diff --git a/autoconf/configure.ac b/autoconf/configure.ac
index 57c27a50..be77dbd0 100644
--- a/autoconf/configure.ac
+++ b/autoconf/configure.ac
@@ -360,20 +360,60 @@ AS_IF([test "$ac_cv_path_CURL" = "nocurl"],AC_MSG_ERROR([could not find curl]),[
 AC_PATH_PROG(PERL, perl)
 AX_PROG_PERL_VERSION([5.14.0], [], [AC_MSG_ERROR([Trick requires perl version >= 5.14.0])])
 
-AC_PATH_PROG(PYTHON, python${PYTHON_VERSION}, nopython)
-AS_IF([test "$ac_cv_path_PYTHON" = "nopython"],
+AC_ARG_WITH(
+  [python],
+  AS_HELP_STRING(
+    [--with-python@<:@=DIR@:>@], 
+    [python root directory],
+  ),
   [
-    AC_PATH_PROG(PYTHON3, python3, nopython3)
-    AS_IF([test "$ac_cv_path_PYTHON3" = "nopython3"],
-      AC_MSG_ERROR([could not find python or python3]),
+    PYTHON_HOME="$withval"
+    AC_PATH_PROG(PYTHON, python${PYTHON_VERSION}, nopython, "$PYTHON_HOME")
+    AS_IF(
+      [test "$ac_cv_path_PYTHON" = "nopython"],
       [
-        PYTHON_CPPFLAGS=`${PYTHON3}-config --includes`
-        PYTHON_LIBS=`${PYTHON3}-config --libs`
-        PYTHON=$PYTHON3
-      ]
+	       AC_PATH_PROG(PYTHON, python, nopython, "$PYTHON_HOME")
+	       AS_IF(
+	         [test "$ac_cv_path_PYTHON" = "nopython"],
+          AC_MSG_ERROR([could not find python<version> or python in specified path]),
+          []
+        )
+      ],
+      []
     )
+    AC_PATH_PROG(PYTHON_CONFIG, python${PYTHON_VERSION}-config, nopython-config, "$PYTHON_HOME")
+    AS_IF(
+      [test "$ac_cv_path_PYTHON_CONFIG" = "nopython-config"],
+      [
+         AC_PATH_PROG(PYTHON_CONFIG, python-config, nopython-config, "$PYTHON_HOME")
+         AS_IF(
+           [test "$ac_cv_path_PYTHON_CONFIG" = "nopython-config"],
+          AC_MSG_ERROR([could not find python<version>-config or python-config in specified path please install python${PYTHON_VERSION}-dev]),
+          []
+        )
+      ],
+      []
+    )    
+    PYTHON_CPPFLAGS=`${PYTHON_CONFIG} --includes`
+    PYTHON_LIBS=`${PYTHON_CONFIG} --libs`
   ],
-  [AX_PYTHON_DEVEL([>='2.5'])]
+  [
+    AC_PATH_PROG(PYTHON, python${PYTHON_VERSION}, nopython)
+    AS_IF([test "$ac_cv_path_PYTHON" = "nopython"],
+      [
+        AC_PATH_PROG(PYTHON3, python3, nopython3)
+        AS_IF([test "$ac_cv_path_PYTHON3" = "nopython3"],
+          AC_MSG_ERROR([could not find python or python3]),
+          [
+            PYTHON_CPPFLAGS=`${PYTHON3}-config --includes`
+            PYTHON_LIBS=`${PYTHON3}-config --libs`
+            PYTHON=$PYTHON3
+          ]
+        )
+      ],
+      [AX_PYTHON_DEVEL([>='2.5'])]
+    )
+  ] 
 )
 
 AC_PATH_PROG(GNUPLOT, gnuplot, nognuplot)
diff --git a/configure b/configure
index 36950f53..5a0a7115 100755
--- a/configure
+++ b/configure
@@ -658,6 +658,7 @@ PYTHON_LIBS
 PYTHON_CPPFLAGS
 PYTHON_VERSION
 PYTHON3
+PYTHON_CONFIG
 PYTHON
 PERL_VERSION
 SED
@@ -747,6 +748,7 @@ with_x
 enable_32bit
 enable_offline
 enable_mongoose
+with_python
 with_swig
 enable_java
 with_llvm
@@ -1417,6 +1419,7 @@ Optional Packages:
   --with-PACKAGE[=ARG]    use PACKAGE [ARG=yes]
   --without-PACKAGE       do not use PACKAGE (same as --with-PACKAGE=no)
   --with-x                use the X Window System
+  --with-python[=DIR]     python root directory
   --with-swig[=DIR]       path of directory containing the SWIG executable.
   --with-llvm[=DIR]       LLVM root directory
   --with-zlib=DIR         root directory path of zlib installation [defaults to
@@ -5364,7 +5367,196 @@ $as_echo "$as_me: WARNING: could not find the perl interpreter" >&2;}
 fi
 
 
-# Extract the first word of "python${PYTHON_VERSION}", so it can be a program name with args.
+
+
+# Check whether --with-python was given.
+if test "${with_python+set}" = set; then :
+  withval=$with_python;
+    PYTHON_HOME="$withval"
+    # Extract the first word of "python${PYTHON_VERSION}", so it can be a program name with args.
+set dummy python${PYTHON_VERSION}; ac_word=$2
+{ $as_echo "$as_me:${as_lineno-$LINENO}: checking for $ac_word" >&5
+$as_echo_n "checking for $ac_word... " >&6; }
+if ${ac_cv_path_PYTHON+:} false; then :
+  $as_echo_n "(cached) " >&6
+else
+  case $PYTHON in
+  [\\/]* | ?:[\\/]*)
+  ac_cv_path_PYTHON="$PYTHON" # Let the user override the test with a path.
+  ;;
+  *)
+  as_save_IFS=$IFS; IFS=$PATH_SEPARATOR
+for as_dir in "$PYTHON_HOME"
+do
+  IFS=$as_save_IFS
+  test -z "$as_dir" && as_dir=.
+    for ac_exec_ext in '' $ac_executable_extensions; do
+  if as_fn_executable_p "$as_dir/$ac_word$ac_exec_ext"; then
+    ac_cv_path_PYTHON="$as_dir/$ac_word$ac_exec_ext"
+    $as_echo "$as_me:${as_lineno-$LINENO}: found $as_dir/$ac_word$ac_exec_ext" >&5
+    break 2
+  fi
+done
+  done
+IFS=$as_save_IFS
+
+  test -z "$ac_cv_path_PYTHON" && ac_cv_path_PYTHON="nopython"
+  ;;
+esac
+fi
+PYTHON=$ac_cv_path_PYTHON
+if test -n "$PYTHON"; then
+  { $as_echo "$as_me:${as_lineno-$LINENO}: result: $PYTHON" >&5
+$as_echo "$PYTHON" >&6; }
+else
+  { $as_echo "$as_me:${as_lineno-$LINENO}: result: no" >&5
+$as_echo "no" >&6; }
+fi
+
+
+    if test "$ac_cv_path_PYTHON" = "nopython"; then :
+
+	       # Extract the first word of "python", so it can be a program name with args.
+set dummy python; ac_word=$2
+{ $as_echo "$as_me:${as_lineno-$LINENO}: checking for $ac_word" >&5
+$as_echo_n "checking for $ac_word... " >&6; }
+if ${ac_cv_path_PYTHON+:} false; then :
+  $as_echo_n "(cached) " >&6
+else
+  case $PYTHON in
+  [\\/]* | ?:[\\/]*)
+  ac_cv_path_PYTHON="$PYTHON" # Let the user override the test with a path.
+  ;;
+  *)
+  as_save_IFS=$IFS; IFS=$PATH_SEPARATOR
+for as_dir in "$PYTHON_HOME"
+do
+  IFS=$as_save_IFS
+  test -z "$as_dir" && as_dir=.
+    for ac_exec_ext in '' $ac_executable_extensions; do
+  if as_fn_executable_p "$as_dir/$ac_word$ac_exec_ext"; then
+    ac_cv_path_PYTHON="$as_dir/$ac_word$ac_exec_ext"
+    $as_echo "$as_me:${as_lineno-$LINENO}: found $as_dir/$ac_word$ac_exec_ext" >&5
+    break 2
+  fi
+done
+  done
+IFS=$as_save_IFS
+
+  test -z "$ac_cv_path_PYTHON" && ac_cv_path_PYTHON="nopython"
+  ;;
+esac
+fi
+PYTHON=$ac_cv_path_PYTHON
+if test -n "$PYTHON"; then
+  { $as_echo "$as_me:${as_lineno-$LINENO}: result: $PYTHON" >&5
+$as_echo "$PYTHON" >&6; }
+else
+  { $as_echo "$as_me:${as_lineno-$LINENO}: result: no" >&5
+$as_echo "no" >&6; }
+fi
+
+
+	       if test "$ac_cv_path_PYTHON" = "nopython"; then :
+  as_fn_error $? "could not find python<version> or python in specified path" "$LINENO" 5
+fi
+
+fi
+    # Extract the first word of "python${PYTHON_VERSION}-config", so it can be a program name with args.
+set dummy python${PYTHON_VERSION}-config; ac_word=$2
+{ $as_echo "$as_me:${as_lineno-$LINENO}: checking for $ac_word" >&5
+$as_echo_n "checking for $ac_word... " >&6; }
+if ${ac_cv_path_PYTHON_CONFIG+:} false; then :
+  $as_echo_n "(cached) " >&6
+else
+  case $PYTHON_CONFIG in
+  [\\/]* | ?:[\\/]*)
+  ac_cv_path_PYTHON_CONFIG="$PYTHON_CONFIG" # Let the user override the test with a path.
+  ;;
+  *)
+  as_save_IFS=$IFS; IFS=$PATH_SEPARATOR
+for as_dir in "$PYTHON_HOME"
+do
+  IFS=$as_save_IFS
+  test -z "$as_dir" && as_dir=.
+    for ac_exec_ext in '' $ac_executable_extensions; do
+  if as_fn_executable_p "$as_dir/$ac_word$ac_exec_ext"; then
+    ac_cv_path_PYTHON_CONFIG="$as_dir/$ac_word$ac_exec_ext"
+    $as_echo "$as_me:${as_lineno-$LINENO}: found $as_dir/$ac_word$ac_exec_ext" >&5
+    break 2
+  fi
+done
+  done
+IFS=$as_save_IFS
+
+  test -z "$ac_cv_path_PYTHON_CONFIG" && ac_cv_path_PYTHON_CONFIG="nopython-config"
+  ;;
+esac
+fi
+PYTHON_CONFIG=$ac_cv_path_PYTHON_CONFIG
+if test -n "$PYTHON_CONFIG"; then
+  { $as_echo "$as_me:${as_lineno-$LINENO}: result: $PYTHON_CONFIG" >&5
+$as_echo "$PYTHON_CONFIG" >&6; }
+else
+  { $as_echo "$as_me:${as_lineno-$LINENO}: result: no" >&5
+$as_echo "no" >&6; }
+fi
+
+
+    if test "$ac_cv_path_PYTHON_CONFIG" = "nopython-config"; then :
+
+         # Extract the first word of "python-config", so it can be a program name with args.
+set dummy python-config; ac_word=$2
+{ $as_echo "$as_me:${as_lineno-$LINENO}: checking for $ac_word" >&5
+$as_echo_n "checking for $ac_word... " >&6; }
+if ${ac_cv_path_PYTHON_CONFIG+:} false; then :
+  $as_echo_n "(cached) " >&6
+else
+  case $PYTHON_CONFIG in
+  [\\/]* | ?:[\\/]*)
+  ac_cv_path_PYTHON_CONFIG="$PYTHON_CONFIG" # Let the user override the test with a path.
+  ;;
+  *)
+  as_save_IFS=$IFS; IFS=$PATH_SEPARATOR
+for as_dir in "$PYTHON_HOME"
+do
+  IFS=$as_save_IFS
+  test -z "$as_dir" && as_dir=.
+    for ac_exec_ext in '' $ac_executable_extensions; do
+  if as_fn_executable_p "$as_dir/$ac_word$ac_exec_ext"; then
+    ac_cv_path_PYTHON_CONFIG="$as_dir/$ac_word$ac_exec_ext"
+    $as_echo "$as_me:${as_lineno-$LINENO}: found $as_dir/$ac_word$ac_exec_ext" >&5
+    break 2
+  fi
+done
+  done
+IFS=$as_save_IFS
+
+  test -z "$ac_cv_path_PYTHON_CONFIG" && ac_cv_path_PYTHON_CONFIG="nopython-config"
+  ;;
+esac
+fi
+PYTHON_CONFIG=$ac_cv_path_PYTHON_CONFIG
+if test -n "$PYTHON_CONFIG"; then
+  { $as_echo "$as_me:${as_lineno-$LINENO}: result: $PYTHON_CONFIG" >&5
+$as_echo "$PYTHON_CONFIG" >&6; }
+else
+  { $as_echo "$as_me:${as_lineno-$LINENO}: result: no" >&5
+$as_echo "no" >&6; }
+fi
+
+
+         if test "$ac_cv_path_PYTHON_CONFIG" = "nopython-config"; then :
+  as_fn_error $? "could not find python<version>-config or python-config in specified path please install python${PYTHON_VERSION}-dev" "$LINENO" 5
+fi
+
+fi
+    PYTHON_CPPFLAGS=`${PYTHON_CONFIG} --includes`
+    PYTHON_LIBS=`${PYTHON_CONFIG} --libs`
+
+else
+
+    # Extract the first word of "python${PYTHON_VERSION}", so it can be a program name with args.
 set dummy python${PYTHON_VERSION}; ac_word=$2
 { $as_echo "$as_me:${as_lineno-$LINENO}: checking for $ac_word" >&5
 $as_echo_n "checking for $ac_word... " >&6; }
@@ -5405,10 +5597,9 @@ $as_echo "no" >&6; }
 fi
 
 
+    if test "$ac_cv_path_PYTHON" = "nopython"; then :
 
-if test "$ac_cv_path_PYTHON" = "nopython"; then :
-
-    # Extract the first word of "python3", so it can be a program name with args.
+        # Extract the first word of "python3", so it can be a program name with args.
 set dummy python3; ac_word=$2
 { $as_echo "$as_me:${as_lineno-$LINENO}: checking for $ac_word" >&5
 $as_echo_n "checking for $ac_word... " >&6; }
@@ -5449,13 +5640,13 @@ $as_echo "no" >&6; }
 fi
 
 
-    if test "$ac_cv_path_PYTHON3" = "nopython3"; then :
+        if test "$ac_cv_path_PYTHON3" = "nopython3"; then :
   as_fn_error $? "could not find python or python3" "$LINENO" 5
 else
 
-        PYTHON_CPPFLAGS=`${PYTHON3}-config --includes`
-        PYTHON_LIBS=`${PYTHON3}-config --libs`
-        PYTHON=$PYTHON3
+            PYTHON_CPPFLAGS=`${PYTHON3}-config --includes`
+            PYTHON_LIBS=`${PYTHON3}-config --libs`
+            PYTHON=$PYTHON3
 
 
 fi
@@ -5812,6 +6003,10 @@ See \`config.log' for more details" "$LINENO" 5; }
 
 fi
 
+
+fi
+
+
 # Extract the first word of "gnuplot", so it can be a program name with args.
 set dummy gnuplot; ac_word=$2
 { $as_echo "$as_me:${as_lineno-$LINENO}: checking for $ac_word" >&5