ImportError: cannot import name __check_build [Solved]

In the vast world of programming languages Python is one such language used for various purposes, like web development, machine learning, data science, and many more. But like any other programming language, Python is not perfect, and sometimes you may encounter errors or problems when working with it. One such error Python users may encounter while importing modules or packages, such as sklearn, numpy, scipy, etc. One of these errors is “ImportError: cannot import name __check_build.”

This error is often labelled as frustrating and confusing, as it may prevent you from using some of Python’s most useful and powerful features, such as machine learning algorithms, data manipulation tools, and scientific computing functions. Moreover, the error message may not be very clear or helpful, as it does not explain the __check_build module, why it is needed, or how to fix the error.

In this article, we will demystify this error and provide you with some practical solutions to resolve it. We will explain what the “ImportError: cannot import name __check_build” error is, what causes it, and how to resolve it along with some frequently asked questions related to the error. By the end of this article, you should be able to import sklearn and other modules or packages without any problems. Let’s get started!

What is the “ImportError: cannot import name __check_build” error?

The “ImportError: cannot import name __check_build” error is an error that occurs when trying to import a module or package from sklearn, a library for machine learning in Python. The error message may look something like this:

from sklearn import svm 

Output:-

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "<stdin>", line 1, in <module>
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.9/site-packages/sklearn/__init__.py", line 37, in <module>
    from . import __check_build
ImportError: cannot import name '__check_build' from 'sklearn' (/usr/local/lib/python3.9/site-packages/sklearn/__init__.py)

The ImportError: cannot import name __check_build indicates that Python cannot find the __check_build module, which is a module that checks if sklearn has been built correctly. This module is usually located in the sklearn/__check_build directory, and it contains a file called _check_build.cpython-39-x86_64-linux-gnu.so, which is a compiled C extension.

What causes the “ImportError: cannot import name __check_build” error?

There are several possible causes for the “ImportError: cannot import name __check_build” error, such as:

Missing dependencies

One of the most common causes for the error is that some of the dependencies of sklearn are missing or not installed properly. Sklearn requires numpy and scipy to work, and these packages may have their dependencies, such as BLAS, LAPACK, etc. If any of these dependencies are missing or incompatible, sklearn may be unable to import the __check_build module.

To check if you have all the required dependencies, you can run the following command in your terminal:

python -m pip show numpy scipy

The above code will show you the version and location of numpy and scipy installed on your system. You may need to reinstall or update these packages if you see any errors or warnings.

Corrupted installation

Another possible cause for the error is that the installation of sklearn is corrupted or incomplete. This may happen if you have interrupted the installation process or installed sklearn from an incompatible source, such as a binary installer, a wheel file, or a source distribution.

To check if your installation of sklearn is corrupted, you can run the following command in your terminal:

python -c "import sklearn; sklearn.show_versions()"

This will show you the version and configuration of sklearn and its dependencies. You may need to reinstall or update sklearn if you see any errors or warnings.

Conflicting files or directories

A third possible cause for the error is that conflicting files or directories in your system interfere with the import of sklearn. For example, suppose you have a file or directory named sklearn in your current working directory or your PYTHONPATH environment variable. In that case, Python may import from that instead of the actual sklearn package.

To check if you have any conflicting files or directories, you can run the following command in your terminal:

ls | grep -i "sklearn"

This will show you any files or directories that contain the word “sklearn” in their names. If you see any, you may need to rename or remove them.

How do you resolve the “ImportError: cannot import name __check_build” error?

Based on the cause of the error, there are different ways to resolve it. Here are some possible solutions:

Install or update the dependencies.

If missing or outdated dependencies cause the error, you can try to install or update them using pip, a package manager for Python. To do this, you can run the following command in your terminal:

python -m pip install --upgrade numpy scipy

This will install or update numpy, scipy, and their dependencies to the latest version. If you encounter permission errors, you should use the sudo or –user option.

Reinstall or update sklearn

If the error is caused by a corrupted or incompatible installation of sklearn, you can try to reinstall or update it using pip. To do this, you can run the following command in your terminal:

python -m pip install --upgrade --force-reinstall sklearn

This will uninstall and reinstall sklearn and its dependencies to the latest version. The –force-reinstall option will overwrite any existing files or directories. If you encounter permission errors, you should use the sudo or –user option.

Rename or remove conflicting files or directories.

If conflicting files or directories cause the error, you can try to rename or remove them using your file manager or terminal. For example, if you have a file named sklearn.py in your current working directory, you can rename it to something else, such as sklearn_test.py, or delete it. You may need to restart your Python interpreter or shell for the changes.

FAQs

Conclusion

In this article, we have learned what the “ImportError: cannot import name __check_build” error is, what causes it, and how to resolve it. We have also answered some FAQs related to the error. We hope this article has been helpful for you to understand and fix the error. If you have any questions or feedback, please comment below. Happy coding! 😊

Reference

1. sklearn
2. PyPI
3. SciPy

To learn more about some common errors follow Python Clear’s errors section.