Python (Win 10): Installing matplotlib requires packages "freetype" and "png"? - python-2.7

I've been trying to install Python's matplotlib library for use with PyPlot, for use with Julia. I managed to get everything in place except for this one final library, and I feel as though I've hit a deadend trying to get it working.
When trying to install matplotlib (I've attempted using pip, regular python install, and easy_install), I get the following message at the very end of the install output, after which it is NOT installed:
* The following required packages can not be built:
* freetype, png
Confused about this, I looked around online and installed both of these (at least, what I think these were). One was the freetype project, and the other was LibPng, which was the closest thing I could find to a "png package" for windows or python in general.
This didn't initially work (for either of them), and I read somewhere that I needed a freetype.dll in my system32 folder. It was a long shot, but I went to where I installed freetype and pulled out the dll and renamed it, placing it in system32. This of course did not work (again, long shot).
Anyway, that's where I'm at. No idea where to go from here, and I'm unsure if I even grabbed the correct "packages" I should be using. Thoughts?

Use a more powerful installer
I would recommend to use Anaconda or Miniconda. In my experience with many Windows users, this is the simplest way to install packages such as matplotlib.
Anaconda
Anaconda comes with many packages for scientists. Matplotlib works out of the box. Just install as user not root.
Minoconda
If you don't want all packages of Ananconda use Miniconda
Conda
Both ways of installation (Anaconda or Miniconda) provide conda. It is an improved pip/virtualenv.
You can install matplotilb with this command:
conda install matplotlib
Enviroments:
You can create a new environment and install the packages you like:
conda create -n my_project35 python=3.5
activate my_project35
conda install matplotlib
or
conda create -n my_project27 python=2.7
activate my_project27
conda install matplotlib
Combine with pip
You can still use pip. conda "understands" what it is doing.

One snake is enough!
[This is for folks using the Linux Bash Shell on Windows 10.]
If you don't want to go the Anaconda route, you can install freetype (and png) by executing the following in the Windows 10 Bash shell:
sudo apt-get install freetype6-dev
The above command will also automatically install libpng. However, due to an error, the system will not 'realize' it has installed freetype, so you'll need to manually install pkg-config:
sudo apt-get install pkg-config
Thereafter you should be able to install matplotlib via pip without further incident.
sudo pip install matplotlib

I tired downloading matplotlib 2.2.2 with python 3.9.5, getting freetype & png errors for hours.
After downloading python 3.7.9 and removing python 3.9.5 from environment variables, installing matplotlib 2.2.2 worked with no problems!

Change your Python Version
Go to https://www.python.org/downloads/windows/, control-f search 3.7.9 and use the webinstaller. Follow all the recommended instructions
In pyvenv.cfg in your project directory switch version number to 3.7.9 and home to C:.....\Python37.
pip3 install alpaca-backtrader-api

Related

New point of view: pip dealing with multiple Python versions, Canopy, Anaconda on Linux

Using pip with different Python version is a common problem, as I see when I search the Internet. There are a lot of answers around, also in this forum. However nobody seems to encounter the same problem that I have:
I use Canopy python most and it was installed first. Later I installed Anaconda. Now when I try to install a program with pip it always install it in Canopy (or refuse to install it because it is already installed in Canopy.
for example:
$ pip install ipython
gives:
Requirement already satisfied...
but there are no ipython in my Anaconda-folder, it is in the /Enthought/Canopy_64bit/... folder
How can I overcome this problem?
Both versions are 2.7 and even if one is 2.7.11 and the other 2.7.12, it did not work to distinguish between the two by this.
Maybe you can try the following.
Find where both pip-s reside (whereis pip, I have it on ~/anaconda2/bin), then cd to the pip directory of the python version you want, and execute it from there.
I manage with the help of J. Corson comment:
When you want to use a particular Python installation, activate the desired environment. In my chase
source /home/per/anaconda_ete/bin/activate
then using pip made the installation in the anaconda python and I could install ipython and other stuff there... fine, thanks!

lapack/blas-related error when trying to add scipy to miniconda-installed copy of python 2.7.10 on RedHat 6

I have two versions of python on my RedHat 6 machine: 2.7.8 that came with the system originally and 2.7.10 that I've installed using miniconda for a project. I have to use the newer version to run some demo code for another project. The demo script produced this error:
ImportError: No module named scipy.sparse
Running pip install scipy failed with a bunch of warnings and then this:
numpy.distutils.system_info.NotFoundError: no lapack/blas resources found
numpy is already installed. That is, I get Requirement already satisfied when trying to pip install numpy.
The yum install command recommended on the SciPy install page completed fine but did not help, probably because this python version is installed at a non-default location.
Same result after building blas and lapack from source as described here
How do I get scipy to install properly?
Thx
I think you don't have lapack/blas library.
try this.
yum install python-devel python-nose python-setuptools gcc gcc-gfortran gcc-c++ blas-devel lapack-devel atlas-devel
it will install all what you need.
If you use Anaconda/miniconda, then use the conda package manager, not pip:
conda install scipy.
Value of a Peace of mind once starting always from a [Defined state]
There are many issues with pip / yum installer strategies that we, mortals, can spend ages on our attempts to get resolved.
Since I started to use the Travis Oliphant's Anaconda fully-fledged package-manager, these dependency-related / version-colliding issues simply disappeared. Well did not disappear, but principally do not appear.
Why?
Anaconda package-manager both allows one to keep separate versions ready / reconfigurable via Anaconda for individual python launches
and
Anaconda resolves updates in a smart way, one would never experience with manual/semi-manual pip/yum installers
In other words, if you strive to get rid of issues, opt to install Anaconda and start using it's (parallel) multi-versions installation / setup controls and it's smart package-manager facilities.
n.b.: this is not a commercial/spam/PR, this is just personal experience after many years of troubles with individual package updates' collisions / compatibility back-testing troubles in multi-py 2.5 / 2.6 / 2.7 installations environments

How to use -pip- to install packages that can work with Anaconda?

I am trying to install some additional packages that do not come with Anaconda. All of these packages can be installed using pip install PackageName. However, when I type this command at the Anaconda Command Prompt, I get the following error:
Fatal error in launcher: Unable to create process using '"C:\Python27\python.exe
" "C:\python27\scripts\pip.exe" install MechanicalSoup'
I also tried to run the command from the python interpreter after import pip but that also did not work (I got a SyntaxError: invalid syntax).
I am a noob and understand that this might be a very basic question so thanks for your help in advance!
PS: I am using Windows 7, 64 bit, conda version: 3.7.1 and python version: 2.7.6.
When installing anaconda, you are asked if you want to include the installed python to your system PATH variable. Make sure you have it in your PATH. If everything is set up correct, you can run pip from your regular command prompt aswell.
Using #heinzchr's and #mmann's suggestions I was able to piece together the problem. I already had a version of Python 2.7 saved at C:\Python27 and I had to remove this from the Path (My Computer's properties> Advanced system settings> System variables> Path). I can now use pip install from the command line.
There is a way around the use of pip
From the anaconda terminal window you can run:
conda install PackageName
Because MechanicalSoup isn't in one of anaconda's package channels you will have to do a bit of editing
See instructions near the bottom on their blog
For those looking for Python packages not added to current channels in anaconda, try https://conda-forge.org/ For example, if you want to install MechanicalSoup you'll find it at https://anaconda.org/conda-forge/mechanicalsoup and use the -c option to tell conda the channel to use:
conda install -c conda-forge mechanicalsoup

Matplotlib install issues. Pip Centos - Freetype "Missing" when it is installed

I am using a virtualenv for a django setup. I am trying to build a view that pulls data from logs and then graphs the data. Eventually I would like to have this real-time and live. If you have any recommendations on other solutions that would suit my project best, please do not hesitate to include them in the comment fields below.
I have attempted to install matplotlib from pip using pip install matplotlib.
I receive the following message:
* The following required packages can not be built:
* freetype
I then validated that it was installed
yum install freetype
Package freetype-2.3.11-14.el6_3.1.x86_64 already installed and latest version
I then found that there is a python-matplotlib which is an older version .99. However, I want to keep this inside of the virtual environment and not system wide.
find / -name *freetype*
/var/lib/yum/yumdb/f/d2807dcfe3762c0b9f8ef1d9bf0f05788e73282a-freetype-2.3.11-14.el6_3.1- x86_64
/usr/lib64/libfreetype.so.6.3.22
/usr/lib64/libfreetype.so.6
/usr/share/doc/freetype-2.3.11
I searched all over stackoverflow and only saw solutions for ubuntu which did not transfer over to centos.
Thank you for your time,
John
pip is going to compile matlibplot on your local machine, so you'll need freetype development headers installed as well.
CentOS 6+, Fedora, etc.:
$ sudo yum -y install freetype freetype-devel libpng-devel
On older operating systems (e.g. CentOS 5), you may run into a more specific freetype versioning issue with newer releases of matlibplot. If you're version agnostic, sticking with a legacy 1.3.x release will negate these dependency issues:
$ pip install matplotlib==1.3.1
Please note, you may need to downgrade your numpy to 1.8 in order to make matplotlib 1.3 work.
$ pip install numpy==1.8
Good luck!
I have just had a similar (albeit not exactly the same) situation. I'll write it up here as this page comes up among the first search results.
CentOS 5
pip install matplotlib complains about freetype
Both freetype and freetype-devel are installed.
~/.pip/pip.log provides the explanation of the problem. There is the line:
freetype: no [Requires freetype2 2.3 or later. Found 2.2.1.]
Obviously, the solution is either to upgrade freetype or downgrade matplotlib.
The second is easier (assuming I am OK with the older version).
pip install matplotlib==1.3.1 works fine.
On the matplotlib installation, this is what I did. Not sure if this is going to help you. Just followed the steps here:
http://pkgs.org/centos-6/centos-x86_64/python-matplotlib-0.99.1.2-1.el6.x86_64.rpm.html
I did not use pip, btw and have CentOS 6.4.
I had this happen to me in two different situations, see if yours is one of them:
freetype was installed, but not in the $PATH yet. Just exiting the shell and starting a new one fixed this.
I was building matplotlib from source, and trying to build from the master branch. After I switched to v1.3.x it correctly detected freetype.

How to Install Matplotlib Basemap Module on Windows 7 with WinPython (or any Python stack install)?

I've found that the Basemap (module for matplotlib and Python) binary installer for Windows cannot detect Python on the system when Python is installed as part of a stack install, like Anaconda or WinPython. The installer exits, rather than allow you to point to the directory of installation.
I have to therefore install via source. However, I don't know the method to do this. The Readme.txt and install instructions don't seem to help. They simply instruct to "install geos-3.3.3 first" - well, how exactly? I don't see a setup.py in that directory.
Any help would be great. (Python 2.7, Win 7, 64b)
I use windows. And my installation failed with official guidance, too.
Finally I installed Basemap using the following method. Although I am not sure if it will go right for you, I just offer mine.
First of all, you must have pip in your computer. (It is much easier
to install, compared with Basemap and other things. And it can be
used to install many useful packages.)
Then go this great link: http://www.lfd.uci.edu/~gohlke/pythonlibs/
And download the file named "basemap‑1.1.0‑cp27‑cp27m‑win32.whl".
Move the .whl file to directory "C:\Python27". (Maybe you
installed your python in different disk, then change it
accordingly.)
Open terminal. (Use cmd or Git Bash or something else.)
Use command:
pip install basemap‑1.1.0‑cp27‑cp27m‑win32.whl
The following worked for me using Python 3.10.1.
Setup environment using terminal in Visual Studio Code (https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/python/python-tutorial):
py -3 -m venv .venv
Set-ExecutionPolicy -ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned -Scope Process
.venv\scripts\activate
Install basemap using pip:
pip install matplotlib
pip install basemap-data
pip install basemap-data-hires
pip install basemap
Create file with code from: https://matplotlib.org/basemap/users/examples.html
Remember to select the correct interpreter (In VSCode use Ctrl+Shift+P to select interpreter).
That's it.