igwn-ligolw
Python LIGO Light-Weight XML I/O Library
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
Yes, if you work with LIGO gravitational-wave data or compact object detection pipelines. The package is mature, actively maintained (last release 207 days ago), has no known vulnerabilities, and provides the standard Python interface for LIGOLW I/O. The copyleft license is a constraint only if you need proprietary distribution. Medium install friction is acceptable for a specialized scientific library with prebuilt wheels.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- Requires Python ≥3.9; depends on igwn-segments, numpy, python-dateutil, pyyaml, and tqdm.
- Medium install friction with prebuilt wheels for Python 3.10–3.13 across macOS, Linux, and musl platforms.
- Last release 207 days ago; marked as aging but classified as Mature.
License · maintenance · safety
GPL-3.0-or-later (copyleft) — Licensed under GPL-3.0-or-later (copyleft). Any derivative work or bundled distribution must also be open-source under compatible terms; proprietary use requires explicit permission or relicensing.
last release 2026-01-19 (207 days)
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 97,992 downloads/mo, #13,117 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
pip install igwn-ligolw
import igwn.ligolw
# Load and parse a LIGOLW XML document
doc = igwn.ligolw.load('data.xml')- Exact API surface and supported LIGOLW schema versions not detailed in excerpt.
- Performance characteristics for large XML documents not specified.
- Whether the fork from python-ligo-lw introduces breaking changes or maintains backward compatibility.
What it is and what it does
igwn-ligolw is a Python I/O library for the LIGO Light-Weight XML format, a specialized XML schema used extensively in gravitational-wave astronomy for compact object detection pipelines and associated analysis tools. The package was forked in 2024 from the original python-ligo-lw project and provides core functionality to read, write, and interact with LIGOLW documents programmatically.
The library integrates with standard scientific Python dependencies (numpy, pyyaml, tqdm, python-dateutil) and the igwn-segments package to handle time-interval logic. It is classified as Mature and supports Python 3.9 through 3.14, with prebuilt wheels available for common platforms. The copyleft GPL-3.0-or-later license means any derivative work must remain open-source.
Use it for
- Parse and extract event data from LIGO detector output XML files in gravitational-wave analysis workflows.
- Serialize detector metadata and pipeline results back to LIGOLW format for archival or downstream tool consumption.
- Integrate LIGOLW document handling into custom compact object detection or parameter estimation pipelines.
- Convert or validate LIGOLW XML schemas as part of data quality or format migration tasks.
- Access and manipulate time-interval metadata stored in LIGOLW documents using igwn-segments integration.
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
Yes, if you work with LIGO gravitational-wave data or compact object detection pipelines.
The package is mature, actively maintained (last release 207 days ago), has no known vulnerabilities, and provides the standard Python interface for LIGOLW I/O. The copyleft license is a constraint only if you need proprietary distribution. Medium install friction is acceptable for a specialized scientific library with prebuilt wheels.
Install
igwn-ligolw on PyPI
Before you install
Medium install friction with prebuilt wheels for Python 3.10–3.13 across macOS, Linux, and musl platforms. Last release 207 days ago; marked as aging but classified as Mature. Requires Python ≥3.9.
Requires Python ≥3.9; depends on igwn-segments, numpy, python-dateutil, pyyaml, and tqdm.
License in practice
Licensed under GPL-3.0-or-later (copyleft). Any derivative work or bundled distribution must also be open-source under compatible terms; proprietary use requires explicit permission or relicensing.
Quickstart
pip install igwn-ligolw
import igwn.ligolw
# Load and parse a LIGOLW XML document
doc = igwn.ligolw.load('data.xml')Verify before relying
- Exact API surface and supported LIGOLW schema versions not detailed in excerpt.
- Performance characteristics for large XML documents not specified.
- Whether the fork from python-ligo-lw introduces breaking changes or maintains backward compatibility.
Package facts
| License | GPL-3.0-or-later copyleft |
| Python support | Supports the current Python release >=3.9 |
| Install friction | Medium. Platform-specific wheel |
| Runtime dependencies | 5 packagesigwn-segmentsnumpypython-dateutilpyyamltqdm |
| Maintenance | Aging 207 days since the last release |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 97,992 / month, #13,117 on PyPI 30-day window, as of 2026-08-14 |
| Known vulnerabilities | None known OSV.dev, checked 2026-08-14 |
| Classifiers | Development Status :: 6 - MatureIntended Audience :: Science/ResearchLicense :: OSI Approved :: GNU General Public License v3 or later (GPLv3+)Natural Language :: EnglishOperating System :: POSIXProgramming Language :: PythonProgramming Language :: Python :: 3Programming Language :: Python :: 3.10Programming Language :: Python :: 3.11Programming Language :: Python :: 3.12Programming Language :: Python :: 3.13Programming Language :: Python :: 3.14Programming Language :: Python :: 3.6Programming Language :: Python :: 3.9Topic :: Scientific/EngineeringTopic :: Scientific/Engineering :: AstronomyTopic :: Scientific/Engineering :: PhysicsTopic :: Software Development :: LibrariesTopic :: Text Processing :: Markup :: XML |
Evidence: igwn_ligolw-2.1.1-cp310-cp310-macosx_12_0_arm64.whl; igwn_ligolw-2.1.1-cp310-cp310-macosx_13_0_x86_64.whl; igwn_ligolw-2.1.1-cp310-cp310-manylinux1_x86_64.manylinux_2_28_x86_64.manylinux_2_5_x86_64.whl; igwn_ligolw-2.1.1-cp310-cp310-manylinux2014_aarch64.manylinux_2_17_aarch64.manylinux_2_28_aarch64.whl; igwn_ligolw-2.1.1-cp310-cp310-musllinux_1_2_aarch64.whl; igwn_ligolw-2.1.1-cp310-cp310-musllinux_1_2_x86_64.whl; igwn_ligolw-2.1.1-cp311-cp311-macosx_12_0_arm64.whl; igwn_ligolw-2.1.1-cp311-cp311-macosx_13_0_x86_64.whl; igwn_ligolw-2.1.1-cp311-cp311-manylinux1_x86_64.manylinux_2_28_x86_64.manylinux_2_5_x86_64.whl; igwn_ligolw-2.1.1-cp311-cp311-manylinux2014_aarch64.manylinux_2_17_aarch64.manylinux_2_28_aarch64.whl; igwn_ligolw-2.1.1-cp311-cp311-musllinux_1_2_aarch64.whl; igwn_ligolw-2.1.1-cp311-cp311-musllinux_1_2_x86_64.whl; igwn_ligolw-2.1.1-cp312-cp312-macosx_13_0_x86_64.whl; igwn_ligolw-2.1.1-cp312-cp312-macosx_15_0_arm64.whl; igwn_ligolw-2.1.1-cp312-cp312-manylinux1_x86_64.manylinux_2_28_x86_64.manylinux_2_5_x86_64.whl; igwn_ligolw-2.1.1-cp312-cp312-manylinux2014_aarch64.manylinux_2_17_aarch64.manylinux_2_28_aarch64.whl; igwn_ligolw-2.1.1-cp312-cp312-musllinux_1_2_aarch64.whl; igwn_ligolw-2.1.1-cp312-cp312-musllinux_1_2_x86_64.whl; igwn_ligolw-2.1.1-cp313-cp313-macosx_12_0_arm64.whl; igwn_ligolw-2.1.1-cp313-cp313-macosx_13_0_x86_64.whl
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See also dttlib · igwn-segments · lalsuite · igwn-auth-utils · lscsoft-glue · python-didl-lite · pygexf · parsel · xml-python · pykml