Python cannot find .so after using pip install

[sei-adolgert]

To recreate this problem:

1. Checkout openfhe-python source code and its dependencies.
2. Make a new virtual environment in another directory.
3. pip install directory-of/openfhe-python
4. python -c "import('openfhe')"

Cause of the problem:

The openfhe-python library uses an init.py file that has a local import statement. When you run that local import from a different location on disk, it looks in a place relative to that different location, so it doesn't find the .so.

The relative import that is currently there:

from .openfhe import *

Suggested fix:

Use an absolute import statement, so that it is relative to the base of the library, not the current directory.

from openfhe.openfhe import *