macOS Compatibility Guide
The Irchel Geoparser requires Python with SQLite extension loading support. Unfortunately, the default macOS system Python and Python installed from the official Python website do not support loading SQLite extensions, which are essential for the library’s gazetteer functionality (SpatiaLite for spatial indexing and Spellfix for fuzzy matching).
This guide walks you through setting up Python via Homebrew, which includes SQLite compiled with extension loading support. After completing these steps, you can return to the Installation page and follow the standard installation instructions.
Step 1: Install Homebrew
If you don’t already have Homebrew installed, install it by running:
/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"
After installation completes, you need to add Homebrew to your PATH.
For Apple Silicon Macs (M1/M2/M3):
echo 'export PATH="/opt/homebrew/bin:$PATH"' >> ~/.zshrc
source ~/.zshrc
For Intel Macs:
echo 'export PATH="/usr/local/bin:$PATH"' >> ~/.zshrc
source ~/.zshrc
Step 2: Install Python via Homebrew
Install Python using Homebrew:
brew install [email protected]
This installs Python 3.13 with SQLite extension support enabled.
Step 3: Set Up Python and pip Symbolic Links
To ensure you can use python and pip commands directly (rather than python3.13 and pip3.13), create symbolic links:
For Apple Silicon Macs (M1/M2/M3):
ln -s /opt/homebrew/bin/python3.13 /opt/homebrew/bin/python
ln -s /opt/homebrew/bin/pip3.13 /opt/homebrew/bin/pip
For Intel Macs:
ln -s /usr/local/bin/python3.13 /usr/local/bin/python
ln -s /usr/local/bin/pip3.13 /usr/local/bin/pip
Step 4: Verify SQLite Extension Support
Verify that your Python installation supports SQLite extensions:
python -c "import sqlite3; conn = sqlite3.connect(':memory:'); print('SQLite extension support:', hasattr(conn, 'enable_load_extension')); conn.close()"
You should see:
SQLite extension support: True
If you see False, the Python installation does not support extensions and the geoparser will not work correctly.
Next Steps
Your macOS system is now ready to use the Irchel Geoparser! Return to the Installation page to install the library and download a gazetteer.