{"categories":[{"label":"Python Modules","url":"https://skillfed.io/packages/category/software-development-libraries-python-modules/14"},{"label":"Cryptography","url":"https://skillfed.io/packages/category/security-cryptography/2"}],"enrichment":{"capability":"M2Crypto wraps OpenSSL via SWIG to provide Python access to cryptographic primitives (RSA, DSA, AES, HMAC), TLS client/server implementation, and HTTPS extensions.","skillfed_tags":["openssl-wrapper","legacy-maintenance","tls-implementation"],"use_cases":["Migrate legacy Python applications that already use M2Crypto for TLS and cryptographic operations without rewriting.","Implement HTTPS clients or servers when you need direct OpenSSL control and already have M2Crypto in your codebase.","Add HMAC-based session management (AuthCookies) to web applications requiring unforgeable authentication tokens.","Perform RSA or DSA key generation and cryptographic operations in systems where OpenSSL interoperability is critical."],"what_it_does":"M2Crypto is a Python wrapper around OpenSSL that exposes cryptographic operations and TLS functionality through a high-level API. It provides RSA, DSA, DH key generation and operations, symmetric ciphers (including AES), HMAC and message digest functions, and full TLS client/server implementation. It also extends Python's standard httplib, urllib, and xmlrpclib with HTTPS support, and includes S/MIME v2 messaging and FTP/TLS capabilities.\n\nThe library has been in maintenance mode since 2014 and is actively maintained but explicitly recommended only for existing applications. The maintainer directs new projects toward more modern alternatives. M2Crypto depends only on packaging at runtime and requires OpenSSL headers and a C compiler to install; prebuilt wheels exist for recent Python versions on Windows.","worth_installing":"Yes, but with conditions. Install M2Crypto only if you are maintaining existing code that already depends on it or if you need direct OpenSSL interoperability that modern alternatives do not provide. Do not use it for new projects\u2014the maintainer explicitly recommends alternatives instead. Medium install friction (compiled extension) is acceptable for established deployments. No known vulnerabilities and permissive licensing support continued use."},"id":"m2crypto","links":{"html":"https://skillfed.io/packages/m2crypto","md":"https://skillfed.io/packages/m2crypto.md","pypi":"https://pypi.org/project/m2crypto/"},"maintenance":{"status":"active"},"meta":{"latest_release":"2026-05-23","license_spdx":null,"license_treatment":"permissive","name":"M2Crypto","python_support":"supports_current","summary":"A Python crypto and SSL toolkit"},"popularity":{"monthly_downloads":263997,"position":8346,"tier":"top_15000"},"security":{"n_vulnerabilities":0},"version":"0.48.0"}