bellows
Library implementing EZSP
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
Yes, if you have a Silicon Labs Zigbee coordinator device and want to use it with Home Assistant ZHA or build a custom Zigbee application. The library is actively maintained, has low install friction, and is the standard driver for these adapters in the zigpy ecosystem. No, if you lack compatible hardware or need a different Zigbee radio chipset. Be aware of the GPL-3.0 copyleft license if you plan to distribute derivative work.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- Requires Python 3.11 or later; requires a Silicon Labs EM35x or EFR32 Zigbee coordinator device with compatible EmberZNet firmware flashed and connected via serial interface.
- Low install friction; pure Python wheel with four runtime dependencies (click, click-log, voluptuous, zigpy).
- Active maintenance with a recent commit on 2026-08-06 and 219 repository stars.
License · maintenance · safety
GPL-3.0 (copyleft) — GPL-3.0 copyleft license means any derivative work or distribution must also be licensed under GPL-3.0; suitable for open-source projects but incompatible with proprietary closed-source applications.
last release 2026-07-29 (16 days) · last repo commit 2026-08-06 · 219 stars
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 372,468 downloads/mo, #7,160 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
pip install bellows
import bellows
# Requires EZSP_DEVICE environment variable or explicit device path
# Example: export EZSP_DEVICE=/dev/ttyUSB0
# Then use bellows CLI: bellows devices- Whether the library works standalone or requires Home Assistant/ZHA integration to be useful
- Specific EZSP protocol versions (v4/v5/v6/v7/v8) supported by version 1.0.0
- Current stability and recommended hardware among the listed Zigbee adapters
What it is and what it does
bellows is a Python library that implements the EZSP (EmberZNet Serial Protocol) to communicate with Silicon Labs Zigbee coordinator hardware—specifically EM35x (Ember) and EFR32 (Mighty Gecko) based devices. It acts as the radio driver layer for the zigpy project, translating high-level Zigbee operations into low-level EZSP commands sent over a serial interface to the coordinator chip. The library handles network formation, device discovery, and Zigbee Cluster Library (ZCL) operations, and includes a command-line interface for basic network management tasks.
The primary use case is enabling Home Assistant's ZHA (Zigbee Home Automation) integration to natively support Silicon Labs-based USB adapters and modules, allowing direct control of compatible Zigbee devices. It can also be used as a standalone library for custom Zigbee applications. The library requires Python 3.11 or later and depends on click, click-log, voluptuous, and zigpy.
Use it for
- Add native Zigbee support to Home Assistant using a Silicon Labs USB adapter or module with ZHA integration.
- Build custom Zigbee coordinator applications that control and monitor Zigbee devices over EZSP protocol.
- Manage Zigbee network formation, device pairing, and cluster operations via the bellows CLI.
- Integrate EmberZNet-based Zigbee radios into zigpy-based projects without writing low-level EZSP protocol code.
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
Yes, if you have a Silicon Labs Zigbee coordinator device and want to use it with Home Assistant ZHA or build a custom Zigbee application.
The library is actively maintained, has low install friction, and is the standard driver for these adapters in the zigpy ecosystem. No, if you lack compatible hardware or need a different Zigbee radio chipset. Be aware of the GPL-3.0 copyleft license if you plan to distribute derivative work.
Install
bellows on PyPI
Before you install
Low install friction; pure Python wheel with four runtime dependencies (click, click-log, voluptuous, zigpy). Active maintenance with a recent commit on 2026-08-06 and 219 repository stars.
Requires Python 3.11 or later; requires a Silicon Labs EM35x or EFR32 Zigbee coordinator device with compatible EmberZNet firmware flashed and connected via serial interface.
License in practice
GPL-3.0 copyleft license means any derivative work or distribution must also be licensed under GPL-3.0; suitable for open-source projects but incompatible with proprietary closed-source applications.
Quickstart
pip install bellows
import bellows
# Requires EZSP_DEVICE environment variable or explicit device path
# Example: export EZSP_DEVICE=/dev/ttyUSB0
# Then use bellows CLI: bellows devicesVerify before relying
- Whether the library works standalone or requires Home Assistant/ZHA integration to be useful
- Specific EZSP protocol versions (v4/v5/v6/v7/v8) supported by version 1.0.0
- Current stability and recommended hardware among the listed Zigbee adapters
Package facts
| License | GPL-3.0 copyleft |
| Python support | Supports the current Python release >=3.11 |
| Install friction | Low. Pure-Python wheel |
| Runtime dependencies | 4 packagesclickclick-logvoluptuouszigpy |
| Maintenance | Actively maintained 16 days since the last release |
| Last repo commit | |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 372,468 / month, #7,160 on PyPI 30-day window, as of 2026-08-14 |
| Known vulnerabilities | None known OSV.dev, checked 2026-08-14 |
Evidence: bellows-1.0.0-py3-none-any.whl
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See also universal-silabs-flasher · zigpy · zigpy-xbee · zigpy-zigate · zigpy-znp · zigpy-deconz · zha-quirks · python-escpos · zha · boschshcpy