anki
Python library for Anki, the spaced repetition flashcard program
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
Yes, if you are building Anki add-ons, automating flashcard workflows, or need programmatic access to spaced-repetition scheduling. The library is actively maintained, well-established (29756 stars), and has no known vulnerabilities. The AGPL-3.0-or-later license requires that derivative works be open-source; verify this aligns with your project before use. Medium install friction (compiled wheels, Python 3.10+ required) is a minor trade-off for core functionality.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- Requires Python 3.10 or later; platform-specific compiled wheels (macOS, Linux, Windows); Anki collection file path must exist and be readable.
- Medium install friction due to compiled wheels (abi3, platform-specific); active maintenance with recent release (9 days old) and strong repository signals (29756 stars, last commit 2026-08-14).
- Requires Python 3.10+.
License · maintenance · safety
AGPL-3.0-or-later (agpl) — AGPL-3.0-or-later: derivative works and modifications must be released under AGPL. Suitable for open-source projects and add-ons; proprietary applications using this library must comply with copyleft obligations or seek alternative licensing.
last release 2026-08-05 (9 days) · last repo commit 2026-08-14 · 29,756 stars
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 276,344 downloads/mo, #8,165 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
pip install anki
from anki import Collection
col = Collection('/path/to/collection.anki2')
notes = col.find_notes('deck:Default')
print(len(notes))- Whether the Rust backend is bundled in the wheel or requires separate installation.
- Performance characteristics when working with large collections (thousands of cards).
- Stability guarantees for the Python API across minor version updates.
What it is and what it does
Anki is a Python library that exposes the core scheduling and database engine behind Anki, the popular spaced-repetition flashcard application. It wraps a Rust backend (rslib) and provides a programmatic interface to collections, notes, cards, decks, scheduling algorithms (FSRS/SM-2), media management, import/export, and synchronisation with AnkiWeb. The library is primarily used by Anki add-on developers and anyone building automation or custom workflows around flashcard learning.
The package depends on seven runtime libraries: decorator, distro, markdown, orjson, protobuf, requests, and typing-extensions. It requires Python 3.10 or later and ships as platform-specific compiled wheels (macOS ARM64/x86-64, Linux aarch64/x86-64, Windows amd64/ARM64). Installation has medium friction due to these compiled dependencies, but the project is actively maintained with a large, engaged community.
Use it for
- Build Anki add-ons that extend the desktop application with custom scheduling, UI, or data-processing features.
- Automate flashcard generation and bulk import from external data sources into Anki collections.
- Create custom spaced-repetition learning applications that leverage Anki's scheduling algorithms.
- Programmatically query and analyse learning statistics from existing Anki collections.
- Synchronise flashcard data between Anki and external learning platforms or databases.
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
Yes, if you are building Anki add-ons, automating flashcard workflows, or need programmatic access to spaced-repetition scheduling.
The library is actively maintained, well-established (29756 stars), and has no known vulnerabilities. The AGPL-3.0-or-later license requires that derivative works be open-source; verify this aligns with your project before use. Medium install friction (compiled wheels, Python 3.10+ required) is a minor trade-off for core functionality.
Install
anki on PyPI
Before you install
Medium install friction due to compiled wheels (abi3, platform-specific); active maintenance with recent release (9 days old) and strong repository signals (29756 stars, last commit 2026-08-14). Requires Python 3.10+.
Requires Python 3.10 or later; platform-specific compiled wheels (macOS, Linux, Windows); Anki collection file path must exist and be readable.
License in practice
AGPL-3.0-or-later: derivative works and modifications must be released under AGPL. Suitable for open-source projects and add-ons; proprietary applications using this library must comply with copyleft obligations or seek alternative licensing.
Quickstart
pip install anki
from anki import Collection
col = Collection('/path/to/collection.anki2')
notes = col.find_notes('deck:Default')
print(len(notes))Verify before relying
- Whether the Rust backend is bundled in the wheel or requires separate installation.
- Performance characteristics when working with large collections (thousands of cards).
- Stability guarantees for the Python API across minor version updates.
Package facts
| License | AGPL-3.0-or-later agpl |
| Python support | Supports the current Python release >=3.10 |
| Install friction | Medium. Platform-specific wheel |
| Runtime dependencies | 7 packagesdecoratordistromarkdownorjsonprotobufrequeststyping-extensions |
| Maintenance | Actively maintained 9 days since the last release |
| Last repo commit | |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 276,344 / month, #8,165 on PyPI 30-day window, as of 2026-08-14 |
| Known vulnerabilities | None known OSV.dev, checked 2026-08-14 |
Evidence: anki-26.8.1-cp310-abi3-macosx_12_0_arm64.whl; anki-26.8.1-cp310-abi3-macosx_12_0_x86_64.whl; anki-26.8.1-cp310-abi3-manylinux_2_35_aarch64.whl; anki-26.8.1-cp310-abi3-manylinux_2_35_x86_64.whl; anki-26.8.1-cp310-abi3-win_amd64.whl; anki-26.8.1-cp310-abi3-win_arm64.whl
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See also aqt · fsrs · genanki · browser-use-core · anchorpy-core · schedule · APScheduler · Flask-APScheduler · flpc · aiorecollect