FlowIO
FlowIO is a Python library for reading / writing Flow Cytometry Standard (FCS) files
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
Yes, if you need straightforward FCS file I/O with minimal overhead. The BSD 3-Clause license is permissive, and the package is stable and production-ready. However, the 462-day gap since the last release and aging maintenance status mean you should verify that the package still meets your needs and that any bugs or compatibility issues with newer Python versions have been addressed. For advanced cytometry analysis, use FlowKit instead.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- Requires numpy; Python 3.9 or later.
- High install friction due to numpy as a compiled dependency.
- The package is in aging maintenance status—last release was 462 days ago—though the repository remains active with a recent commit on 2025-11-05 and no archived status.
License · maintenance · safety
permissive license (permissive) — BSD 3-Clause License permits commercial and private use with minimal restrictions; you must retain copyright notices and disclaimers in source and binary distributions.
last release 2025-05-09 (462 days) · last repo commit 2025-11-05 · 58 stars
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 120,102 downloads/mo, #12,042 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
pip install flowio
import flowio
fcs = flowio.FlowData('sample.fcs')
print(fcs.text)- Whether the 462-day gap since the last release (2025-05-09) reflects planned stability or reduced active development.
- Performance characteristics when handling large FCS datasets or batch processing scenarios.
What it is and what it does
FlowIO is a lightweight Python library for reading and writing Flow Cytometry Standard (FCS) files. It focuses on minimal dependencies and straightforward parsing, making it suitable for scenarios like web server backends or simple metadata extraction from flow cytometry datasets. The library depends only on numpy and targets Python 3.9 through 3.13.
For users needing only FCS file I/O and basic data access, FlowIO provides a direct, low-overhead solution. The package is marked Production/Stable and has been maintained since 2018, though recent activity has slowed. For more advanced cytometry analysis—compensation, transformation, gating, or FlowJo workspace import—the related FlowKit library is recommended instead.
Use it for
- Parse FCS metadata and parameters from flow cytometry experiments in a web service backend.
- Extract raw flow cytometry data from FCS files for downstream processing in data pipelines.
- Write standardized FCS files from processed cytometry data to share with other analysis tools.
- Batch convert or validate FCS file format compliance across a dataset collection.
- Integrate FCS file reading into lightweight command-line tools without heavy dependencies.
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
Yes, if you need straightforward FCS file I/O with minimal overhead.
The BSD 3-Clause license is permissive, and the package is stable and production-ready. However, the 462-day gap since the last release and aging maintenance status mean you should verify that the package still meets your needs and that any bugs or compatibility issues with newer Python versions have been addressed. For advanced cytometry analysis, use FlowKit instead.
Install
flowio on PyPI
Before you install
High install friction due to numpy as a compiled dependency. The package is in aging maintenance status—last release was 462 days ago—though the repository remains active with a recent commit on 2025-11-05 and no archived status.
Requires numpy; Python 3.9 or later.
License in practice
BSD 3-Clause License permits commercial and private use with minimal restrictions; you must retain copyright notices and disclaimers in source and binary distributions.
Quickstart
pip install flowio
import flowio
fcs = flowio.FlowData('sample.fcs')
print(fcs.text)Verify before relying
- Whether the 462-day gap since the last release (2025-05-09) reflects planned stability or reduced active development.
- Performance characteristics when handling large FCS datasets or batch processing scenarios.
Package facts
| License | permissive license permissive |
| Python support | Not specified |
| Install friction | High. Source build required |
| Runtime dependencies | 1 packagenumpy |
| Maintenance | Aging 462 days since the last release |
| Last repo commit | |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 120,102 / month, #12,042 on PyPI 30-day window, as of 2026-08-14 |
| Known vulnerabilities | None known OSV.dev, checked 2026-08-14 |
| Classifiers | Development Status :: 5 - Production/StableLicense :: OSI Approved :: BSD LicenseProgramming Language :: Python :: 3.10Programming Language :: Python :: 3.11Programming Language :: Python :: 3.12Programming Language :: Python :: 3.13Programming Language :: Python :: 3.9 |
Evidence: flowio-1.4.0.tar.gz
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