---
id: nab-python
version: "0.0.13"
license: MIT
license_treatment: permissive
maintenance: active
---

# nab-python — Index-backed provider, lockfile emitter, and downloader for nab

License: permissive · Maintenance: active · Downloads: 425.2K/mo

## What it is and what it does

nab-python is a Python package index provider that powers the nab resolver, handling all the mechanics of interaction with standards-based Python package indexes. It is designed for developers who want to embed package resolution and lockfile generation into their own tools without using the CLI. The package implements build and distribution policies that let you control how the resolver and installer behave.

The package is actively maintained and currently in beta. It depends on build, installer, nab-index, nab-resolver, pyproject-hooks, tomli-w, tomli, and typing-extensions. The maintainers explicitly warn that the API is under rapid experimentation, so you should pin to exact versions rather than ranges.

Use it for:

- Embed Python package resolution in a custom build or deployment tool
- Generate lockfiles programmatically for reproducible environments
- Build a package manager or dependency analysis tool on top of nab
- Integrate index-backed resolution into a CI/CD or infrastructure tool
- Control resolver behavior through custom build and distribution policies

## Worth the install?

AI-flagged interpretation of the facts above — verify before relying.

Provides Python package index integration for the nab resolver, handling package discovery, resolution, and lockfile generation without requiring the CLI.

Yes, if you need to embed package resolution in a tool and are willing to pin exact versions due to the API's experimental status. The active maintenance, low install friction, MIT license, and zero known vulnerabilities support adoption. Not suitable if you need a stable, long-term API guarantee.

## Install

pip install nab-python
uv add nab-python
poetry add nab-python

## Installing nab-python

Before you install: Active maintenance with a release 3 days old. Low install friction from a pure-wheel distribution. Eight runtime dependencies including build, installer, and resolver components suggest a moderately complex dependency tree, though all are standard tooling packages.

License in practice: MIT license permits commercial and private use with minimal restrictions, making it suitable for embedding in other tools.

Quickstart:

pip install nab-python

from nab_python import <provider_or_resolver_class>
# Embed resolver in your tool without CLI

Requires Python 3.10 or later; API is under rapid experimentation, so exact version pinning is recommended.

Verify before relying:

- Specific API surface and stability guarantees beyond 'under rapid experimentation'
- Whether the eight runtime dependencies are all required or some are optional
- Performance characteristics for large dependency graphs or index queries

## Package facts

- License: MIT (permissive)
- Python support: supports_current
- Install friction: low
- Maintenance: active
- Downloads: 425.2K/month (top 15,000 on PyPI)
- Known vulnerabilities: none known

## Tags

python package resolution library, embed package resolver in tools, python index provider api, lockfile generation for packages, programmatic dependency resolution, nab resolver integration, package index abstraction, build and distribution policies, package-resolution, lockfile-generation, programmatic-api

[View on SkillFed](https://skillfed.io/packages/nab-python) · [View on PyPI](https://pypi.org/project/nab-python/)