Import Error Matlab Engine in Python

Hello,

when I try to install the Matlab Engine in Python I receive the following error:

OSError: Please reinstall MATLAB Engine for Python or contact MathWorks Technical Support for assistance: /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libstdc++.so.6: version `GLIBCXX_3.4.22' not found (required by /usr/local/MATLAB/R2018a/extern/engines/python/dist/matlab/engine/glnxa64/../../../../../../../bin/glnxa64/libmwengine_api.so

I first tried to isntall it, as it is recommended on the MathWorks Website: https://de.mathworks.com/help/matlab/matlab_external/install-the-matlab-engine-for-python.html

Then I also tried to use instad of

python setup.py install

This command:

python setup.py build --build-base=$(mktemp -d) install

Which also result in the same error message when I want to run the code. I use Python 3.5.2 and MATLAB R2018a with Ubuntu 16.04.

Does someone has an idea how to solve it?

Thank you very much in advance!

Answer 1

[Han Du]

The issue is probably because of the the default GCC version on Ubuntu 16.04 which is GCC 5.3.1. As of MATLAB R2018a, MATLAB external interfaces required to use GCC 6.3.x on Linux distributions. If the G++ libraries are upgraded to the required version, the dependencies will be resolved and the library can be imported into Python as normal.

Please execute the below commands on the Linux Terminal for upgrading the gcc version on Debian distributions like Ubuntu:

$ LD_LIBRARY_PATH=/usr/local/lib64/:$LD_LIBRARY_PATH
$ export LD_LIBRARY_PATH
$ sudo apt-add-repository ppa:ubuntu-toolchain-r/test
$ sudo apt-get update
$ sudo apt-get install gcc-6 g++-6

Please note that upgrading gcc might effect other applications running on the computer.

Please see the following documentation page for further reference: https://www.mathworks.com/support/compilers.html

[Vit Kolar]

Hello, I get OSError: Please reinstall MATLAB Engine for Python on windows installation. Any help on Win please?