---
id: pgi
version: "0.0.11.2"
license: LGPL-2.1+
license_treatment: copyleft
maintenance: active
---

# pgi — Pure Python GObject Introspection Bindings

License: copyleft · Maintenance: active · Downloads: 94.8K/mo

## What it is and what it does

PGI is a pure Python implementation of GObject Introspection bindings, designed as an alternative to PyGObject. It uses ctypes and optionally cffi to wrap GObject libraries without requiring compiled C extensions, supporting CPython 2.7, CPython 3.3+, PyPy 1.9+, and PyPy3 2.3+.

The package is explicitly pre-alpha and incomplete—the description warns that most features beyond the working examples are unsupported. It requires libgirepository 1.0 as a system dependency and loads type information from standard GObject paths. The latest release was 2018-06-25, though the repository remains active.

Use it for:

- Access GObject libraries from Python without installing compiled dependencies
- Run GObject-based code on PyPy or other Python implementations where alternatives may not be available
- Prototype GObject bindings in pure Python before committing to compiled solutions
- Embed GObject library access in environments where system package management is restricted

## Worth the install?

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

PGI provides pure Python bindings to GObject Introspection using ctypes and cffi, allowing access to GObject-based libraries from Python without compiled extensions.

No, not recommended for production use. The package is pre-alpha with explicit warnings that most features are unimplemented, has not been released since 2018, and requires system-level GObject dependencies that add friction. Use only if you have a specific need for pure Python implementation or PyPy compatibility and are prepared to work within its documented limitations.

## Install

pip install pgi
uv add pgi
poetry add pgi

## Installing pgi

Before you install: Install friction is high: the package requires libgirepository 1.0 as a system dependency. The latest release was 2018-06-25, but the repository remains active with recent commits, suggesting ongoing maintenance despite the release gap.

License in practice: Licensed under LGPL-2.1+, a copyleft license. Any software linking or distributing this package must comply with LGPL terms, including making source code available under compatible licensing.

Quickstart:

import pgi
pgi.install_as_gi()
from gi.repository import Gtk, GObject

Requires libgirepository 1.0 installed on the system; typelibs must be accessible via GI_TYPELIB_PATH or /usr/lib/girepository-1.0/

Verify before relying:

- Current compatibility with Python versions beyond 3.3 and whether PyPy 1.9+ and PyPy3 2.3+ support remains functional
- Whether the package works reliably with modern GObject Introspection releases
- Scope of the 'lots of things not implemented' warning and which GObject features are actually usable

## Package facts

- License: LGPL-2.1+ (copyleft)
- Python support: unspecified
- Install friction: high
- Maintenance: active
- Downloads: 94.8K/month (top 15,000 on PyPI)
- Known vulnerabilities: none known

## Tags

gobject introspection python bindings, gtk bindings pure python, ctypes gobject wrapper, glib python bindings, pypy gobject support, gobject-introspection, pure-python, ctypes-wrapper

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