Newbie compiler/pathname/library issue

[marieblasdell]

Hi! I'm trying to experiment with embedding Python in C++. I'm using
server space where I don't have the permissions to install or change
anything, so I have to figure out what's where, and I know very little
about navigating through a linux system.

At first, my bare-bones program failed because it couldn't find
<Python.h>

locate Python.h
gives me:
/usr/include/python2.3/Python.h

I changed my program to:

#include </usr/include/python2.3/Python.h>

int main( void )
{
        Py_Initialize();
        Py_Finalize();
return 0;
}

I assume there's probably a better way than including the pathname in
the include, but it recognized Python.h, but still found undefined
references to Py_Initialize and Finalize.

I tried compiling with the command:

g++ -L/usr/include/python2.3 test.cpp

and got the same 'undefined references' message.

I tried compiling with the commands:

g++ -L/usr/include/python2.3 -lpython2.3 test.cpp
or
g++ -L/usr/lib/python2.3 -lpython2.3 test.cpp

and got the message:

/usr/lib/gcc-lib/i486-slackware-linux/3.2.3/../../../../i486-slackware-linux/bin
/ld: cannot find -lpython2.3

I'd appreciate any advice that'd point me in the right direction. The
instructions for embedding Python that I've found just say something
along the lines of: 'Let your compiler know the pathname and where to
find the libraries'....without any specifics.

Thank you,
Marie