---
id: opuslib
version: "3.0.1"
license: BSD 3-Clause License
license_treatment: permissive
maintenance: abandoned
---

# opuslib — Python bindings to the libopus, IETF low-delay audio codec

License: permissive · Maintenance: abandoned · Downloads: 229.2K/mo

## What it is and what it does

opuslib wraps the libopus C library to let Python programs work with Opus audio codec. Opus is a low-latency, royalty-free codec designed for real-time communication and streaming. The package provides direct access to libopus encoding and decoding functions through Python, making it suitable for applications that need to compress or decompress audio data in Opus format.

The package has no Python runtime dependencies but requires the libopus C library to be installed on the system. It was last updated in January 2018 and is no longer actively maintained. The codebase targets Python 2.5–2.7 according to its classifiers, and there is no documentation of support for Python 3 or modern versions.

Use it for:

- Encode raw audio samples to Opus format for low-bandwidth transmission in VoIP applications
- Decode Opus-compressed audio streams in real-time communication systems
- Integrate Opus codec support into audio processing pipelines that require IETF-standard compression

## Worth the install?

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

Provides Python bindings to libopus, the IETF low-delay audio codec, allowing Python code to encode and decode Opus-compressed audio streams.

No. The package is abandoned (last release 2018, no commits since mid-2023) and targets only Python 2.5–2.7, which are long out of support. High install friction from compiled dependencies and lack of maintenance make it unsuitable for new projects. Consider actively maintained alternatives if Opus support is needed.

## Install

pip install opuslib
uv add opuslib
poetry add opuslib

## Installing opuslib

Before you install: High install friction due to compiled C dependency on libopus. Package is abandoned—last release January 2018, no commits since July 2023. Maintenance status makes it risky for new projects.

License in practice: BSD 3-Clause License is permissive and poses no restrictions on use, modification, or distribution in commercial or private projects.

Quickstart:

pip install opuslib
import opuslib
# Requires libopus system library to be installed

libopus C library must be installed on the system before opuslib can be used

Verify before relying:

- Whether libopus system library is available on target platforms and how to install it
- Compatibility with modern Python versions beyond 2.7 (classifiers list only 2.5–2.7)
- Whether the bindings work with current libopus releases

## Package facts

- License: BSD 3-Clause License (permissive)
- Python support: unspecified
- Install friction: high
- Maintenance: abandoned
- Downloads: 229.2K/month (top 15,000 on PyPI)
- Known vulnerabilities: none known

## Tags

opus audio codec python, libopus bindings, audio encoding decoding, low-delay codec, opus compression, audio stream processing, audio-codec, abandoned

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