artifacts will be searched.

- `Interpreter` or `Compiler` with `Development` or any sub-component: The target artifacts will be searched. In this case, the `CMAKE_CROSSCOMPILING_EMULATOR` variable must be defined and will be used to execute the interpreter or the compiler.

When both host and target artifacts are needed, two different calls to the `find_package()` command should be done. The `Python_ARTIFACTS_PREFIX` variable can be helpful in this situation.

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`

  Added in version 3.30.

  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.

`Python_ARTIFACTS_PREFIX`

  Added in version 4.0.

  Define a custom prefix which will be used for the definition of all the result variables, targets, and commands. By using this variable, this module supports multiple calls in the same directory with different version/component requirements. For example, in case of cross-compilation, development components are needed but the native python interpreter can also be required:

      find_package(Python COMPONENTS Development)

      set(Python_ARTIFACTS_PREFIX "_HOST")
      find_package(Python COMPONENTS Interpreter)

      # Here Python_HOST_EXECUTABLE and Python_HOST::Interpreter artifacts are defined

  Note

  For consistency with standard behavior of modules, the various standard `_FOUND` variables (i.e. without the custom prefix) are also defined by each call to the `find_package()` command.

## 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.