fast-simplification

What it is and what it does

fast-simplification wraps the Fast-Quadric-Mesh-Simplification C++ library to reduce 3D mesh complexity in Python. It takes arrays of vertex points and triangle faces, then outputs a simplified mesh with fewer triangles while maintaining the overall shape. The package works directly with numpy arrays or integrates with PyVista for seamless mesh file I/O and visualization.

The library is designed for applications that need fast mesh decimation—such as preparing models for real-time rendering, reducing storage size, or processing large mesh collections with consistent topology. It offers both a basic numpy-based API and an advanced PyVista integration, plus a replay mechanism to apply the same decimation sequence to multiple meshes or to revert to intermediate simplification levels without recomputing from scratch.

Use it for:

• Reduce polygon count on 3D models for real-time graphics or game engines.
• Prepare high-resolution scans or CAD meshes for web or mobile deployment.
• Apply identical decimation to a collection of meshes that share topology (e.g., anatomical variants).
• Speed up mesh processing pipelines by simplifying before further analysis or rendering.
• Transfer field data between original and simplified meshes using vertex correspondence maps.

Worth the install?

AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying

Simplifies 3D meshes by reducing the number of triangles while preserving shape, wrapping the Fast-Quadric-Mesh-Simplification C++ library with a Python interface and direct PyVista integration.

Yes. The package is actively maintained, has no known vulnerabilities, supports current Python versions (3.9–3.14), and offers a performant alternative to VTK decimation with straightforward numpy and PyVista integration. Install friction is moderate but acceptable for a compiled extension. MIT licensing removes legal barriers.

Install

fast-simplification on PyPI

pip install fast-simplification

uv add fast-simplification

poetry add fast-simplification

Installing fast-simplification

Before you install

Medium install friction due to compiled wheels for multiple Python versions and platforms (cp310–cp313 on macOS, Linux, Windows). Active maintenance with a recent release (2 days old) and steady repository activity (206 stars). Single runtime dependency on numpy.

License in practice

MIT license permits commercial and private use with minimal restrictions, making it suitable for most projects.

Quickstart

import numpy as np
import fast_simplification

points = np.array([[0.5, -0.5, 0.0], [0.0, -0.5, 0.0], [-0.5, -0.5, 0.0]])
faces = np.array([[0, 1, 2]])
points_out, faces_out = fast_simplification.simplify(points, faces, target_reduction=0.5)

Requires numpy arrays; PyVista integration is optional but recommended for mesh I/O.

Verify before relying

• Whether the 4–5x performance improvement over VTK decimation mentioned in the description is consistently reproducible across different mesh types and sizes.
• Specific memory requirements or limits for large meshes during simplification.

Package facts

Evidence: fast_simplification-0.2.0-cp310-cp310-macosx_10_14_x86_64.whl; fast_simplification-0.2.0-cp310-cp310-macosx_11_0_arm64.whl; fast_simplification-0.2.0-cp310-cp310-manylinux_2_24_aarch64.manylinux_2_28_aarch64.whl; fast_simplification-0.2.0-cp310-cp310-manylinux_2_24_x86_64.manylinux_2_28_x86_64.whl; fast_simplification-0.2.0-cp310-cp310-win_amd64.whl; fast_simplification-0.2.0-cp311-cp311-macosx_10_14_x86_64.whl; fast_simplification-0.2.0-cp311-cp311-macosx_11_0_arm64.whl; fast_simplification-0.2.0-cp311-cp311-manylinux_2_24_aarch64.manylinux_2_28_aarch64.whl; fast_simplification-0.2.0-cp311-cp311-manylinux_2_24_x86_64.manylinux_2_28_x86_64.whl; fast_simplification-0.2.0-cp311-cp311-win_amd64.whl; fast_simplification-0.2.0-cp312-cp312-macosx_10_14_x86_64.whl; fast_simplification-0.2.0-cp312-cp312-macosx_11_0_arm64.whl; fast_simplification-0.2.0-cp312-cp312-manylinux_2_24_aarch64.manylinux_2_28_aarch64.whl; fast_simplification-0.2.0-cp312-cp312-manylinux_2_24_x86_64.manylinux_2_28_x86_64.whl; fast_simplification-0.2.0-cp312-cp312-win_amd64.whl; fast_simplification-0.2.0-cp313-cp313-macosx_10_14_x86_64.whl; fast_simplification-0.2.0-cp313-cp313-macosx_11_0_arm64.whl; fast_simplification-0.2.0-cp313-cp313-manylinux_2_24_aarch64.manylinux_2_28_aarch64.whl; fast_simplification-0.2.0-cp313-cp313-manylinux_2_24_x86_64.manylinux_2_28_x86_64.whl; fast_simplification-0.2.0-cp313-cp313-win_amd64.whl

Keywords: fast-simplification, decimation

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