[Gimp-developer] get_data, set_data for gimp 2.9 drawable

[John <jgschaefer gmail com>]

I'm working with gimp 2.9 and python/numpy, and was happy to find a 
drawable get_data method.  From a gimp developers message thread dated 
February, it was mentioned that a 'set_data' method is on the short list 
for future development, but, until that appears, I was hoping to get 
python-gegl working on my linux (Mint Debian) system. Could someone 
provide insight as to how to get a work around for saving a numpy array 
as a gimp drawable?
My current effort involves getting gegl built with introspection and 
python-gegl (is there a more straightforward way?)
I've built babl, gegl (with --enable-introspection=yes) and gimp 2.9.3; 
and have PyGObject installed (via pip).
I've cloned python-gegl, but don't see an autogen or configure file.  
There is a setup.py, and when I run:
   / ~/src/python-gegl $ python setup.py install//
   //            gobject introspection enabled GEGL not installed on
   this system -//
   //            this package won't work as is.//
   //
   //            Ensure you have installed://
   //                pygobject,//
   //                a recent GEGL build with gobject introspection
   installed//
   //
   //                Package not installed!/

It indicates that Gegl doesn't have introspection enabled.  I didn't see 
any errors when I built gegl, and pygobject is installed via pip, can 
someone provide any insight as to what is wrong here?