---
id: pyglm
version: "2.8.3"
license: Zlib
license_treatment: permissive
maintenance: aging
---

# pyglm — OpenGL Mathematics library for Python

License: permissive · Maintenance: aging · Downloads: 304.5K/mo

## What it is and what it does

PyGLM is a Python extension written in C++ that wraps the GLM (OpenGL Mathematics) library, bringing high-performance vector and matrix operations to Python. It provides types like vec2, vec3, vec4, mat2, mat3, mat4, and quaternions, along with functions for geometric operations (cross product, dot product, rotation, perspective transforms) commonly needed in graphics pipelines, physics engines, and 3D applications. The library is designed to be mostly compatible with GLM's C++ API, adapted for Python syntax (using periods instead of double colons for namespacing).

PyGLM supports the buffer protocol, making it interoperable with NumPy arrays and other buffer-compatible objects. It ships with prebuilt wheels for modern Python versions (3.9–3.14) on Windows, macOS, and Linux, reducing installation friction. The package includes typing stubs for IDE support and is marked as Production/Stable, though the last release was several months ago. It has no runtime dependencies, keeping the installation lightweight.

Use it for:

- Building OpenGL or DirectX rendering pipelines where you need fast matrix transformations and vector math
- Physics simulations requiring quaternion rotations, cross products, and dot products for collision detection
- 3D graphics applications needing perspective and view matrix calculations for camera control
- Game engines or graphics tools where performance-critical math operations must run faster than NumPy equivalents
- Converting between graphics library APIs (e.g., passing GLM matrices to OpenGL via ctypes pointers)

## Worth the install?

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

PyGLM provides Python bindings to OpenGL Mathematics (GLM), a C++ library for vector and matrix operations commonly used in graphics programming, physics simulations, and 3D applications.

Yes, if you are building graphics or physics applications in Python and need fast, GLM-compatible math operations. The permissive license, zero runtime dependencies, and broad platform support make it low-friction to adopt. The aging maintenance status (261 days since release) is a minor concern but not a blocker for stable, well-established functionality. Verify that the specific GLM features you need are supported (some experimental extensions are not).

## Install

pip install pyglm
uv add pyglm
poetry add pyglm

## Installing pyglm

Before you install: Medium install friction due to compiled wheels; however, prebuilt binaries are available for Python 3.9–3.14 across Windows, macOS, and Linux. Last release was 261 days ago; repository is not archived but maintenance appears aging.

License in practice: Licensed under Zlib (permissive). The package documentation explicitly requires including the COPYING file in projects using PyGLM, particularly for binary distributions—a distribution obligation that is lighter than copyleft but still requires active compliance.

Quickstart:

pip install pyglm
from pyglm import glm

v1 = glm.vec3(1, 2, 3)
v2 = glm.vec3(4, 5, 6)
result = glm.cross(v1, v2)
print(result)

Verify before relying:

- Whether the aging maintenance status (261 days since last release) affects stability or feature completeness for current graphics APIs
- Performance comparison claims to NumPy are mentioned in the description but specific benchmarks are not provided in the fact sheet

## Package facts

- License: Zlib (permissive)
- Python support: unspecified
- Install friction: medium
- Maintenance: aging
- Downloads: 304.5K/month (top 15,000 on PyPI)
- Known vulnerabilities: none known

## Tags

opengl mathematics python, vector matrix operations graphics, glm python bindings, 3d graphics math library, quaternion rotation matrices, glsl math functions python, linear algebra graphics, graphics-math, glm-bindings, performance-critical

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