bringing back user options

meson.build

@@ -69,7 +69,13 @@ endif
 # https://mesonbuild.com/Python-module.html
 # Here we differentiate from the python used by meson, py3_command, and that python target, py3_target. This is useful
 # when cross compiling like on conda-forge
-py3 = import('python').find_installation(pure: false)
+#py3 = import('python').find_installation(pure: false)
+py_mod = import('python')
+if get_option('python_target') != ''
+  py3 = py_mod.find_installation(get_option('python_target'))
+else
+  py3 = py_mod.find_installation('python')
+endif
 py3_dep = py3.dependency()
 
 message(py3.path())

meson_options.txt

@@ -1,3 +1,9 @@
 option('incdir_numpy', type: 'string', value: '',
     description: 'Include directory for numpy. If left empty Meson will try to find it on its own.')
 
+option('python_target', type: 'string', value: '',
+    description: '''Target python path. This is used in the case that the Python installation that PyOptSparse is intended
+    to be built for is different than the Python installation that is used to run Meson. For example, Meson may be installed
+    on the user's system which is run using the system Python installation, but the user may want build PyOptSparse for
+    a Python installation in a virtual environment. Leave as an empty string to build for Python installation running
+    Meson.''')