google-compute-engine
Google Compute Engine
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
No. This package is abandoned (last commit 2021-10-28, last release 2019-01-24) and targets end-of-life Python versions. Install this only if you are maintaining a legacy system that explicitly requires the old Python-based guest environment code. For any new or modern GCE workload, use the native system packages from Google Cloud repositories instead.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- Targets Python 2.6–3.7 (end-of-life versions); modern Python interpreters may not support this package.
- High install friction; the package is abandoned (last commit 2021-10-28) and has not been updated since 2019-01-24.
- It targets Python 2.6–3.7, which are end-of-life versions.
License · maintenance · safety
Apache Software License (permissive) — Licensed under Apache Software License (permissive). No restrictions on commercial or private use, modification, or redistribution provided the license is included.
last release 2019-01-24 (2759 days) · last repo commit 2021-10-28 · 369 stars · archived
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 156,422 downloads/mo, #10,785 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
pip install google-compute-engine==2.8.13
import google_compute_engine
# Access GCE metadata and guest environment configuration- Whether this package remains functional with modern Python versions or GCE API changes since its last release.
- Whether the metadata server communication channel still works with current GCE instances.
- Recommended replacement path for new projects beyond the deprecated-packages table.
What it is and what it does
This is a legacy Python package that provided the guest environment tooling historically installed on Google Compute Engine Linux images. It includes scripts and daemons that read the GCE metadata server to configure virtual machines on the platform—handling hostname setup, system initialization, and other on-boot configuration tasks. The package is now deprecated and archived; Google has moved these functions into separate packages distributed as native system packages rather than PyPI modules.
The PyPI version exists mainly as a legacy artifact. It targets Python 2.6 through 3.7 and has received no updates since 2019-01-24. If you are running a GCE instance, the native system packages installed by Google's repositories are the current standard. This PyPI package should only be considered if you have a specific reason to use the old Python-based guest environment code.
Use it for
- Troubleshooting or inspecting legacy GCE instances running very old images that still use the Python-based guest environment.
- Accessing GCE metadata server from a custom Python script on an older instance where native packages are not available.
- Historical reference or porting work when migrating from very old GCE deployments to modern infrastructure.
- Development or testing of GCE metadata interaction patterns in environments where native packages cannot be installed.
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
No.
This package is abandoned (last commit 2021-10-28, last release 2019-01-24) and targets end-of-life Python versions. Install this only if you are maintaining a legacy system that explicitly requires the old Python-based guest environment code. For any new or modern GCE workload, use the native system packages from Google Cloud repositories instead.
Install
google-compute-engine on PyPI
Before you install
High install friction; the package is abandoned (last commit 2021-10-28) and has not been updated since 2019-01-24. It targets Python 2.6–3.7, which are end-of-life versions.
Targets Python 2.6–3.7 (end-of-life versions); modern Python interpreters may not support this package.
License in practice
Licensed under Apache Software License (permissive). No restrictions on commercial or private use, modification, or redistribution provided the license is included.
Quickstart
pip install google-compute-engine==2.8.13
import google_compute_engine
# Access GCE metadata and guest environment configurationVerify before relying
- Whether this package remains functional with modern Python versions or GCE API changes since its last release.
- Whether the metadata server communication channel still works with current GCE instances.
- Recommended replacement path for new projects beyond the deprecated-packages table.
Package facts
| License | Apache Software License permissive |
| Python support | Not specified |
| Install friction | High. Source build required |
| Runtime dependencies | None |
| Maintenance | Abandoned 2,759 days since the last release |
| Last repo commit | repository archived |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 156,422 / month, #10,785 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/StableEnvironment :: No Input/Output (Daemon)Intended Audience :: DevelopersIntended Audience :: System AdministratorsLicense :: OSI Approved :: Apache Software LicenseOperating System :: POSIX :: LinuxProgramming Language :: PythonProgramming Language :: Python :: 2Programming Language :: Python :: 2.6Programming Language :: Python :: 2.7Programming Language :: Python :: 3Programming Language :: Python :: 3.2Programming Language :: Python :: 3.3Programming Language :: Python :: 3.4Programming Language :: Python :: 3.5Programming Language :: Python :: 3.6Programming Language :: Python :: 3.7Topic :: InternetTopic :: Software Development :: Libraries :: Python ModulesTopic :: System :: Installation/SetupTopic :: System :: Systems Administration |
Evidence: google-compute-engine-2.8.13.tar.gz
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See also gcloud · google-cloud-compute · google-cloud-os-config · python-rrmngmnt · google-cloud-os-login · hyperlight-sandbox-python-guest · google-cloud-dns · google-cloud · opentelemetry-resourcedetector-gcp · gcloud-rest-auth