# Python IDE autocompletion for upcoming VTK 9.1
**URL:** https://discourse.vtk.org/t/python-ide-autocompletion-for-upcoming-vtk-9-1/6708
**Category:** Development
**Created:** [September 27, 2021, 9:27pm UTC](https://discourse.vtk.org/t/python-ide-autocompletion-for-upcoming-vtk-9-1/6708 "2021-09-27T21:27:38Z")
**Posts on this page:** 11
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@dgobbi](https://discourse.vtk.org/u/dgobbi)
#### Post date: [September 30, 2021, 3:20pm UTC](https://discourse.vtk.org/t/python-ide-autocompletion-for-upcoming-vtk-9-1/6708/21 "2021-09-30T15:20:11Z")
> [@will.schroeder](#):
>
> /usr/local/lib/libpython3.6m.a
For shared VTK builds, a shared libpython is needed. If you build Python yourself, use `--enable-shared` when you configure it.
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### Author:  [@will.schroeder](https://discourse.vtk.org/u/will.schroeder)
#### Post date: [September 30, 2021, 3:24pm UTC](https://discourse.vtk.org/t/python-ide-autocompletion-for-upcoming-vtk-9-1/6708/22 "2021-09-30T15:24:02Z")
I never build python, I just use the system install. However I’m going to clean my python environment, it’s likely I have different versions around and confusion is the result.
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### Author:  [@dgobbi](https://discourse.vtk.org/u/dgobbi)
#### Post date: [September 30, 2021, 3:43pm UTC](https://discourse.vtk.org/t/python-ide-autocompletion-for-upcoming-vtk-9-1/6708/23 "2021-09-30T15:43:18Z")
Hi Will, there’s something funny going on because “/usr/local/lib/libpython3.6m.a” is not where ubuntu puts libpython. The system’s python should be in “/usr/lib”.
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### Author:  [@will.schroeder](https://discourse.vtk.org/u/will.schroeder)
#### Post date: [September 30, 2021, 4:06pm UTC](https://discourse.vtk.org/t/python-ide-autocompletion-for-upcoming-vtk-9-1/6708/24 "2021-09-30T16:06:50Z")
I’m building from scratch, I’ve removed a lot of junk. Thanks for the help, I’m hopeful that this will fix it.
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### Author:  [@will.schroeder](https://discourse.vtk.org/u/will.schroeder)
#### Post date: [September 30, 2021, 5:07pm UTC](https://discourse.vtk.org/t/python-ide-autocompletion-for-upcoming-vtk-9-1/6708/25 "2021-09-30T17:07:23Z")
I’m good now, my python environment needed some love. Thanks,
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### Author:  [@amaclean](https://discourse.vtk.org/u/amaclean)
#### Post date: [October 1, 2021, 1:22am UTC](https://discourse.vtk.org/t/python-ide-autocompletion-for-upcoming-vtk-9-1/6708/26 "2021-10-01T01:22:58Z")
@dgobbi as a first step, do you see any issues replacing `import vtk` in the Python examples with `import vtkmodules.all as vtk`?
My thinking here is that users using IDEs will get a list of options etc., (which they don’t get with just `import vtk`), and this will facilitate learning/comprehension when experimenting.
The second step would be to gradually replace `import vtkmodules.all as vtk` with just the relevant imports. This does bring it more into line with C++ usage.
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### Author:  [@dgobbi](https://discourse.vtk.org/u/dgobbi)
#### Post date: [October 1, 2021, 1:32am UTC](https://discourse.vtk.org/t/python-ide-autocompletion-for-upcoming-vtk-9-1/6708/27 "2021-10-01T01:32:56Z")
> [@amaclean](#):
>
> replacing `import vtk` in the Python examples
I think that’s a great idea.
To satisfy my own curiosity, I tried it with vim-jedi but its autocompletion was slooow for the vtk module (too much stuff inside, must not cache efficiently). Importing just the needed modules was definitely faster.
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### Author:  [@amaclean](https://discourse.vtk.org/u/amaclean)
#### Post date: [October 1, 2021, 1:36am UTC](https://discourse.vtk.org/t/python-ide-autocompletion-for-upcoming-vtk-9-1/6708/28 "2021-10-01T01:36:58Z")
Thanks, I’l do it.
There is also a significant improvement in importing just the needed modules in Windows!
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### Author:  [@dgobbi](https://discourse.vtk.org/u/dgobbi)
#### Post date: [October 1, 2021, 1:44am UTC](https://discourse.vtk.org/t/python-ide-autocompletion-for-upcoming-vtk-9-1/6708/29 "2021-10-01T01:44:45Z")
Well, Linux loads executables and shared libraries/modules by memory-mapping. So loading a library/module for a second time is essentially free, even if the module is huge. The module persists in RAM until memory pressure causes it to swap out.
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### Author:  [@ben.boeckel](https://discourse.vtk.org/u/ben.boeckel)
#### Post date: [October 1, 2021, 2:24am UTC](https://discourse.vtk.org/t/python-ide-autocompletion-for-upcoming-vtk-9-1/6708/30 "2021-10-01T02:24:23Z")
[This issue](https://gitlab.kitware.com/vtk/vtk/-/issues/17435) is “tracking” the porting of the test suite as well.
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### Author:  [@amaclean](https://discourse.vtk.org/u/amaclean)
#### Post date: [October 1, 2021, 4:04am UTC](https://discourse.vtk.org/t/python-ide-autocompletion-for-upcoming-vtk-9-1/6708/31 "2021-10-01T04:04:40Z")
@ben.boeckel At least we now have a script that users can use to get a list of the needed modules.
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