Why do I receive a "version `GLIBCXX_3.4.29' not found" error when installing the MATLAB Engine API for Python?

I am using MATLAB R2024b on a Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 machine, and I have tried to install the MATLAB Engine API for Python.

However, I am receiving the following error:

"ImportError: /lib64/libstdc++.so.6: version `GLIBCXX_3.4.29' not found (required by <custom_path>/MATLAB/R2024b/extern/bin/glnxa64/matlabmultidimarrayforpython.abi3.so)".

The system installation of libstdc++ on my machine is up to date, but only links up to GLIBCXX_3.4.25.

Why am I receiving this error and how can I install the MATLAB Engine API for Python?

Answer 1

[MathWorks Support Team]

Both MATLAB R2024b and RHEL8 ship with a libstc++ library. This error arises because the MATLAB Engine is searching for GLBCXX_3.4.29 in the libstc++ that shipped with RHEL8, rather than the one that shipped with MATLAB. This is because MATLAB is not installed in the default location ("/usr/local/MATLAB/R2024b").

To address this issue, please follow the pre-installation steps under "Linux" on the PyPI website page for MATLAB Engine API for Python.

These steps will guide you through manually adding the MATLAB "bin/architecture" directory to the environment variable LD_LIBRARY_PATH such that the MATLAB Engine can locate the GLBCXX_3.4.29 shipped with MATLAB R2024b.