gistfile1.py

import subprocess
import sys

try:
    policy = subprocess.check_output(['apt-cache', 'policy', 'python-dev'])
    if 'Installed: (none)' in policy:
        print("ERROR: no python dev package installed")
        print("Please run: sudo apt-get install python-dev")
        sys.exit(1)
except OSError:
    try:
        subprocess.check_output(['rpm', '-qi', 'python-devel'])
    except subprocess.CalledProcessError:
        print("ERROR: no python dev package installed")
        print("Please run: sudo yum install python-devel")
    except OSError:
        print("NOTICE: OS detection failed, assuming Python dev packages")
        print("If you see an error about Python.h, install your OS's python dev package")