Python, readline and OS X

[Ron Garret]

I have installed Python 2.5 on my new Intel Mac but I can't for the life
of me get readline to work. I have libreadline installed, I've tried
copying readline.so from my Python 2.3 installation into 2.5, I've
searched the web, and no joy. Could someone please give me a clue?

rg

 

[James Stroud]

I have installed Python 2.5 on my new Intel Mac but I can't for the life
of me get readline to work. I have libreadline installed, I've tried
copying readline.so from my Python 2.3 installation into 2.5, I've
searched the web, and no joy. Could someone please give me a clue?

rg

Where have you installed libreadline? Is LD_LIBRARY_PATH pointing to the
directory libreadline.dylib? Did you install libreadline with fink? If
so, try

setenv LD_LIBRARY_PATH /sw/lib

before compiling (csh).

Bash (OSX default) and similar shells use this silly 2 part syntax:

LD_LIBRARY_PATH=/sw/lib
export LD_LIBRARY_PATH

Do a "locate libreadline.dylib" and set the LD_LIBRARY_PATH to the
containing directory and then

make clean
./configure
make
make install

or similar.

 

[Irmen de Jong]

I have installed Python 2.5 on my new Intel Mac but I can't for the life
of me get readline to work. I have libreadline installed, I've tried
copying readline.so from my Python 2.3 installation into 2.5, I've
searched the web, and no joy. Could someone please give me a clue?

rg

Does the info in a blog article that I wrote help?

http://www.razorvine.net/frog/user/irmen/article/2006-05-08/87

I used this when I compiled my Python 2.5 on my mac, and
it seemed to work ;-)

I'm now using the python.org binary distribution though and that seems to
contain a working readline as well.... ?

--Irmen

 

[Ron Garret]

Does the info in a blog article that I wrote help?

http://www.razorvine.net/frog/user/irmen/article/2006-05-08/87

No, because I'm not using Fink. But maybe I can adapt your solution.

I used this when I compiled my Python 2.5 on my mac, and
it seemed to work ;-)

I'm now using the python.org binary distribution though and that seems to
contain a working readline as well.... ?

I'll try that too.

rg

 

[Ron Garret]

Where have you installed libreadline?
/usr/local/lib

Is LD_LIBRARY_PATH pointing to the directory libreadline.dylib?

It wasn't, but changing it so it did didn't fix the problem. (I didn't
try recompiling Python, just running it. I'll try rebuilding later.)

Did you install libreadline with fink?

No, I just got the source from the FSF and did ./configure ; make install

Bash (OSX default) and similar shells use this silly 2 part syntax:

LD_LIBRARY_PATH=/sw/lib
export LD_LIBRARY_PATH

Actually you can do it in one line: export LD_LIBRARY_PATH=whatever

Do a "locate libreadline.dylib" and set the LD_LIBRARY_PATH to the
containing directory and then

make clean
./configure
make
make install

or similar.

I'll give that a whirl. Thanks.

rg

 

[James Stroud]

It wasn't, but changing it so it did didn't fix the problem. (I didn't
try recompiling Python, just running it. I'll try rebuilding later.)

You must re-compile python, starting with configure so that configure
can identify the readline libraries. Otherwise it will compile with no
readline, which is your current situation

>
Actually you can do it in one line: export LD_LIBRARY_PATH=whatever

Ok. Now I'll switch to bash.

James

 

[Ron Garret]

You must re-compile python, starting with configure so that configure
can identify the readline libraries. Otherwise it will compile with no
readline, which is your current situation

That did the trick. Thanks!

rg

 

[Mark Asbach]

Hi James, hi Ron,

Where have you installed libreadline? Is LD_LIBRARY_PATH pointing to the
directory libreadline.dylib? Did you install libreadline with fink? If
so, try

setenv LD_LIBRARY_PATH /sw/lib

That would probably make no difference since on Mac OS X that variable
is called DYLD_LIBRARY_PATH (contrary to SysV Unices).

Bash (OSX default) and similar shells use this silly 2 part syntax:

LD_LIBRARY_PATH=/sw/lib
export LD_LIBRARY_PATH

It's just your way of using it that makes it a 2 part syntax:

export DYLD_LIBRARY_PATH=/sw/lib

does the trick. And by the way: the bash construct is far less error
prone regarding quoting when used in shell scripts.

Mark