pact-python-ffi
Python bindings for the Pact FFI library
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
Yes, if you are an advanced user or library author building on Pact and need direct FFI access. No, if you are doing standard contract testing—use the main Pact Python library instead. Active maintenance, no known vulnerabilities, permissive license, and broad platform support make it safe to adopt for its intended use case.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- Requires Python ≥3.10.
- Binary wheels are platform-specific; installation pulls the appropriate wheel for your OS and architecture.
- Medium install friction due to platform-specific binary wheels across macOS, Linux, Windows, and ARM variants.
License · maintenance · safety
MIT (permissive) — MIT license (permissive). No restrictions on commercial or private use; attribution required.
last release 2026-07-08 (37 days) · last repo commit 2026-08-13 · 677 stars
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 1,434,855 downloads/mo, #3,901 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
pip install pact-python-ffi
import pact_python_ffi
# Access FFI functions directly- Stability guarantees for the FFI API surface across minor/patch versions.
- Performance characteristics or overhead of the wrapper layer compared to direct usage.
- Compatibility with the main pact-python library when both are used together.
What it is and what it does
pact-python-ffi is a thin Python wrapper around the Pact FFI, a C API exposed by the Pact reference implementation. It provides direct access to low-level Pact operations for developers who need fine-grained control or are building higher-level libraries. Most classes wrap C pointers directly and implement `__del__` methods to manage memory allocated by the underlying library, preventing leaks.
The package is intended for advanced users and library authors rather than typical contract-testing workflows. Functions from the FFI are exposed directly as module-level callables; the API is not guaranteed stable. For standard contract testing, the main Pact Python library is recommended instead.
Use it for
- Building custom higher-level abstractions or domain-specific testing frameworks on top of the raw FFI.
- Integrating contract testing into specialized CI/CD or testing orchestration systems requiring low-level control.
- Accessing FFI functionality not yet exposed by higher-level libraries.
- Advanced debugging or introspection of Pact operations at the C API level.
- Porting or adapting FFI bindings from other languages to Python-based toolchains.
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
Yes, if you are an advanced user or library author building on Pact and need direct FFI access.
No, if you are doing standard contract testing—use the main Pact Python library instead. Active maintenance, no known vulnerabilities, permissive license, and broad platform support make it safe to adopt for its intended use case.
Install
pact-python-ffi on PyPI
Before you install
Medium install friction due to platform-specific binary wheels across macOS, Linux, Windows, and ARM variants. Active maintenance with recent release; last commit 2026-08-13. Supports Python 3.10–3.14.
Requires Python ≥3.10. Binary wheels are platform-specific; installation pulls the appropriate wheel for your OS and architecture.
License in practice
MIT license (permissive). No restrictions on commercial or private use; attribution required.
Quickstart
pip install pact-python-ffi
import pact_python_ffi
# Access FFI functions directlyVerify before relying
- Stability guarantees for the FFI API surface across minor/patch versions.
- Performance characteristics or overhead of the wrapper layer compared to direct usage.
- Compatibility with the main pact-python library when both are used together.
Package facts
| License | MIT permissive |
| Python support | Supports the current Python release >=3.10 |
| Install friction | Medium. Platform-specific wheel |
| Runtime dependencies | 1 packagecffi |
| Maintenance | Actively maintained 37 days since the last release |
| Last repo commit | |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 1,434,855 / month, #3,901 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 :: ConsoleIntended Audience :: DevelopersLicense :: OSI Approved :: MIT LicenseOperating System :: MacOS :: MacOS XOperating System :: Microsoft :: WindowsOperating System :: POSIX :: LinuxProgramming 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 :: Software Development :: Testing |
Evidence: pact_python_ffi-0.5.4.1-cp310-abi3-macosx_12_0_arm64.whl; pact_python_ffi-0.5.4.1-cp310-abi3-macosx_12_0_x86_64.whl; pact_python_ffi-0.5.4.1-cp310-abi3-manylinux2014_aarch64.manylinux_2_17_aarch64.manylinux_2_28_aarch64.whl; pact_python_ffi-0.5.4.1-cp310-abi3-manylinux_2_24_x86_64.manylinux_2_28_x86_64.whl; pact_python_ffi-0.5.4.1-cp310-abi3-musllinux_1_2_aarch64.whl; pact_python_ffi-0.5.4.1-cp310-abi3-musllinux_1_2_x86_64.whl; pact_python_ffi-0.5.4.1-cp310-abi3-win_amd64.whl; pact_python_ffi-0.5.4.1-cp310-abi3-win_arm64.whl
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