pypcap
pypcap -- Python interface to pcap a packet capture library
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
No—install only if you have a specific, legacy requirement. The project is unmaintained and actively seeking a new maintainer; the last commit was 2023-03-29. High installation friction (system dependencies, C compilation), unclear licensing, and no Python version guarantees make this a poor choice for new projects.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- Requires libpcap-dev (Linux) or Npcap SDK (Windows) to be installed before pip install; compiles C extensions during installation.
- Installation requires system-level dependencies (libpcap-dev on Linux, Npcap SDK on Windows) and compiles C extensions, creating high friction.
- The project is explicitly unmaintained; the last commit was 2023-03-29 and maintainers are actively seeking someone to take over.
License · maintenance · safety
(unclear) — License treatment is unclear—no SPDX identifier or raw license text is provided in the package metadata, making it uncertain what restrictions or permissions apply to use or modification.
last release 2022-09-12 (1432 days) · last repo commit 2023-03-29 · 304 stars
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 187,456 downloads/mo, #9,964 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
pip install pypcap
# Capture packets from network interface
sniffer = pcap.pcap(name=None, promisc=True, immediate=True, timeout_ms=50)
for ts, pkt in sniffer:
print(ts, pkt)- Whether the 2023-03-29 commit represents a stable state or stalled development.
- What the actual license is, given the unclear treatment in metadata.
- Python version compatibility—requires_python is unspecified in the metadata.
- Whether WinPcap compatibility issues with Windows 10 affect current Windows deployments.
What it is and what it does
Pypcap is a Python wrapper around libpcap, the standard packet-capture library used by tcpdump and other network tools. It provides an object-oriented interface to capture live network traffic from a specified interface, allowing you to iterate over packets and extract headers and payload data. The package works on both Linux and Windows, though the description notes WinPcap has compatibility issues with Windows 10.
The library is designed for network analysis, packet inspection, and traffic monitoring tasks where you need direct access to link-layer frames. It has no Python runtime dependencies but requires compilation of C extensions and system-level packet-capture libraries to be present before installation. The project is currently unmaintained and the authors are seeking a new maintainer.
Use it for
- Build a network packet sniffer to monitor and log traffic on a specific interface for debugging or security analysis.
- Analyze network protocols by capturing raw packets and extracting source and destination addresses.
- Create a network traffic monitor component that needs to inspect live packets as they arrive.
- Develop packet-level network diagnostics tools that require direct access to link-layer frames.
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
No—install only if you have a specific, legacy requirement.
The project is unmaintained and actively seeking a new maintainer; the last commit was 2023-03-29. High installation friction (system dependencies, C compilation), unclear licensing, and no Python version guarantees make this a poor choice for new projects.
Install
pypcap on PyPI
Before you install
Installation requires system-level dependencies (libpcap-dev on Linux, Npcap SDK on Windows) and compiles C extensions, creating high friction. The project is explicitly unmaintained; the last commit was 2023-03-29 and maintainers are actively seeking someone to take over.
Requires libpcap-dev (Linux) or Npcap SDK (Windows) to be installed before pip install; compiles C extensions during installation.
License in practice
License treatment is unclear—no SPDX identifier or raw license text is provided in the package metadata, making it uncertain what restrictions or permissions apply to use or modification.
Quickstart
pip install pypcap
# Capture packets from network interface
sniffer = pcap.pcap(name=None, promisc=True, immediate=True, timeout_ms=50)
for ts, pkt in sniffer:
print(ts, pkt)Verify before relying
- Whether the 2023-03-29 commit represents a stable state or stalled development.
- What the actual license is, given the unclear treatment in metadata.
- Python version compatibility—requires_python is unspecified in the metadata.
- Whether WinPcap compatibility issues with Windows 10 affect current Windows deployments.
Package facts
| License | Not declared unclear |
| Python support | Not specified |
| Install friction | High. Source build required |
| Runtime dependencies | None |
| Maintenance | Abandoned 1,432 days since the last release |
| Last repo commit | |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 187,456 / month, #9,964 on PyPI 30-day window, as of 2026-08-14 |
| Known vulnerabilities | None known OSV.dev, checked 2026-08-14 |
Evidence: pypcap-1.3.0.tar.gz
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See also pure-pcapy3 · pyshark · scapy · python-pcapng · pydivert · dpkt · pysoem · aiortsp · rtp · authcaptureproxy