ImportError: cannot import name pynestkernel

Question

So I spend last night trying to install nest (and pynest) to use with PyNN, and I am currently stuck. When I try to import nest I get:

>>> import nest
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "<stdin>", line 1, in <module>
  File "/opt/local/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/site-packages/nest/__init__.py", line 52, in <module>
    from . import pynestkernel as _kernel
ImportError: cannot import name pynestkernel

However, when I make the make installcheck it passes all the pynest tests. I am using OS x Yosemite, and I did a new install of python 2.7.9 using macport.

Tried:

easy_install python-nest

Now I am getting a new error.

Getting:

>>> import pyNN.nest as sim

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "<pyshell#0>", line 1, in <module>
    import pyNN.nest as sim
  File "/Library/Python/2.7/site-packages/pyNN/nest/__init__.py", line 13, in <module>
from pyNN.nest import simulator
  File "/Library/Python/2.7/site-packages/pyNN/nest/simulator.py", line 500, in <module>
state = _State()  # a Singleton, so only a single instance ever exists
  File "/Library/Python/2.7/site-packages/pyNN/nest/simulator.py", line 60, in __init__
self._cache_num_processes = nest.GetKernelStatus()['num_processes'] # avoids blocking if only some nodes call num_processes
AttributeError: 'module' object has no attribute 'GetKernelStatus'

Malik Brahimi · Answer 1 · 2015-01-24T16:45:16.360

1

Try using setuptools to install nest with easy_install python-nest.

edited Jan 24 '15 at 16:45

answered Jan 24 '15 at 13:12

Malik Brahimi

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easy_install installs only up to version 1.3. Nest is currently in version 2.6 Thanks for the suggestion nonetheless. – Tiagojdferreira Jan 24 '15 at 16:36
Then use `easy_install python-nest` – Malik Brahimi Jan 24 '15 at 16:42
Tried that. Now I am getting a new error. Check question for details – Tiagojdferreira Jan 25 '15 at 15:40
Then run `easy_install PyNN` and `easy_install python-nest`. – Malik Brahimi Jan 25 '15 at 15:43
At this point, I recommend installing the source and running through `python setup.py install`. – Malik Brahimi Jan 25 '15 at 17:00

meduz · Answer 2 · 2021-12-01T09:20:16.080

I am trying something similar, with the further goal of having it working with python 3. So far I used the following commands:

git clone https://github.com/nest/nest-simulator.git
cd nest-simulator
cmake -DCMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX:PATH=/usr/local/nest -DPYTHON_EXECUTABLE=/usr/local/bin/python3 -DPYTHON_INCLUDE_DIR=/usr/local/Cellar/python3/3.5.1/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/3.5/include/python3.5m -DPYTHON_LIBRARY=/usr/local/Cellar/python3/3.5.1/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/3.5/lib/libpython3.5.dylib .
make
make install

which runs without errors and I can happily run nest. Iam still having troubles running pyNN (see https://laurentperrinet.github.io/sciblog/posts/2016-06-01-compiling-and-using-pynn-%2B-nest-%2B-python3.html)

ImportError: cannot import name pynestkernel

2 Answers2