ubuntu - Error in python after 'import tensorflow': TypeError: __init__() got an unexpected keyword argument 'syntax'

Question

I installed TensorFlow on my Ubuntu 15.10 machine as instructed for CPU only:

$ pip install https://storage.googleapis.com/tensorflow/linux/cpu/tensorflow-0.5.0-cp27-none-linux_x86_64.whl

Then when I run the Python REPL and import tensorflow, I get:

$ python
Python 2.7.10 (default, Oct 14 2015, 16:09:02) 
[GCC 5.2.1 20151010] on linux2
Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.
>>> import tensorflow as tf
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "<stdin>", line 1, in <module>
  File "/home/phil/.local/lib/python2.7/site-packages/tensorflow/__init__.py", line 4, in <module>
   from tensorflow.python import *
  File "/home/phil/.local/lib/python2.7/site-packages/tensorflow/python/__init__.py", line 13, in <module>
    from tensorflow.core.framework.graph_pb2 import *
  File "/home/phil/.local/lib/python2.7/site-packages/tensorflow/core/framework/graph_pb2.py", line 16, in <module>
    from tensorflow.core.framework import attr_value_pb2 as     tensorflow_dot_core_dot_framework_dot_attr__value__pb2
  File "/home/phil/.local/lib/python2.7/site-packages/tensorflow/core/framework/attr_value_pb2.py", line 16, in <module>
    from tensorflow.core.framework import tensor_pb2 as tensorflow_dot_core_dot_framework_dot_tensor__pb2
  File "/home/phil/.local/lib/python2.7/site-packages/tensorflow/core/framework/tensor_pb2.py", line 16, in <module>
    from tensorflow.core.framework import tensor_shape_pb2 as tensorflow_dot_core_dot_framework_dot_tensor__shape__pb2
  File "/home/phil/.local/lib/python2.7/site-packages/tensorflow/core/framework/tensor_shape_pb2.py", line 22, in <module>
    serialized_pb=_b('
,tensorflow/core/framework/tensor_shape.proto x12
tensorflow"d
x10TensorShapeProtox12-
x03x64imx18x02 x03(x0bx32 .tensorflow.TensorShapeProto.Dimx1a!
x03x44imx12x0c
x04sizex18x01 x01(x03x12x0c
x04namex18x02 x01(bx06proto3')
TypeError: __init__() got an unexpected keyword argument 'syntax'

I have the Ubuntu protobuf-compiler package installed and it's version 2.6.1-1.2

Answer 1

Several users have reported issues that arise when an older version of protobuf is installed.

TensorFlow requires (and uses a copy of) protobuf-3.0.0a4. However it seems to be conflicting with your installed version (perhaps due to how the PYTHONPATH environment variable is configured on your system?). Can you try uninstalling the python-protobuf package if it is installed, and then seeing if TensorFlow starts correctly?

Some users have had success when using a virtualenv. For instructions on installing TensorFlow into a virtualenv, see the getting started guide.