Install blender as a module with python 3.5 and pyenv

install_blender_pyenv.md

#Install blender as a module with python 3.5 and pyenv

Tested on Ubuntu 14.04.

Setting up a new python environment using pyenv

Follow instructions from here.

Installing boost

Follow instructions from here.

Installing blender as a module

The instructions are mostly the same as the official installation instructions except for a few modifications specified below.

Install the python dependecies using pip:

pip install numpy
pip install requests

When blender is build as a module, the blender binary doesn't get built. So, first build blender as normal following these instructions. Run install_deps.sh to generate the cmake options. For example, build all libraries except for opensubdivision, opencollada and ffmpeg:

./blender/build_files/build_environment/install_deps.sh --source ./ --threads=4 --with-all --skip-osd --skip-ffmpeg

When using cmake, use the following python options (in addition to any other options returned from the command above that you need):

cmake -DPYTHON_VERSION=3.5 -DPYTHON_ROOT_DIR=~/.pyenv/versions/3.5.1 ../blender

Make sure to build it and install it:

make -j4
make install

This should have created the blender binary bin/blender. Now, build blender as a module as described in the original post (in addition to any other options):

cmake -DWITH_PLAYER=OFF -DWITH_PYTHON_INSTALL=OFF -DWITH_PYTHON_MODULE=ON ../blender

Build it an install it:

make -j4
make install

This should have created the python library bin/bpy.so.

I am trying to compile Blender to get the Python library. Everything goes well until compilation gets to 100% and I get an error like this:

[100%] Building C object source/creator/CMakeFiles/blender.dir/buildinfo.c.o
Linking CXX shared module ../../bin/bpy.so
/usr/bin/ld.gold: error: /opt/lib/python-3.5/lib/libpython3.5m.a(abstract.o): requires dynamic R_X86_64_PC32 reloc against 'PyType_IsSubtype' which may overflow at runtime; recompile with -fPIC

How can I resolve this issue?

You can fix this by rebuilding python as a shared library. Example using pyenv here

env PYTHON_CONFIGURE_OPTS='--enable-shared' pyenv install -v 3.5.4
pyenv rehash
pyenv shell 3.5.4
python -V

Then add -fPIC to CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS & CMAKE_C_FLAGS

cmake -DCMAKE_CXX_FLAGS="-fPIC" -DCMAKE_C_FLAGS="-fPIC" ../blender

Then make again

sudo make -j4
sudo make install -j4

Thank you for your guide @alexlee-gk and your addition @lvxejay.

I managed to create the python library, but not sure how I make my python installation able to access it globally.
Right now I compiled it in ~/bin/blender/build, should I copy any files to my pyenv site-packages or should I link it somehow?

Edit:
Just realized I forgot to add the options mentioned in the Local install part of official instructions.
Pointing to my own sites-packages fixed it for me!

@davidwessman I am stuck on the same step you were in Feb 20, except the official instructions have been taken down. Do you recall how to point to your site-packages? Trying to copy just bpy.so into my pyenv's site packages for the python distribution I used (anaconda3-5.2.0) I am able to import bpy, but immediately have errors thrown because it can't find any of the other dependencies.
Thanks!

@nfehrenbach I don't know the answer to your exact problem but you can still access the instructions at the old wiki: https://en.blender.org/index.php/User:Ideasman42/BlenderAsPyModule