Navigating Compatibility Issues with NumPy 2.0 in Python Projects

When developing Python applications that utilize libraries like OpenCV and imutils, compatibility with NumPy versions can cause significant roadblocks. Recently, the release of NumPy 2.0 introduced breaking changes that can affect existing projects, as demonstrated by a common error when trying to run a module compiled with an earlier version of NumPy on the latest release.

Problem:

The core issue arises when libraries dependent on NumPy, such as OpenCV, are used in an environment where an incompatible version of NumPy is installed. This mismatch can lead to errors like ImportError: numpy.core.multiarray failed to import or AttributeError: _ARRAY_API not found. These errors are typically encountered during the import phase of the project, preventing the application from even starting.

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