---
id: cabarchive
version: "0.2.5"
license: LGPL-2.1-or-later
license_treatment: copyleft
maintenance: aging
---

# cabarchive — A pure-python library for creating and extracting cab files

License: copyleft · Maintenance: aging · Downloads: 75.9K/mo

## What it is and what it does

cabarchive is a pure-Python implementation for reading and writing Microsoft Cabinet archive files. It provides a straightforward interface to extract CAB archives and create new ones, all without requiring external binaries or compiled dependencies. The library is designed for developers who need to work with CAB files in Python environments where external tools like cabextract may not be available or desirable.

The package has been in development since 2018 and is classified as Beta. It carries no runtime dependencies, making it lightweight to integrate. The codebase is maintained but aging—the last release occurred 185 days ago, suggesting it is stable but not under active feature development. For straightforward CAB extraction and creation tasks, it offers a self-contained solution.

Use it for:

- Extract Windows driver CAB files or firmware updates in Python without external tools.
- Automate unpacking of legacy Microsoft software distributions packaged as CAB archives.
- Create CAB archives programmatically for Windows deployment or distribution workflows.
- Parse and inspect CAB file contents in cross-platform Python applications.
- Integrate CAB handling into build or packaging pipelines without system dependencies.

## Worth the install?

AI-flagged interpretation of the facts above — verify before relying.

A pure-Python library for creating and extracting Microsoft Cabinet (CAB) archive files without external dependencies.

Yes, if you need pure-Python CAB file handling without external dependencies. The library is stable, has no runtime dependencies, and carries no known vulnerabilities. The aging maintenance status and Beta classification mean it is not under active development, but it is suitable for straightforward extraction and creation tasks. Review LGPL-2.1-or-later copyleft obligations if integrating into proprietary software.

## Install

pip install cabarchive
uv add cabarchive
poetry add cabarchive

## Installing cabarchive

Before you install: Low install friction with no runtime dependencies. Maintenance is aging—last release was 185 days ago, though the repository remains active with a recent commit on 2026-02-10. Suitable for stable, maintenance-light use cases.

License in practice: Licensed under LGPL-2.1-or-later (copyleft). Any derivative work or distribution must comply with copyleft obligations; proprietary projects should review compatibility before use.

Quickstart:

pip install cabarchive

import cabarchive

# Extract a CAB file
cab = cabarchive.CabArchive('archive.cab')
cab.extractall('output_directory')

Verify before relying:

- Whether the library supports all CAB compression formats and edge cases in real-world archives.
- Performance characteristics when handling large or complex CAB files.
- Specific Python version compatibility (requires_python is unspecified in metadata).

## Package facts

- License: LGPL-2.1-or-later (copyleft)
- Python support: unspecified
- Install friction: low
- Maintenance: aging
- Downloads: 75.9K/month (top 15,000 on PyPI)
- Known vulnerabilities: none known

## Tags

cab file extract python, cabinet archive library, create cab files, cabarchive python, windows cabinet format, cab compression extract, pure python cab, archive-format, windows-compatibility

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