freetype not found, although freetype6 is installed about maxfield

[tvwenger]

pip would find it if you had it installed. Maybe you don't have the dev version? See this stackoverflow answer:

https://stackoverflow.com/questions/20533426/ubuntu-running-pip-install-gives-error-the-following-required-packages-can-no

[mesmerus]

Jesus Christ, could you have tried to be more snooty?

First of all, I do have it installed -- the exact version I listed. Secondly, no I don't have the dev version -- the dev version is not normally installed except by people doing development work. That begs the question why the dev version is required, or where/how this can be overridden. Which was one of the first things I tried, and you completely glossed over it.

The stack overflow link also does no job of explaining why the dev branch is required, merely stating that pip won't install from apt/deb sources (no shit), and providing example commands to install the dev branch specifically.

The response I got amounted to "You should install the deb branch instead", and having closed the issue without so much as why the dev package is required. That is absolutely the worst response I've ever gotten from anyone on github.

Clearly, you have no idea why the dev build is required, and couldn't care less, having just overtaken it from Mr. Baker, slapping a webfront on it, and not caring further.

For Christ's sake, you could have said "Oh, you actually need the dev build instead", since that isn't listed anywhere in your prerequisites and most people don't just have dev builds installed for no damn reason out of the gate.

Thanks, I guess. I'll just clone the code and fix the issue when I have the time to do so.

[tvwenger]

I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to come off snooty. I am genuinely trying to help, and I’m sure installing the dev version of libfreetype will solve your problem.

The problem you’re having is with installing matplotlib via pip. pip downloads the package data and builds the package in your environment. When pip compiles matplotlib, it needs the necessary header files. One of those header files is part of libfreetype, and the header files are only included in the dev version of libfreetype. As you say, you should only need the dev version if you’re developing, and in this case you are “developing” because you’re compiling software.

Anybody who installs matplotlib, for this application or any other, also needs libfreetype-dev.

Again, I’m sorry for coming off short.

[mesmerus]

I appreciate the change in tone; that was a much nicer way of putting it.

I haven't had time to try the dev package, but assume you're correct. I'll report back if it doesn't fix the issue when I next look at it.

If I may make a suggestion, that should be in the requirements listing. I personally wasn't expecting pip to compile matplotlib, as I assumed the images were just an overlay with imagemagik or such. That may prevent additional confusion in the future. :)