Python3: Conflict between matlab.engine and opencv2

Hello! I am trying to run some code that requires both matlab.engine and opencv2, but loading both modules at once (in either order) causes errors in the script. Importing either separately works.

Looking around, some people seemed to have had similar problems, and this seems related to library versions, but I couldn't find anything specific to my error messages that indicates which library is causing my problem, or a good workaround. Any help is appreciated.

My system is Ubuntu 16.10, by the way.

Below are the relevant error messages:

Loading opencv2 first, then matlab.engine:

Python 3.5.2+ (default, Sep 22 2016, 12:18:14) 
[GCC 6.2.0 20160927] on linux
Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.
>>> import cv2
>>> import matlab.engine
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.5/dist-packages/matlab/engine/__init__.py", line 42, in <module>
    pythonengine = importlib.import_module("matlabengineforpython"+_PYTHONVERSION)
  File "/usr/lib/python3.5/importlib/__init__.py", line 126, in import_module
    return _bootstrap._gcd_import(name[level:], package, level)
  File "<frozen importlib._bootstrap>", line 986, in _gcd_import
  File "<frozen importlib._bootstrap>", line 969, in _find_and_load
  File "<frozen importlib._bootstrap>", line 956, in _find_and_load_unlocked
ImportError: No module named 'matlabengineforpython3_5'

During handling of the above exception, another exception occurred:

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.5/dist-packages/matlab/engine/__init__.py", line 58, in <module>
    pythonengine = importlib.import_module("matlabengineforpython"+_PYTHONVERSION)
  File "/usr/lib/python3.5/importlib/__init__.py", line 126, in import_module
    return _bootstrap._gcd_import(name[level:], package, level)
  File "<frozen importlib._bootstrap>", line 986, in _gcd_import
  File "<frozen importlib._bootstrap>", line 969, in _find_and_load
  File "<frozen importlib._bootstrap>", line 958, in _find_and_load_unlocked
  File "<frozen importlib._bootstrap>", line 666, in _load_unlocked
  File "<frozen importlib._bootstrap>", line 577, in module_from_spec
  File "<frozen importlib._bootstrap_external>", line 914, in create_module
  File "<frozen importlib._bootstrap>", line 222, in _call_with_frames_removed
ImportError: /usr/local/MATLAB/R2016b/extern/engines/python/dist/matlab/engine/glnxa64/../../../../../../../bin/glnxa64/libssl.so.1.0.0: undefined symbol: EVP_idea_cbc

During handling of the above exception, another exception occurred:

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "<stdin>", line 1, in <module>
  File "/usr/local/lib/python3.5/dist-packages/matlab/engine/__init__.py", line 61, in <module>
    'MathWorks Technical Support for assistance: %s' % e)
OSError: Please reinstall MATLAB Engine for Python or contact MathWorks Technical Support for assistance: /usr/local/MATLAB/R2016b/extern/engines/python/dist/matlab/engine/glnxa64/../../../../../../../bin/glnxa64/libssl.so.1.0.0: undefined symbol: EVP_idea_cbc

Loading matlab.engine first, then opencv2:

Python 3.5.2+ (default, Sep 22 2016, 12:18:14) 
[GCC 6.2.0 20160927] on linux
Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.
>>> import matlab.engine
>>> import cv2
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "<stdin>", line 1, in <module>
ImportError: /usr/local/MATLAB/R2016b/extern/engines/python/dist/matlab/engine/glnxa64/../../../../../../../sys/os/glnxa64/libstdc++.so.6: version `CXXABI_1.3.9' not found (required by /usr/local/lib/python3.5/dist-packages/cv2.cpython-35m-x86_64-linux-gnu.so)
Error in sys.excepthook:
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/apport_python_hook.py", line 63, in apport_excepthook
    from apport.fileutils import likely_packaged, get_recent_crashes
  File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/apport/__init__.py", line 5, in <module>
    from apport.report import Report
  File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/apport/report.py", line 30, in <module>
    import apport.fileutils
  File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/apport/fileutils.py", line 23, in <module>
    from apport.packaging_impl import impl as packaging
  File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/apport/packaging_impl.py", line 23, in <module>
    import apt
  File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/apt/__init__.py", line 23, in <module>
    import apt_pkg
ImportError: /usr/local/MATLAB/R2016b/extern/engines/python/dist/matlab/engine/glnxa64/../../../../../../../sys/os/glnxa64/libstdc++.so.6: version `GLIBCXX_3.4.21' not found (required by /usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/apt_pkg.cpython-35m-x86_64-linux-gnu.so)

Original exception was:
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "<stdin>", line 1, in <module>
ImportError: /usr/local/MATLAB/R2016b/extern/engines/python/dist/matlab/engine/glnxa64/../../../../../../../sys/os/glnxa64/libstdc++.so.6: version `CXXABI_1.3.9' not found (required by /usr/local/lib/python3.5/dist-packages/cv2.cpython-35m-x86_64-linux-gnu.so)
>>>

Answer 1

[Bo Li]

Regarding this workflow:

>>> import matlab.engine
>>> import cv2

It looks that there is a newer version of libstdc++.so is required by cv2. In such case, you may move the library "/usr/local/MATLAB/R2016b/sys/os/glnxa64/libstdc++.so.6" to a backup folder and see how it works.

[Claus Aranha]

Thank you, this worked!