Calling Python-3 function in C

Question

I am trying to call Python code in C with this code:

#include <stdio.h>
#include <Python.h>
int main()
{
 PyObject* pInt;
 Py_Initialize();
 PyRun_SimpleString("print('This is Python in C')");
 Py_Finalize();
 printf("\n");
 return 0;
} 

and have tried compiling it with this command:

gcc python_test_in_c.c 

However it returns an error returns saying:

undefined referance to `__imp __Py_Initialise`
undefined referance to `__imp__PyRun_SimpleSringFlags`
undefined referance to `__imp__Py_Finalise`
collect2.exe: error: ld returned 1 exit status

What is going wrong? How can I fix this?

Any help would be appreciated

P.S I am not sure, but could this be something to do with the fact I copied the Python 'include' file (containing Python.h) in the include file for MinGW located at C:/MinGW

UPDATE: I have now learned this is ok to do but considered bad practice.

• litelite: You did not link the library.
• too honest for this site: Please edit the title! It does not make any sense and is just missleading. You don't "embed Python code in C". You call simply functions from the Python C API. That's not different from any other library.
• Ajay Brahmakshatriya: @Olaf technically this looks like embedding to me, see PyRun_SimpleString("print('This is Python in C')");. It is embedding via an library API.
• too honest for this site: @AjayBrahmakshatriya: The title is completely different. And this is not really embedding, but simply passing a string to a library function. It is not different from e.g. fopen Where no one would say the file contents is embedded into the C code. In fact the question is not even related to Python or possibly C, but linking and there is no information given by the user to really solve it (jut rough guesses).
• Xantium: @Olaf The python 2.7.13 documentation refers to this as Very High Level Embedding. See this webpage

Answer 1

You are not linking with the python library...

try:

gcc python_test_in_c.c -lpython3.6m

change 3.6 to your version of choice...

• Xantium: I have tried this but it returns an error saying it cannot find lpython3.6m the path on my computer for python is C:\Users\Simon\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python36-32
• Yoav Glazner: try to add -L C:\Users\Simon\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python36-32\libs
• Xantium: Solved it ! Compiled it with gcc python_test_in_c.c -lpython36 added the python36 dll along with the exe and it works. The . (dot) and m in python3.6m generates an error, remove these and it works.Thanks for the help everyone.