Environment:TA Lib Ta lib python Python Build Environment

Knowledge Sources	ta-lib-python PyPI TA-Lib
Domains	Infrastructure, Financial_Analysis
Last Updated	2026-02-09 22:00 GMT

Overview

Python 3.9+ environment with NumPy, Cython 3.2.4, and a C compiler for building the TA-Lib Python wrapper extension module.

Description

This environment provides the build and runtime context for the TA-Lib Python wrapper. It requires a C compiler toolchain (GCC on Linux, Clang on macOS, MSVC on Windows) to compile the Cython-generated C extension (`talib/_ta_lib.c`). The build system uses setuptools with a custom `NumpyBuildExt` command that injects NumPy's include directory into the compilation step. At runtime, the compiled extension links against the TA-Lib C shared library and requires NumPy for array operations. Optional support for Pandas and Polars DataFrames/Series is provided through a wrapper decorator that transparently converts between these types and NumPy arrays.

Usage

Use this environment for building from source, running, or developing the TA-Lib Python wrapper. This is the mandatory prerequisite for all Implementation pages in this repository. If installing from a pre-built wheel (available since version 0.6.5), the C compiler and Cython are not required at install time, but Python 3.9+ and NumPy remain required at runtime.

System Requirements

Category	Requirement	Notes
OS	Linux, macOS, Windows, BSD, SunOS	Platform detection in `setup.py:16-49`
Hardware	Any x86_64, x86, arm64, aarch64	Wheels built for all architectures
C Compiler	GCC (Linux), Clang (macOS), MSVC (Windows)	Required only for source builds
Build Tools	CMake, Make	Required for building TA-Lib C library from source
Disk	Minimal	No large dataset or model storage required

Dependencies

System Packages

C compiler toolchain (GCC / Clang / MSVC)
`cmake` (for building TA-Lib C library)
`make` (for building TA-Lib C library)
`curl` and `unzip` (for downloading TA-Lib C source)
`python3-dev` (Linux, for Python headers)

Python Packages (Build)

`setuptools` (build backend)
`wheel` (wheel packaging)
`Cython` >= 3.2.4 (Cython-to-C compilation)
`numpy` (build-time include headers and runtime dependency)
`build` (PEP 517 build frontend)

Python Packages (Runtime)

`numpy` (required)
`pandas` (optional, for DataFrame/Series integration)
`polars` (optional, for DataFrame/Series integration)

Python Packages (Test)

`pytest`
`pandas`
`polars`

Python Packages (Development)

`beautifulsoup4`
`mistune`
`Pygments`
`build`
`cython`
`flake8` (linting)

Credentials

No credentials or API keys are required. All dependencies are publicly available.

Quick Install

# Install from pre-built wheel (easiest, no C compiler needed)
pip install TA-Lib

# OR install from source (requires TA-Lib C library + C compiler)
pip install numpy Cython setuptools wheel build
pip install TA-Lib --no-binary :all:

# Install optional DataFrame support
pip install pandas polars

# Install test dependencies
pip install -r requirements_test.txt

Code Evidence

Platform detection from `setup.py:16-49`:

if any(s in sys.platform for s in ['darwin', 'linux', 'bsd', 'sunos']):
    platform_supported = True
    include_dirs = [
        '/usr/include',
        '/usr/local/include',
        '/opt/include',
        '/opt/local/include',
        '/opt/homebrew/include',
        '/opt/homebrew/opt/ta-lib/include',
    ]
elif sys.platform == "win32":
    platform_supported = True
    lib_talib_name = 'ta-lib-static'
    include_dirs = [
        r"c:\ta-lib\c\include",
        r"c:\Program Files\TA-Lib\include",
        r"c:\Program Files (x86)\TA-Lib\include",
    ]

Environment variable override from `setup.py:51-55`:

if 'TA_INCLUDE_PATH' in os.environ:
    include_dirs = os.environ['TA_INCLUDE_PATH'].split(os.pathsep)

if 'TA_LIBRARY_PATH' in os.environ:
    library_dirs = os.environ['TA_LIBRARY_PATH'].split(os.pathsep)

Unsupported platform error from `setup.py:57-58`:

if not platform_supported:
    raise NotImplementedError(sys.platform)

Python version requirement from `pyproject.toml:40`:

requires-python = '>=3.9'

Build system requirements from `pyproject.toml:2`:

requires = ["setuptools", "wheel", "Cython", "numpy"]

Cython fallback from `setup.py:71-76`:

try:
    from Cython.Distutils import build_ext
    has_cython = True
except ImportError:
    from setuptools.command.build_ext import build_ext
    has_cython = False

Common Errors

Error Message	Cause	Solution
`Cannot find ta-lib library, installation may fail.`	TA-Lib C library not installed or not found in search paths	Install TA-Lib C library, or set `TA_LIBRARY_PATH` and `TA_INCLUDE_PATH` environment variables
`NotImplementedError: <platform>`	Unsupported operating system	Only Linux, macOS, Windows, BSD, SunOS are supported
`fatal error: ta-lib/ta_defs.h: No such file or directory`	TA-Lib C library headers not found	Install TA-Lib C library or set `TA_INCLUDE_PATH`
`fatal error: pyconfig.h: No such file or directory`	Python development headers missing	Install `python3-dev` package (e.g., `sudo apt-get install python3-dev`)
`unresolved external symbol TA_SetUnstablePeriod`	Linker cannot find TA-Lib C library	Install TA-Lib C library; on Windows, ensure 32/64-bit match
Build hangs	Insufficient memory on VM	Use at least 1-2 GB RAM; create a swapfile if needed
`No such file or directory` during `make`	Directory path contains spaces	Move source to a path without spaces

Compatibility Notes

Windows: Uses static library name `ta-lib-static` instead of `ta-lib`. Does not set `runtime_library_dirs`.
macOS (Apple Silicon): May require explicit architecture with `arch -arm64 brew install ta-lib` and setting `TA_INCLUDE_PATH`/`TA_LIBRARY_PATH` via Homebrew prefix.
macOS code signing: May encounter code signature errors; use `xcrun codesign` to fix.
Linux ARM64: May need `./configure --build=aarch64-unknown-linux-gnu` or updated `config.guess` for TA-Lib C.
Pre-built wheels: Available since v0.6.5 for Linux (x86_64, arm64), macOS (x86_64, arm64), Windows (x86_64, x86, arm64), Python 3.9-3.14.
PyPy: Not supported (skipped in wheel builds via `CIBW_SKIP: "pp*"`).
Free-threaded Python: Not supported (`cp313t*` and `cp314t*` skipped in wheel builds).
Conda: Can install via `conda install -c conda-forge ta-lib` and the C library via `conda install -c conda-forge libta-lib`.

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