title: How should conda handle header files?
body: <p>Trying to install a python library that depends on a C library header file. Currently, if I try:</p>
  
  <pre><code>conda install hdf5
  pip install bitshuffle
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>Then I get a <code>gcc</code> error, regarding inability to locate <code>hdf5.h</code></p>
  
  <p>Note, conda <em>has</em> downloaded <code>hdf5.h</code> (to <code>envs/myenv/include</code>), and as a work-around in this case there exists an alternative channel from which conda can install bitshuffle.</p>
  
  <p>Is it recommended practice to <code>conda install gcc</code> rather than using (or letting pip use) the system default compiler? Should <code>conda activate</code> prepend its <code>include</code> directory to an environment variable used by common compilers? Is it bad practice to combine conda and pip usage?</p>