pyftdi
FTDI device driver (pure Python)
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
Yes. PyFtdi is actively maintained, has low install friction, carries no known vulnerabilities, and offers permissive licensing. It is the standard choice for Python developers needing to control FTDI USB devices. Install it if you work with FTDI hardware; the only caveat is that libusb must be available on your system, and Windows support is not officially guaranteed.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- Requires libusb (system library) to be installed; FTDI hardware must be connected and recognized by the OS.
- Low friction: pure Python wheel with only two runtime dependencies (pyusb and pyserial).
- Actively maintained with a release 73 days ago and ongoing commits; last commit 2026-06-03.
License · maintenance · safety
BSD-3-Clause (permissive) — BSD-3-Clause is permissive; you may use, modify, and distribute this package freely in commercial and private projects provided you retain the license notice.
last release 2026-06-02 (73 days) · last repo commit 2026-06-03 · 591 stars
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 791,186 downloads/mo, #5,048 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
pip install pyftdi
from pyftdi.ftdi import Ftdi
ftdi = Ftdi()
ftdi.open(0) # Open first FTDI device
ftdi.set_bitmode(0xff, Ftdi.BITMODE_SYNCBB) # Configure GPIO- Whether all supported FTDI device models (FT232R, FT2232H, FT4232H, etc.) are equally well-tested in current releases.
- Performance characteristics and latency guarantees for high-speed SPI/I2C operations.
- Windows support status, given the fact sheet notes it is 'not officially supported'.
What it is and what it does
PyFtdi is a pure-Python driver for FTDI USB devices that bridges hardware communication protocols without requiring platform-specific binary drivers. It supports UART/serial conversion up to 12 Mbps, GPIO bit-banging, SPI master mode, I2C master mode, basic JTAG, and EEPROM access on a range of FTDI chips (FT232R, FT2232H, FT4232H, and others). The package depends on pyusb for USB access and pyserial for serial protocol handling.
Typical use cases include embedded development, hardware testing, and IoT prototyping where direct control of FTDI devices is needed from Python. The package is actively maintained, supports Python 3.9 through 3.13, and runs on macOS, Linux, and FreeBSD. It carries no known security vulnerabilities and uses a permissive BSD-3-Clause license.
Use it for
- Control FTDI-based USB-to-serial adapters for communicating with embedded systems and microcontrollers.
- Implement SPI or I2C master protocols to interface with sensors, memory chips, and other peripherals via FTDI hardware.
- Perform GPIO bit-banging operations for custom protocol implementations or hardware debugging.
- Access EEPROM parameters on FTDI devices for configuration and identification.
- Build hardware test and automation scripts that require direct USB device control without OS-level driver installation.
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
Yes.
PyFtdi is actively maintained, has low install friction, carries no known vulnerabilities, and offers permissive licensing. It is the standard choice for Python developers needing to control FTDI USB devices. Install it if you work with FTDI hardware; the only caveat is that libusb must be available on your system, and Windows support is not officially guaranteed.
Install
pyftdi on PyPI
Before you install
Low friction: pure Python wheel with only two runtime dependencies (pyusb and pyserial). Actively maintained with a release 73 days ago and ongoing commits; last commit 2026-06-03.
Requires libusb (system library) to be installed; FTDI hardware must be connected and recognized by the OS.
License in practice
BSD-3-Clause is permissive; you may use, modify, and distribute this package freely in commercial and private projects provided you retain the license notice.
Quickstart
pip install pyftdi
from pyftdi.ftdi import Ftdi
ftdi = Ftdi()
ftdi.open(0) # Open first FTDI device
ftdi.set_bitmode(0xff, Ftdi.BITMODE_SYNCBB) # Configure GPIOVerify before relying
- Whether all supported FTDI device models (FT232R, FT2232H, FT4232H, etc.) are equally well-tested in current releases.
- Performance characteristics and latency guarantees for high-speed SPI/I2C operations.
- Windows support status, given the fact sheet notes it is 'not officially supported'.
Package facts
| License | BSD-3-Clause permissive |
| Python support | Supports the current Python release >=3.9 |
| Install friction | Low. Pure-Python wheel |
| Runtime dependencies | 2 packagespyusbpyserial |
| Maintenance | Actively maintained 73 days since the last release |
| Last repo commit | |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 791,186 / month, #5,048 on PyPI 30-day window, as of 2026-08-14 |
| Known vulnerabilities | None known OSV.dev, checked 2026-08-14 |
| Classifiers | Development Status :: 4 - BetaEnvironment :: Other EnvironmentIntended Audience :: DevelopersNatural Language :: EnglishOperating System :: MacOS :: MacOS XOperating System :: POSIXProgramming Language :: Python :: 3.10Programming Language :: Python :: 3.11Programming Language :: Python :: 3.12Programming Language :: Python :: 3.13Programming Language :: Python :: 3.9Topic :: Software Development :: Libraries :: Python ModulesTopic :: System :: Hardware :: Hardware Drivers |
Evidence: pyftdi-0.57.2-py3-none-any.whl
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See also ft4222 · pylibftdi · spidev · python-ipmi · libusbsio · Adafruit-PureIO · numato-gpio · binho-host-adapter · libusb1 · pyghmi