Error installing Python Image Library using pip on

Question

I want to install PIL on Mavericks using pip but get this error.

_imagingft.c:73:10: fatal error: 'freetype/fterrors.h' file not found
#include <freetype/fterrors.h>
         ^
1 error generated.
error: command 'cc' failed with exit status 1

My Command Line Tools are installed and up to date and every hint I found didn't help. How can I get this to compile?

EDIT: I just checked, freetype is also already installed via homebrew

Answer 1

I just solved this using the steps described in this Stackoverflow answer. Seems this is Xcode's fault for installing freetype in strange locations.

Answer 2

Instead of symlinking to a specific version of freetype2, do this:

ln -s /usr/local/include/freetype2 /usr/local/include/freetype

This saves you the trouble of recreating the symlink whenever you upgrade freetype2.

Answer 3

After many attempts, I solved this problem compiling the PIL without freetype support. To do that, I simply unlinked from my $PATH using brew unlink freetype and then, pip install PIL==1.1.7.

Answer 4

In my OSx, I found the .h file in /opt/local/include/freetype2 direcoty. So, I type

sudo ln -s /opt/local/include/freetype2/ /usr/local/include/freetype

it works

Maybe the best way is to add /opt/local/include to your clang's include path.

Answer 5

With macports, the solution that worked for me:

sudo port install freetype
sudo ln -s /opt/local/include/freetype2 /opt/local/include/freetype

And then re-run the PIL build process.

Answer 6

I've solved this problem with this symlink:

ln -s /usr/local/Cellar/freetype/2.5.1/include/freetype2 /usr/local/include/freetype

I have freetype already installed via homebrew too.