---
id: python-designateclient
version: "7.0.0"
license: Apache-2.0
license_treatment: permissive
maintenance: active
---

# python-designateclient — OpenStack DNS-as-a-Service - Client

License: permissive · Maintenance: active · Downloads: 189.6K/mo

## What it is and what it does

python-designateclient is the official Python SDK for OpenStack's Designate service, which provides DNS-as-a-Service capabilities within OpenStack deployments. It wraps the Designate REST API and exposes both a programmatic Python interface (the designateclient module) and a command-line tool (designate command) for managing DNS zones, records, and related resources.

The package is built on OpenStack's standard client patterns, using keystoneauth1 for authentication, cliff for CLI scaffolding, and stevedore for plugin management. It targets operators and developers working within OpenStack environments who need to automate DNS management or integrate DNS operations into larger infrastructure workflows. The library supports Python 3.10, 3.11, 3.12, and 3.13, and is actively maintained as part of the OpenStack project.

Use it for:

- Automate DNS zone and record creation/deletion in OpenStack-managed infrastructure
- Build custom DNS management dashboards or automation scripts for OpenStack operators
- Integrate DNS provisioning into infrastructure-as-code or orchestration pipelines
- Query and manage DNS records programmatically from Python applications running in OpenStack
- Extend OpenStack CLI workflows with DNS management commands via the designate CLI tool

## Worth the install?

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

Python client library and command-line tool for the OpenStack Designate DNS-as-a-Service API, enabling programmatic management of DNS zones and records.

Yes, if you operate or develop against an OpenStack Designate deployment. The package is actively maintained, has low install friction, carries a permissive Apache-2.0 license, and provides the standard way to interact with Designate from Python. Not relevant for non-OpenStack DNS use cases.

## Install

pip install python-designateclient
uv add python-designateclient
poetry add python-designateclient

## Installing python-designateclient

Before you install: Low install friction with a pure-wheel distribution. Active maintenance status with a release 44 days old. Depends on 10 runtime packages including OpenStack ecosystem libraries (keystoneauth1, osc-lib, oslo.serialization, oslo.utils) and standard HTTP/CLI tools (requests, cliff, stevedore).

License in practice: Licensed under Apache-2.0 (permissive), allowing use in commercial and proprietary projects with minimal restrictions beyond attribution and liability disclaimers.

Quickstart:

pip install python-designateclient

from designateclient import client

designate = client.Client('2', endpoint_override='http://designate-api/v2', token='your-token')

Requires Python 3.10 or later. Needs a running Designate API endpoint and valid OpenStack authentication credentials.

Verify before relying:

- Whether keystoneauth1 integration supports all current OpenStack authentication methods
- Performance characteristics when managing large numbers of DNS zones or records
- Compatibility with Designate API versions beyond v2
- Exact endpoint configuration requirements and defaults

## Package facts

- License: Apache-2.0 (permissive)
- Python support: supports_current
- Install friction: low
- Maintenance: active
- Downloads: 189.6K/month (top 15,000 on PyPI)
- Known vulnerabilities: none known

## Tags

openstack dns client, designate api python, dns management openstack, designate command line tool, openstack dns-as-a-service, dns zone management python, designate python bindings, openstack, dns-management, infrastructure-automation

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