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GeezerVison is showing github.com — gh-88130: Document macOS library search limits for ctypes.CDLL by mesubash · Pull Request #161624 · python/cpython

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@mesubash

@mesubash mesubash commented Nov 8, 2026 •
edited by bedevere-app Bot
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On macOS, CDLL with a relative name may only search system locations such as /usr/lib, so libraries in /usr/local/lib, ~/lib or ~/Library/Frameworks are not found. This adds a short note under CDLL saying to pass the full path, and that DYLD_LIBRARY_PATH / DYLD_FRAMEWORK_PATH help only for some executables.

The test results behind each sentence are in my comment on the issue: #88130 (comment)

I left out find_library(). It found the library in every test, but the docs call it soft deprecated. Happy to add a mention if you think it belongs here.

  • Issue: ctypes CDLL search path issue on MacOS #88130

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@mesubash
pythongh-88130: Document macOS library search limits for ctypes.CDLL
01c97fb
Copilot AI balanced review requested due to automatic review settings November 8, 2026 16:29
@python-cla-bot

python-cla-bot Bot commented Nov 8, 2026 •
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@bedevere-app bedevere-app Bot added awaiting review docs Documentation in the Doc dir labels Nov 8, 2026
@bedevere-app bedevere-app Bot mentioned this pull request Nov 8, 2026
ctypes CDLL search path issue on MacOS #88130
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Copilot was unable to review this pull request because the user who requested the review has insufficient remaining quota. Try requesting a review at a lower effort level.

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@github-project-automation github-project-automation Bot added this to Docs PRs Nov 8, 2026
@github-project-automation github-project-automation Bot moved this to Todo in Docs PRs Nov 8, 2026
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read-the-docs-community Bot commented Nov 8, 2026

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Documentation build overview

📚 cpython-previews | 🛠️ Build #35735913 | 📁 Comparing 01c97fb against main (7271803)

  🔍 Preview build  

2 files changed
± library/ctypes.html
± whatsnew/changelog.html
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@encukou encukou added the skip news label Nov 9, 2026
ZeroIntensity
ZeroIntensity requested changes Nov 11, 2026
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Comment thread Misc/NEWS.d/next/Documentation/2026-11-08-16-26-47.gh-issue-88130.JVOGb1.rst

@ZeroIntensity ZeroIntensity Nov 11, 2026

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Docs-only changes don't need changelog entries, so please remove this.

(This blurb section is badly named, sorry! It's meant for changes to the build script and such.)

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Comment thread Doc/library/ctypes.rst
Comment on lines +1587 to +1593
On macOS, a *name* that is not an absolute path may only be searched
for in system locations such as :file:`/usr/lib`. Libraries and
frameworks in folders like :file:`/usr/local/lib`, :file:`~/lib` or
:file:`~/Library/Frameworks` are then not found, so pass the full path.
Setting :envvar:`!DYLD_LIBRARY_PATH` or :envvar:`!DYLD_FRAMEWORK_PATH`
before starting Python adds search locations, but macOS ignores these
variables for some executables.

@ZeroIntensity ZeroIntensity Nov 11, 2026

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I agree with Petr that we should be more explicit about the fact that ctypes.CDLL calls dlopen, and thus inherits any quirks from the system-level function. Once we've done that, I'm not sure it's necessary to document all the individual quirks of what a given OS does.

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@bedevere-app bedevere-app Bot removed the awaiting review label Nov 11, 2026
@bedevere-app

bedevere-app Bot commented Nov 11, 2026

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A Python core developer has requested some changes be made to your pull request before we can consider merging it. If you could please address their requests along with any other requests in other reviews from core developers that would be appreciated.

Once you have made the requested changes, please leave a comment on this pull request containing the phrase I have made the requested changes; please review again. I will then notify any core developers who have left a review that you're ready for them to take another look at this pull request.
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@bedevere-app bedevere-app Bot added the awaiting changes label Nov 11, 2026
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@mesubash @ZeroIntensity @encukou
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