Installing python-ldap with buildout and a system installed OpenLDAP

In our use of buildout, we try not to compile every dependent library that is needed. One example of this is LDAP. Instead of putting the responsibility of upgrading OpenLDAP on the buildout, we depend on the OS specific package managers to take care of this. There are several reasons you would want to do this:

• Upgrading does not require any changes to your application's build
• OS specific patches will be applied
• OS specific configuration arguments will be handled by the package manager
• Dependencies will be handled by the package manager

If you are using zc.buildout, then you can use the zc.recipe.egg recipe to ensure the package gets the proper library paths. Right now, if you try to install python-ldap on FreeBSD, you will get an error.

$ mkvirtualenv ldap
(ldap)$ pip install python-ldap
Downloading/unpacking python-ldap
  Downloading python-ldap-2.3.12.tar.gz (112Kb): 112Kb downloaded
  Storing download in cache at /home/clayton/.pip_download_cache/http%3A%2F%2Fpypi.python.org%2Fpackages%2Fsource%2Fp%2Fpython-ldap%2Fpython-ldap-2.3.12.tar.gz
  Running setup.py egg_info for package python-ldap
    extra_compile_args:
    extra_objects:
    include_dirs: /usr/local/openldap-2.3/include /usr/include/sasl
    library_dirs: /usr/local/openldap-2.3/lib
    libs: ldap_r lber sasl2 ssl crypto
    file Lib/ldap.py (for module ldap) not found
    file Lib/ldap/schema.py (for module ldap.schema) not found
    warning: no files found matching 'Makefile'
    warning: no files found matching 'Modules/LICENSE'
Requirement already satisfied (use --upgrade to upgrade): distribute in /usr/home/clayton/.virtualenvs/ldap/lib/python2.4/site-packages/distribute-0.6.14-py2.4.egg (from python-ldap)
Installing collected packages: python-ldap
  Running setup.py install for python-ldap
    extra_compile_args:
    extra_objects:
    include_dirs: /usr/local/openldap-2.3/include /usr/include/sasl
    library_dirs: /usr/local/openldap-2.3/lib
    libs: ldap_r lber sasl2 ssl crypto
    file Lib/ldap.py (for module ldap) not found
    file Lib/ldap/schema.py (for module ldap.schema) not found
    file Lib/ldap.py (for module ldap) not found
    file Lib/ldap/schema.py (for module ldap.schema) not found
    file Lib/ldap.py (for module ldap) not found
    file Lib/ldap/schema.py (for module ldap.schema) not found
    warning: no files found matching 'Makefile'
    warning: no files found matching 'Modules/LICENSE'
    building '_ldap' extension
    cc -fno-strict-aliasing -DNDEBUG -O2 -pipe -D__wchar_t=wchar_t -DTHREAD_STACK_SIZE=0x200000 -fno-strict-aliasing -fPIC -DHAVE_LIBLDAP_R -DHAVE_SASL -DHAVE_TLS -DLDAPMODULE_VERSION=2.3.12 -IModules -I/usr/local/openldap-2.3/include -I/usr/include/sasl -I/usr/local/include/python2.4 -c Modules/LDAPObject.c -o build/temp.freebsd-8.1-RELEASE-i386-2.4/Modules/LDAPObject.o
    In file included from Modules/LDAPObject.c:9:
    Modules/errors.h:8:18: error: lber.h: No such file or directory
    Modules/errors.h:9:18: error: ldap.h: No such file or directory
    In file included from Modules/LDAPObject.c:9:
    Modules/errors.h:12: error: expected ')' before '*' token
    In file included from Modules/LDAPObject.c:11:
    Modules/LDAPObject.h:12:2: error: #error Current python-ldap requires OpenLDAP 2.x
    In file included from Modules/LDAPObject.c:11:
    Modules/LDAPObject.h:23: error: expected specifier-qualifier-list before 'LDAP'
    Modules/LDAPObject.h:31: error: expected ')' before '*' token
    In file included from Modules/LDAPObject.c:12:
    Modules/ldapcontrol.h:11: error: expected ')' before '*' token
    Modules/ldapcontrol.h:12: error: expected declaration specifiers or '...' before 'LDAPControl'
    Modules/ldapcontrol.h:13: error: expected ')' before '*' token
    In file included from Modules/LDAPObject.c:13:
    Modules/message.h:11: error: expected ')' before '*' token
    In file included from Modules/LDAPObject.c:14:
    Modules/berval.h:10: warning: 'struct berval' declared inside parameter list
    Modules/berval.h:10: warning: its scope is only this definition or declaration, which is probably not what you want
    Modules/berval.h:12: warning: 'struct berval' declared inside parameter list
    Modules/berval.h:13: warning: 'struct berval' declared inside parameter list
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:18:18: error: sasl.h: No such file or directory
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:26: error: expected ')' before '*' token
    Modules/LDAPObject.c: In function 'dealloc':
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:42: error: 'LDAPObject' has no member named 'ldap'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:43: error: 'LDAPObject' has no member named 'valid'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:44: error: 'LDAPObject' has no member named '_save'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:44: error: 'LDAPObject' has no member named '_save'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:45: error: 'LDAPObject' has no member named 'ldap'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:46: error: 'LDAPObject' has no member named '_save'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:46: error: 'LDAPObject' has no member named '_save'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:47: error: 'LDAPObject' has no member named 'valid'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:49: error: 'LDAPObject' has no member named 'ldap'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c: In function 'not_valid':
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:65: error: 'LDAPObject' has no member named 'valid'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c: At top level:
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:76: error: expected ')' before '*' token
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:103: error: expected '=', ',', ';', 'asm' or '__attribute__' before '*' token
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:194: error: expected ')' before '*' token
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:206: error: expected '=', ',', ';', 'asm' or '__attribute__' before '*' token
    Modules/LDAPObject.c: In function 'l_ldap_unbind_ext':
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:332: error: 'LDAPControl' undeclared (first use in this function)
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:332: error: (Each undeclared identifier is reported only once
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:332: error: for each function it appears in.)
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:332: error: 'server_ldcs' undeclared (first use in this function)
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:333: error: 'client_ldcs' undeclared (first use in this function)
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:341: error: too many arguments to function 'LDAPControls_from_object'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:346: error: too many arguments to function 'LDAPControls_from_object'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:350: error: 'LDAPObject' has no member named '_save'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:350: error: 'LDAPObject' has no member named '_save'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:351: error: 'LDAPObject' has no member named 'ldap'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:352: error: 'LDAPObject' has no member named '_save'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:352: error: 'LDAPObject' has no member named '_save'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:357: error: 'LDAP_SUCCESS' undeclared (first use in this function)
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:358: error: 'LDAPObject' has no member named 'ldap'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:358: warning: return makes pointer from integer without a cast
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:360: error: 'LDAPObject' has no member named 'valid'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c: In function 'l_ldap_abandon_ext':
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:373: error: 'LDAPControl' undeclared (first use in this function)
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:373: error: 'server_ldcs' undeclared (first use in this function)
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:374: error: 'client_ldcs' undeclared (first use in this function)
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:382: error: too many arguments to function 'LDAPControls_from_object'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:387: error: too many arguments to function 'LDAPControls_from_object'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:391: error: 'LDAPObject' has no member named '_save'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:391: error: 'LDAPObject' has no member named '_save'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:392: error: 'LDAPObject' has no member named 'ldap'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:393: error: 'LDAPObject' has no member named '_save'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:393: error: 'LDAPObject' has no member named '_save'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:398: error: 'LDAP_SUCCESS' undeclared (first use in this function)
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:399: error: 'LDAPObject' has no member named 'ldap'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:399: warning: return makes pointer from integer without a cast
    Modules/LDAPObject.c: In function 'l_ldap_add_ext':
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:414: error: 'LDAPControl' undeclared (first use in this function)
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:414: error: 'server_ldcs' undeclared (first use in this function)
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:415: error: 'client_ldcs' undeclared (first use in this function)
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:419: error: 'LDAPMod' undeclared (first use in this function)
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:419: error: 'mods' undeclared (first use in this function)
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:429: error: too many arguments to function 'LDAPControls_from_object'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:434: error: too many arguments to function 'LDAPControls_from_object'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:438: error: 'LDAPObject' has no member named '_save'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:438: error: 'LDAPObject' has no member named '_save'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:439: error: 'LDAPObject' has no member named 'ldap'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:440: error: 'LDAPObject' has no member named '_save'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:440: error: 'LDAPObject' has no member named '_save'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:445: error: 'LDAP_SUCCESS' undeclared (first use in this function)
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:446: error: 'LDAPObject' has no member named 'ldap'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:446: warning: return makes pointer from integer without a cast
    Modules/LDAPObject.c: In function 'l_ldap_simple_bind':
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:462: error: 'LDAPControl' undeclared (first use in this function)
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:462: error: 'server_ldcs' undeclared (first use in this function)
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:463: error: 'client_ldcs' undeclared (first use in this function)
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:464: error: storage size of 'cred' isn't known
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:467: error: 'ber_len_t' undeclared (first use in this function)
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:467: error: expected ';' before 'cred_len'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:472: error: too many arguments to function 'LDAPControls_from_object'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:477: error: too many arguments to function 'LDAPControls_from_object'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:481: error: 'LDAPObject' has no member named '_save'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:481: error: 'LDAPObject' has no member named '_save'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:482: error: 'LDAPObject' has no member named 'ldap'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:482: error: 'LDAP_SASL_SIMPLE' undeclared (first use in this function)
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:483: error: 'LDAPObject' has no member named '_save'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:483: error: 'LDAPObject' has no member named '_save'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:488: error: 'LDAP_SUCCESS' undeclared (first use in this function)
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:489: error: 'LDAPObject' has no member named 'ldap'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:489: warning: return makes pointer from integer without a cast
    Modules/LDAPObject.c: At top level:
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:553: error: expected declaration specifiers or '...' before 'sasl_interact_t'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c: In function 'interaction':
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:562: error: 'interact' undeclared (first use in this function)
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:569: error: 'LDAP_OPERATIONS_ERROR' undeclared (first use in this function)
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:589: error: 'LDAP_SUCCESS' undeclared (first use in this function)
    Modules/LDAPObject.c: At top level:
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:601: error: expected ')' before '*' token
    Modules/LDAPObject.c: In function 'l_ldap_sasl_interactive_bind_s':
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:627: error: 'LDAPControl' undeclared (first use in this function)
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:627: error: 'server_ldcs' undeclared (first use in this function)
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:628: error: 'client_ldcs' undeclared (first use in this function)
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:634: error: 'LDAP_SASL_QUIET' undeclared (first use in this function)
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:653: error: too many arguments to function 'LDAPControls_from_object'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:658: error: too many arguments to function 'LDAPControls_from_object'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:674: error: 'LDAPObject' has no member named 'ldap'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:677: error: expected expression before ')' token
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:686: error: 'LDAP_SUCCESS' undeclared (first use in this function)
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:687: error: 'LDAPObject' has no member named 'ldap'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:687: warning: return makes pointer from integer without a cast
    Modules/LDAPObject.c: In function 'l_ldap_compare_ext':
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:745: error: 'LDAPControl' undeclared (first use in this function)
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:745: error: 'server_ldcs' undeclared (first use in this function)
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:746: error: 'client_ldcs' undeclared (first use in this function)
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:751: error: storage size of 'value' isn't known
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:754: error: 'ber_len_t' undeclared (first use in this function)
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:754: error: expected ';' before 'value_len'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:759: error: too many arguments to function 'LDAPControls_from_object'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:764: error: too many arguments to function 'LDAPControls_from_object'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:768: error: 'LDAPObject' has no member named '_save'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:768: error: 'LDAPObject' has no member named '_save'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:769: error: 'LDAPObject' has no member named 'ldap'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:770: error: 'LDAPObject' has no member named '_save'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:770: error: 'LDAPObject' has no member named '_save'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:775: error: 'LDAP_SUCCESS' undeclared (first use in this function)
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:776: error: 'LDAPObject' has no member named 'ldap'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:776: warning: return makes pointer from integer without a cast
    Modules/LDAPObject.c: In function 'l_ldap_delete_ext':
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:790: error: 'LDAPControl' undeclared (first use in this function)
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:790: error: 'server_ldcs' undeclared (first use in this function)
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:791: error: 'client_ldcs' undeclared (first use in this function)
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:800: error: too many arguments to function 'LDAPControls_from_object'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:805: error: too many arguments to function 'LDAPControls_from_object'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:809: error: 'LDAPObject' has no member named '_save'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:809: error: 'LDAPObject' has no member named '_save'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:810: error: 'LDAPObject' has no member named 'ldap'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:811: error: 'LDAPObject' has no member named '_save'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:811: error: 'LDAPObject' has no member named '_save'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:816: error: 'LDAP_SUCCESS' undeclared (first use in this function)
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:817: error: 'LDAPObject' has no member named 'ldap'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:817: warning: return makes pointer from integer without a cast
    Modules/LDAPObject.c: In function 'l_ldap_modify_ext':
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:832: error: 'LDAPControl' undeclared (first use in this function)
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:832: error: 'server_ldcs' undeclared (first use in this function)
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:833: error: 'client_ldcs' undeclared (first use in this function)
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:837: error: 'LDAPMod' undeclared (first use in this function)
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:837: error: 'mods' undeclared (first use in this function)
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:847: error: too many arguments to function 'LDAPControls_from_object'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:852: error: too many arguments to function 'LDAPControls_from_object'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:856: error: 'LDAPObject' has no member named '_save'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:856: error: 'LDAPObject' has no member named '_save'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:857: error: 'LDAPObject' has no member named 'ldap'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:858: error: 'LDAPObject' has no member named '_save'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:858: error: 'LDAPObject' has no member named '_save'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:864: error: 'LDAP_SUCCESS' undeclared (first use in this function)
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:865: error: 'LDAPObject' has no member named 'ldap'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:865: warning: return makes pointer from integer without a cast
    Modules/LDAPObject.c: In function 'l_ldap_rename':
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:881: error: 'LDAPControl' undeclared (first use in this function)
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:881: error: 'server_ldcs' undeclared (first use in this function)
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:882: error: 'client_ldcs' undeclared (first use in this function)
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:892: error: too many arguments to function 'LDAPControls_from_object'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:897: error: too many arguments to function 'LDAPControls_from_object'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:901: error: 'LDAPObject' has no member named '_save'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:901: error: 'LDAPObject' has no member named '_save'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:902: error: 'LDAPObject' has no member named 'ldap'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:903: error: 'LDAPObject' has no member named '_save'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:903: error: 'LDAPObject' has no member named '_save'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:908: error: 'LDAP_SUCCESS' undeclared (first use in this function)
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:909: error: 'LDAPObject' has no member named 'ldap'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:909: warning: return makes pointer from integer without a cast
    Modules/LDAPObject.c: In function 'l_ldap_result3':
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:920: error: 'LDAP_RES_ANY' undeclared (first use in this function)
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:926: error: 'LDAPMessage' undeclared (first use in this function)
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:926: error: 'msg' undeclared (first use in this function)
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:941: error: 'LDAPObject' has no member named '_save'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:941: error: 'LDAPObject' has no member named '_save'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:942: error: 'LDAPObject' has no member named 'ldap'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:943: error: 'LDAPObject' has no member named '_save'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:943: error: 'LDAPObject' has no member named '_save'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:946: error: 'LDAPObject' has no member named 'ldap'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:946: warning: return makes pointer from integer without a cast
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:953: error: 'LDAP_TIMEOUT' undeclared (first use in this function)
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:961: error: 'LDAPControl' undeclared (first use in this function)
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:961: error: 'serverctrls' undeclared (first use in this function)
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:962: error: 'LDAPObject' has no member named '_save'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:962: error: 'LDAPObject' has no member named '_save'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:963: error: 'LDAPObject' has no member named 'ldap'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:965: error: 'LDAPObject' has no member named '_save'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:965: error: 'LDAPObject' has no member named '_save'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:967: error: 'LDAP_SUCCESS' undeclared (first use in this function)
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:969: error: 'LDAP_REFERRAL' undeclared (first use in this function)
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:975: error: 'LDAPObject' has no member named 'ldap'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:975: warning: return makes pointer from integer without a cast
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:978: warning: assignment makes pointer from integer without a cast
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:979: error: 'LDAP_NO_MEMORY' undeclared (first use in this function)
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:980: error: 'LDAPObject' has no member named 'ldap'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:980: error: 'LDAP_OPT_ERROR_NUMBER' undeclared (first use in this function)
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:982: error: 'LDAPObject' has no member named 'ldap'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:982: warning: return makes pointer from integer without a cast
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:986: error: 'LDAPObject' has no member named 'ldap'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:986: warning: assignment makes pointer from integer without a cast
    Modules/LDAPObject.c: In function 'l_ldap_search_ext':
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:1027: error: 'LDAPControl' undeclared (first use in this function)
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:1027: error: 'server_ldcs' undeclared (first use in this function)
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:1028: error: 'client_ldcs' undeclared (first use in this function)
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:1055: error: too many arguments to function 'LDAPControls_from_object'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:1060: error: too many arguments to function 'LDAPControls_from_object'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:1064: error: 'LDAPObject' has no member named '_save'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:1064: error: 'LDAPObject' has no member named '_save'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:1065: error: 'LDAPObject' has no member named 'ldap'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:1067: error: 'LDAPObject' has no member named '_save'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:1067: error: 'LDAPObject' has no member named '_save'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:1073: error: 'LDAP_SUCCESS' undeclared (first use in this function)
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:1074: error: 'LDAPObject' has no member named 'ldap'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:1074: warning: return makes pointer from integer without a cast
    Modules/LDAPObject.c: In function 'l_ldap_whoami_s':
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:1087: error: 'LDAPControl' undeclared (first use in this function)
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:1087: error: 'server_ldcs' undeclared (first use in this function)
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:1088: error: 'client_ldcs' undeclared (first use in this function)
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:1099: error: too many arguments to function 'LDAPControls_from_object'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:1104: error: too many arguments to function 'LDAPControls_from_object'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:1108: error: 'LDAPObject' has no member named '_save'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:1108: error: 'LDAPObject' has no member named '_save'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:1109: error: 'LDAPObject' has no member named 'ldap'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:1110: error: 'LDAPObject' has no member named '_save'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:1110: error: 'LDAPObject' has no member named '_save'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:1115: error: 'LDAP_SUCCESS' undeclared (first use in this function)
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:1116: error: 'LDAPObject' has no member named 'ldap'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:1116: warning: return makes pointer from integer without a cast
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:1118: warning: passing argument 1 of 'LDAPberval_to_object' from incompatible pointer type
    Modules/LDAPObject.c: In function 'l_ldap_start_tls_s':
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:1134: error: 'LDAPObject' has no member named 'ldap'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:1135: error: 'LDAP_SUCCESS' undeclared (first use in this function)
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:1136: error: 'LDAPObject' has no member named 'ldap'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:1136: error: 'LDAP_OPT_ERROR_NUMBER' undeclared (first use in this function)
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:1137: error: 'LDAPObject' has no member named 'ldap'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:1137: warning: return makes pointer from integer without a cast
    Modules/LDAPObject.c: In function 'l_ldap_passwd':
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:1181: error: storage size of 'user' isn't known
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:1183: error: storage size of 'oldpw' isn't known
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:1185: error: storage size of 'newpw' isn't known
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:1189: error: 'LDAPControl' undeclared (first use in this function)
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:1189: error: 'server_ldcs' undeclared (first use in this function)
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:1190: error: 'client_ldcs' undeclared (first use in this function)
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:1198: error: 'ber_len_t' undeclared (first use in this function)
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:1198: error: expected ';' before 'user_len'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:1199: error: expected ';' before 'oldpw_len'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:1200: error: expected ';' before 'newpw_len'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:1205: error: too many arguments to function 'LDAPControls_from_object'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:1210: error: too many arguments to function 'LDAPControls_from_object'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:1214: error: 'LDAPObject' has no member named '_save'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:1214: error: 'LDAPObject' has no member named '_save'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:1215: error: 'LDAPObject' has no member named 'ldap'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:1222: error: 'LDAPObject' has no member named '_save'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:1222: error: 'LDAPObject' has no member named '_save'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:1227: error: 'LDAP_SUCCESS' undeclared (first use in this function)
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:1228: error: 'LDAPObject' has no member named 'ldap'
    Modules/LDAPObject.c:1228: warning: return makes pointer from integer without a cast
    error: command 'cc' failed with exit status 1

The most import lines to take note of here are the following:

include_dirs: /usr/local/openldap-2.3/include /usr/include/sasl
library_dirs: /usr/local/openldap-2.3/lib
Modules/errors.h:8:18: error: lber.h: No such file or directory
Modules/errors.h:9:18: error: ldap.h: No such file or directory
Modules/LDAPObject.c:18:18: error: sasl.h: No such file or directory

This means that when pip was trying to install python-ldap, it could not find the dev headers necessary to build the C extensions. Most of the time, this just means that you need to install the appropriate library-dev package, but in this case, I already have the headers available in /usr/local/include.

The solution in this case is to use zc.recipe.egg to install the python-ldap egg for us. This will allow us to define extra paths to look in for the header files.

[buildout]
parts =
    ...
    python-ldap

[python-ldap]
recipe = zc.recipe.egg:custom
egg = python-ldap
include-dirs =
    /opt/local/include
    /opt/local/include/sasl
    /usr/local/include
    /usr/local/include/sasl
    /usr/include
    /usr/include/sasl
library-dirs =
    /opt/local/lib
    /opt/local/lib/sasl2
    /usr/local/lib
    /usr/local/lib/sasl2
    /usr/lib
    /usr/lib/sasl2
rpath = ${:library-dirs}

Now you can use this egg by referencing the python-ldap part as follows:

[instance]
...
eggs =
    ...
    ${python-ldap:egg}

This allows you to rely on your package manager to keep the LDAP libraries up to date.

Questions? Comments? Feel free to provide your feedback below. We will make sure to respond to you.