---
id: pyobjc-framework-instantmessage
version: "12.2.2"
license: MIT
license_treatment: permissive
maintenance: active
---

# pyobjc-framework-InstantMessage — Wrappers for the framework InstantMessage on macOS

License: permissive · Maintenance: active · Downloads: 621.0K/mo

## What it is and what it does

This package wraps the macOS InstantMessage framework for Python via PyObjC, enabling programmatic access to iChat data and control over auxiliary video sources for iChat Theater. It is part of the larger PyObjC project, which provides bindings to macOS frameworks.

The package is a thin wrapper around Apple's Objective-C framework and does not include its own documentation—users must consult Apple's framework documentation and PyObjC's general translation guides. The framework itself is deprecated as of OSX 10.9, so it is primarily useful for legacy iChat integration or applications targeting older macOS versions. Modern macOS applications should consider the Social framework instead.

Use it for:

- Access iChat buddy lists or presence information from a Python application on macOS
- Provide a custom video source to iChat Theater from a Python script
- Integrate legacy iChat functionality into a Python-based macOS desktop tool
- Automate iChat-related tasks on older macOS systems that still support the framework

## Worth the install?

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

Provides Python bindings to the macOS InstantMessage framework, allowing access to iChat information and auxiliary video source control for iChat Theater.

Yes, if you are targeting macOS versions that support iChat and need InstantMessage integration. No, if you are targeting modern macOS versions—the framework is deprecated since OSX 10.9 and Apple recommends the Social framework instead. Install only if you have a specific legacy iChat use case and are willing to work without built-in documentation.

## Install

pip install pyobjc-framework-instantmessage
uv add pyobjc-framework-instantmessage
poetry add pyobjc-framework-instantmessage

## Installing pyobjc-framework-InstantMessage

Before you install: Low friction install with a wheel distribution. Actively maintained with recent releases. Depends on pyobjc-core, pyobjc-framework-Cocoa, and pyobjc-framework-Quartz, all part of the same ecosystem.

License in practice: MIT license permits commercial and private use with minimal restrictions, making it suitable for most projects that need InstantMessage framework access on macOS.

Quickstart:

pip install pyobjc-framework-instantmessage

import InstantMessage
# Access iChat information or configure video source for iChat Theater

macOS required; framework is deprecated in OSX 10.9 (use Social framework instead for newer targets)

Verify before relying:

- Whether iChat Theater and InstantMessage framework remain functional on current macOS versions
- Specific API surface and what iChat information is accessible through these bindings
- Whether the framework works with modern iMessage or only legacy iChat

## Package facts

- License: MIT (permissive)
- Python support: supports_current
- Install friction: low
- Maintenance: active
- Downloads: 621.0K/month (top 15,000 on PyPI)
- Known vulnerabilities: none known

## Tags

macOS iChat framework bindings, instant message framework python, ichat video source control, pyobjc instant message, macos messaging framework wrapper, objective-c instant message bridge, macos-only, deprecated-framework, legacy-support

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