Missing libpyqt5.so

[hhslepicka]

Issue:
On previous releases of the PyQt package for this channel the PyQt plugin was available but at the latest it is gone.

• pyqt-5.6.0-py36h8210e8a_8.tar.bz2 includes the plugin under <>/plugins/designer/libpyqt5.so
• pyqt-5.6.0-py36h13b7fb3_1008.tar.bz2 is missing it.

What changed?
Can we have a release with the plugin back?
If not, what is the recommended approach?

Thank you

[hhslepicka]

Comparing the logs produced by CircleCI for Python under Linux I saw this:

The Qt Designer plugin was disabled because a dynamic Python library couldn't
be found.
The qmlscene plugin was disabled because a dynamic Python library couldn't be
found.

I will keep my investigation going and add more evidence that can help to find a solution in here...

Looks like at the new gcc7 label, which is also used for the PyQt missing the designer plugin, python is statically linked (ref. conda-forge/python-feedstock#222 (comment))... in the version that has the plugin Python was dynamically linked and that is the reason why the plugin was built and installed.

Question remaining... How to address this?
Should we patch the configure.py to bypass this verification? What would be the downside of it?

more to come...

[hhslepicka]

Here is a workaround for other people facing the same problem:

conda install -c conda-forge/label/cf201901 pyqt

This will install a version that still has the plugin.

[CJ-Wright]

The newer version has been built with gcc7.
Relevent PRs:
#41
#42

[CJ-Wright]

Also:
attn: @conda-forge/pyqt

[hhslepicka]

@CJ-Wright exactly.
I'm wondering if a patch to configure.py would be a good way out of this situation.

[CJ-Wright]

I have no idea. At this point I'd put up a PR and see if it works. People may be able to comment better on a PR than an issue.

[ocefpaf]

@hhslepicka please test this against the new packages and, if the problem persists, re-open the issue.

[hhslepicka]

@ocefpaf the library is there now but with linking issues. The new issue is open.