ImportError: cannot import name pynestkernel
Question: So I spend last night trying to install nest (and pynest) to use with PyNN,
and I am currently stuck. When I try to import nest I get:

    
    
    >>> import nest
    Traceback (most recent call last):
      File "<stdin>", line 1, in <module>
      File "/opt/local/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/site-packages/nest/__init__.py", line 52, in <module>
        from . import pynestkernel as _kernel
    ImportError: cannot import name pynestkernel
    

However, when I make the make installcheck it passes all the pynest tests. I
am using OS x Yosemite, and I did a new install of python 2.7.9 using macport.

Tried:

    
    
    easy_install python-nest
    

Now I am getting a new error.

Getting:

    
    
    >>> import pyNN.nest as sim
    
    Traceback (most recent call last):
      File "<pyshell#0>", line 1, in <module>
        import pyNN.nest as sim
      File "/Library/Python/2.7/site-packages/pyNN/nest/__init__.py", line 13, in <module>
    from pyNN.nest import simulator
      File "/Library/Python/2.7/site-packages/pyNN/nest/simulator.py", line 500, in <module>
    state = _State()  # a Singleton, so only a single instance ever exists
      File "/Library/Python/2.7/site-packages/pyNN/nest/simulator.py", line 60, in __init__
    self._cache_num_processes = nest.GetKernelStatus()['num_processes'] # avoids blocking if only some nodes call num_processes
    AttributeError: 'module' object has no attribute 'GetKernelStatus'
    


Answer: Try using `setuptools` to install `nest` with `easy_install python-nest`.

