grpclib
Pure-Python gRPC implementation for asyncio
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
Yes, if you need gRPC in an asyncio application and want a pure-Python implementation. The package is stable, actively maintained, has low install friction, and carries a permissive license. The main constraint is the Python >= 3.10 requirement and the need to generate stubs via protoc before use. Not suitable if you need synchronous blocking RPC or if you require gRPC features not yet implemented in this library.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- Requires Python >= 3.10.
- You must generate gRPC stub files using protoc with the grpclib plugin before using the library; protobuf and grpcio-tools are not runtime dependencies but are needed for code generation.
- Low install friction with only two runtime dependencies (h2 and multidict).
License · maintenance · safety
BSD-3-Clause (permissive) — BSD-3-Clause is a permissive open-source license, so you can use this package freely in commercial and private projects with minimal restrictions.
last release 2025-12-14 (243 days) · last repo commit 2025-12-14 · 985 stars
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 59,767,909 downloads/mo, #507 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
pip install grpclib
import asyncio
from grpclib.client import Channel
from grpclib.server import Server
# Client example
async with Channel('127.0.0.1', 50051) as channel:
stub = YourServiceStub(channel)
reply = await stub.YourMethod(YourRequest())- Whether grpclib's performance characteristics match your throughput or latency requirements compared to other gRPC implementations.
- Compatibility with specific gRPC features or extensions you may need beyond basic client-server communication.
What it is and what it does
grpclib is a pure-Python implementation of gRPC built on top of h2 (the HTTP/2 library) that works natively with Python's asyncio. It lets you define services using protocol buffers and then generate client and server stubs that run asynchronously, making it suitable for building concurrent, event-driven RPC systems without relying on compiled C extensions.
The library handles the gRPC protocol layer—HTTP/2 framing, message serialization, and stream management—so you focus on implementing your service methods as async functions. You define your service interface in a .proto file, generate stubs using protoc with the grpclib plugin, and then write async handlers on the server side and make async calls on the client side. It depends only on h2 and multidict at runtime, keeping the dependency footprint small.
Use it for
- Build microservices that communicate over gRPC with async/await patterns in Python.
- Create event-driven server applications that handle many concurrent client connections efficiently.
- Integrate gRPC endpoints into existing asyncio-based applications without blocking I/O.
- Prototype or deploy gRPC services in environments where you need pure Python (no C extensions).
- Implement bidirectional streaming RPC calls between Python services using async generators.
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
Yes, if you need gRPC in an asyncio application and want a pure-Python implementation.
The package is stable, actively maintained, has low install friction, and carries a permissive license. The main constraint is the Python >= 3.10 requirement and the need to generate stubs via protoc before use. Not suitable if you need synchronous blocking RPC or if you require gRPC features not yet implemented in this library.
Install
grpclib on PyPI
Before you install
Low install friction with only two runtime dependencies (h2 and multidict). The package is in production/stable status and actively maintained, with a recent release on 2025-12-14 and no sign of abandonment.
Requires Python >= 3.10. You must generate gRPC stub files using protoc with the grpclib plugin before using the library; protobuf and grpcio-tools are not runtime dependencies but are needed for code generation.
License in practice
BSD-3-Clause is a permissive open-source license, so you can use this package freely in commercial and private projects with minimal restrictions.
Quickstart
pip install grpclib
import asyncio
from grpclib.client import Channel
from grpclib.server import Server
# Client example
async with Channel('127.0.0.1', 50051) as channel:
stub = YourServiceStub(channel)
reply = await stub.YourMethod(YourRequest())Verify before relying
- Whether grpclib's performance characteristics match your throughput or latency requirements compared to other gRPC implementations.
- Compatibility with specific gRPC features or extensions you may need beyond basic client-server communication.
Package facts
| License | BSD-3-Clause permissive |
| Python support | Supports the current Python release >=3.10 |
| Install friction | Low. Pure-Python wheel |
| Runtime dependencies | 2 packagesh2multidict |
| Maintenance | Aging 243 days since the last release |
| Last repo commit | |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 59,767,909 / month, #507 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/StableIntended Audience :: DevelopersLicense :: OSI Approved :: BSD LicenseOperating System :: OS IndependentProgramming Language :: PythonProgramming Language :: Python :: 3 :: OnlyProgramming Language :: Python :: 3.10Programming Language :: Python :: 3.11Programming Language :: Python :: 3.12Programming Language :: Python :: 3.13Programming Language :: Python :: 3.14Topic :: Internet :: WWW/HTTP :: HTTP ServersTopic :: Software Development :: Libraries :: Python Modules |
Evidence: grpclib-0.4.9-py3-none-any.whl
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