This wanted to the *.typelib files in some sort of x86_64-lib or something, which was causing python3.7 to not find the files. However, this probably isn't a part of a matched set of py gi releases. Also, I -suspect- it was causing py gi to give top-level windows that are totally blank, as though they were doing the right things, but invisibly; buttons were still clickable. I tried both gprog and notify-when-up2 - both gave plain white windows with clickable buttons. I also tried alt-f2 r. It did not help. I was using Mint 19.1 with Cinnamon at the time.