python-msilib
Read and write Microsoft Installer files
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
Yes, if you need to build or manipulate Windows .msi files on Python 3.13+. The package is actively maintained, has no external dependencies, and carries a permissive license. Install only on Windows; non-Windows systems have no use for it. Verify compatibility with your specific cx_Freeze version or msilib use case before relying on it in production.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- Windows-only package; requires Python 3.13 or later.
- Medium friction due to platform-specific wheels (Windows only, multiple architectures).
- Active maintenance with recent release (9 days old).
License · maintenance · safety
PSF-2.0 (permissive) — Licensed under PSF-2.0 (permissive), allowing use in most projects without significant restrictions.
last release 2026-08-05 (9 days) · last repo commit 2026-08-05 · 2 stars
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 122,419 downloads/mo, #11,951 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
pip install python-msilib
import msilib
# Create or manipulate .msi files using msilib API- Whether this package is intended as a temporary compatibility shim or a long-term maintained alternative to the removed stdlib msilib.
- Performance or feature parity compared to the Python 3.12 stdlib version it was borrowed from.
- Compatibility with cx_Freeze's bdist_msi command beyond the stated intent.
What it is and what it does
python-msilib is a backport of Python's msilib module, which was removed from the standard library in Python 3.13. It allows developers to read, create, and manipulate Microsoft Installer (.msi) files programmatically. The package is specifically designed to support cx_Freeze's bdist_msi command, which generates Windows installers, ensuring that existing build workflows continue to work on Python 3.13 and later.
The library provides low-level access to the Windows Installer database format and APIs. It has no external runtime dependencies and is available as platform-specific wheels for Windows (32-bit, 64-bit, and ARM64 architectures) across Python 3.13, 3.14, and 3.15, including free-threading variants. Installation is straightforward on Windows; non-Windows systems cannot use this package.
Use it for
- Maintain cx_Freeze bdist_msi builds on Python 3.13+ after msilib removal from stdlib.
- Programmatically generate or modify Windows .msi installer packages in build automation.
- Read and inspect existing .msi file structures and metadata for analysis or repackaging.
- Migrate legacy Python packaging workflows that relied on stdlib msilib to newer Python versions.
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
Yes, if you need to build or manipulate Windows .msi files on Python 3.13+.
The package is actively maintained, has no external dependencies, and carries a permissive license. Install only on Windows; non-Windows systems have no use for it. Verify compatibility with your specific cx_Freeze version or msilib use case before relying on it in production.
Install
python-msilib on PyPI
Before you install
Medium friction due to platform-specific wheels (Windows only, multiple architectures). Active maintenance with recent release (9 days old). No runtime dependencies simplifies installation.
Windows-only package; requires Python 3.13 or later.
License in practice
Licensed under PSF-2.0 (permissive), allowing use in most projects without significant restrictions.
Quickstart
pip install python-msilib
import msilib
# Create or manipulate .msi files using msilib APIVerify before relying
- Whether this package is intended as a temporary compatibility shim or a long-term maintained alternative to the removed stdlib msilib.
- Performance or feature parity compared to the Python 3.12 stdlib version it was borrowed from.
- Compatibility with cx_Freeze's bdist_msi command beyond the stated intent.
Package facts
| License | PSF-2.0 permissive |
| Python support | Supports the current Python release >=3.13 |
| Install friction | Medium. Platform-specific wheel |
| Runtime dependencies | None |
| Maintenance | Actively maintained 9 days since the last release |
| Last repo commit | |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 122,419 / month, #11,951 on PyPI 30-day window, as of 2026-08-14 |
| Known vulnerabilities | None known OSV.dev, checked 2026-08-14 |
| Classifiers | Development Status :: 5 - Production/StableIntended Audience :: DevelopersNatural Language :: EnglishOperating System :: OS IndependentProgramming Language :: CProgramming Language :: PythonProgramming Language :: Python :: 3Programming Language :: Python :: 3 :: OnlyProgramming Language :: Python :: 3.13Programming Language :: Python :: 3.14Programming Language :: Python :: 3.15Programming Language :: Python :: Free Threading :: 2 - BetaTopic :: Software Development :: Build ToolsTopic :: Software Development :: Libraries :: Python ModulesTopic :: System :: Software DistributionTopic :: Utilities |
Evidence: python_msilib-0.7.0-cp313-cp313-win32.whl; python_msilib-0.7.0-cp313-cp313-win_amd64.whl; python_msilib-0.7.0-cp313-cp313-win_arm64.whl; python_msilib-0.7.0-cp314-cp314t-win32.whl; python_msilib-0.7.0-cp314-cp314t-win_amd64.whl; python_msilib-0.7.0-cp314-cp314t-win_arm64.whl; python_msilib-0.7.0-cp314-cp314-win32.whl; python_msilib-0.7.0-cp314-cp314-win_amd64.whl; python_msilib-0.7.0-cp314-cp314-win_arm64.whl; python_msilib-0.7.0-cp315-cp315t-win32.whl; python_msilib-0.7.0-cp315-cp315t-win_amd64.whl; python_msilib-0.7.0-cp315-cp315t-win_arm64.whl; python_msilib-0.7.0-cp315-cp315-win32.whl; python_msilib-0.7.0-cp315-cp315-win_amd64.whl; python_msilib-0.7.0-cp315-cp315-win_arm64.whl
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