pyepics
Epics Channel Access for Python
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
Yes, if you work with EPICS control systems. The package is actively maintained, has low install friction, no known vulnerabilities, and provides a well-established interface to a standard scientific control protocol. Verify the Epics Open License terms for your use case before committing to a production deployment.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- Requires Python 3.10 or later.
- EPICS Channel Access shared libraries are provided for Windows, MacOS, and Linux by default, but can be overridden via environment variable if you wish to use your own CA library versions.
- Low install friction with a pure-Python wheel distribution.
License · maintenance · safety
(unclear) — License treatment is unclear in the metadata; the package description states it is distributed under the Epics Open License, but this is not formally declared in standard SPDX or license_raw fields. Verify the actual license terms before use in proprietary or restricted contexts.
last release 2026-05-20 (86 days) · last repo commit 2026-08-12 · 113 stars
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 104,965 downloads/mo, #12,729 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
pip install pyepics
from epics import caget, caput, cainfo
value = caget('XXX:m1.VAL')
caput('XXX:m1.VAL', 2.30)
cainfo('XXX:m1.VAL')- Whether the Epics Open License is compatible with your project's licensing requirements (not formally declared in package metadata).
- Whether wxPython widget integration mentioned in the description is actively maintained and documented.
- Support status for Python 3.13 and 3.14, which appear in classifiers but are beyond the stated 3.8-3.12 testing range.
What it is and what it does
PyEpics is a Python wrapper around the EPICS Channel Access (CA) protocol, a standard for controlling scientific instruments and distributed systems in research facilities. It uses ctypes to bind the underlying C library, avoiding the need for compiled C extensions while maintaining thread safety and cross-platform compatibility.
The package offers two main interfaces: simple procedural functions (caget, caput, cainfo) for quick queries, and an object-oriented PV class for sustained interaction with process variables. It handles connection management transparently, supports user callbacks when values or connection status change, and provides access to full control records and enumeration strings. It is actively maintained and supports modern Python versions.
Use it for
- Query and modify EPICS process variables from Python scripts in scientific or accelerator control environments.
- Monitor EPICS PV changes in real time using callback functions to trigger actions when values or connection status change.
- Build Python-based control applications that interact with EPICS motors, detectors, and other instrumentation.
- Integrate EPICS data acquisition into data analysis pipelines alongside numpy and other scientific tools.
- Automate routine operations on EPICS systems without writing C code or using command-line utilities.
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
Yes, if you work with EPICS control systems.
The package is actively maintained, has low install friction, no known vulnerabilities, and provides a well-established interface to a standard scientific control protocol. Verify the Epics Open License terms for your use case before committing to a production deployment.
Install
pyepics on PyPI
Before you install
Low install friction with a pure-Python wheel distribution. Maintenance is active with a recent release (86 days ago) and ongoing repository activity. Runtime dependencies are minimal: numpy and pyparsing.
Requires Python 3.10 or later. EPICS Channel Access shared libraries are provided for Windows, MacOS, and Linux by default, but can be overridden via environment variable if you wish to use your own CA library versions.
License in practice
License treatment is unclear in the metadata; the package description states it is distributed under the Epics Open License, but this is not formally declared in standard SPDX or license_raw fields. Verify the actual license terms before use in proprietary or restricted contexts.
Quickstart
pip install pyepics
from epics import caget, caput, cainfo
value = caget('XXX:m1.VAL')
caput('XXX:m1.VAL', 2.30)
cainfo('XXX:m1.VAL')Verify before relying
- Whether the Epics Open License is compatible with your project's licensing requirements (not formally declared in package metadata).
- Whether wxPython widget integration mentioned in the description is actively maintained and documented.
- Support status for Python 3.13 and 3.14, which appear in classifiers but are beyond the stated 3.8-3.12 testing range.
Package facts
| License | Not declared unclear |
| Python support | Supports the current Python release >=3.10 |
| Install friction | Low. Pure-Python wheel |
| Runtime dependencies | 2 packagesnumpypyparsing |
| Maintenance | Actively maintained 86 days since the last release |
| Last repo commit | |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 104,965 / month, #12,729 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/StableIntended Audience :: Science/ResearchOperating System :: OS IndependentProgramming Language :: Python :: 3Programming Language :: Python :: 3 :: OnlyProgramming Language :: Python :: 3.10Programming Language :: Python :: 3.11Programming Language :: Python :: 3.12Programming Language :: Python :: 3.13Programming Language :: Python :: 3.14Programming Language :: Python :: Implementation :: CPythonTopic :: Scientific/Engineering |
Evidence: pyepics-3.5.10-py3-none-any.whl
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