python-novaclient
Client library for OpenStack Compute API
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
Yes, if you need to interact with OpenStack Compute (Nova) from Python. The package is actively maintained, has low install friction, carries a permissive license, and implements the full API surface. Install it when you're building applications or tools that manage OpenStack compute resources programmatically.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- Requires keystoneauth1 session for authentication to an OpenStack cloud; you must have credentials and access to an OpenStack deployment.
- Low install friction with a pure-Python wheel distribution.
- Active maintenance status with a recent release.
License · maintenance · safety
Apache License, Version 2.0 (permissive) — Apache License 2.0 (permissive) — you can use, modify, and distribute this package freely in commercial and open-source projects, with minimal restrictions.
last release 2026-05-13 (93 days)
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 539,224 downloads/mo, #6,109 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
pip install python-novaclient
from novaclient import client
nova = client.Client('2.1', session=keystone_session)
servers = nova.servers.list()- Whether the deprecated command-line script (nova) is still actively used or if programmatic access is the primary interface.
- Performance characteristics and scalability limits when managing large numbers of compute resources.
What it is and what it does
python-novaclient is the official Python client library for OpenStack's Compute API (Nova). It translates Python method calls into REST API requests to an OpenStack cloud, allowing developers to programmatically create, manage, and monitor virtual machine instances, images, flavors, and other compute resources. The package implements the full OpenStack Compute API surface and is maintained as part of the OpenStack project.
The library is built on keystoneauth1 for secure authentication and uses oslo libraries for serialization and internationalization. It's designed for both direct Python integration into applications and as a dependency for higher-level OpenStack tools. The package supports Python 3.9 through 3.12 and is classified as Production/Stable.
Use it for
- Automate provisioning and teardown of virtual machines in an OpenStack cloud from Python applications.
- Build infrastructure-as-code tools that manage compute resources programmatically rather than through the web UI.
- Query and monitor running instances, flavors, and images across an OpenStack deployment.
- Integrate OpenStack compute operations into CI/CD pipelines or orchestration frameworks.
- Develop custom management dashboards or reporting tools that interact with Nova compute services.
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
Yes, if you need to interact with OpenStack Compute (Nova) from Python.
The package is actively maintained, has low install friction, carries a permissive license, and implements the full API surface. Install it when you're building applications or tools that manage OpenStack compute resources programmatically.
Install
python-novaclient on PyPI
Before you install
Low install friction with a pure-Python wheel distribution. Active maintenance status with a recent release. Depends on 8 runtime packages including keystoneauth1 for authentication and oslo libraries for serialization and utilities.
Requires keystoneauth1 session for authentication to an OpenStack cloud; you must have credentials and access to an OpenStack deployment.
License in practice
Apache License 2.0 (permissive) — you can use, modify, and distribute this package freely in commercial and open-source projects, with minimal restrictions.
Quickstart
pip install python-novaclient
from novaclient import client
nova = client.Client('2.1', session=keystone_session)
servers = nova.servers.list()Verify before relying
- Whether the deprecated command-line script (nova) is still actively used or if programmatic access is the primary interface.
- Performance characteristics and scalability limits when managing large numbers of compute resources.
Package facts
| License | Apache License, Version 2.0 permissive |
| Python support | Supports the current Python release >=3.9 |
| Install friction | Low. Pure-Python wheel |
| Runtime dependencies | 8 packagespbrkeystoneauth1iso8601oslo.i18noslo.serializationoslo.utilsPrettyTablestevedore |
| Maintenance | Actively maintained 93 days since the last release |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 539,224 / month, #6,109 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/StableEnvironment :: ConsoleEnvironment :: OpenStackIntended Audience :: DevelopersIntended Audience :: Information TechnologyLicense :: OSI Approved :: Apache Software LicenseOperating System :: OS IndependentProgramming Language :: PythonProgramming Language :: Python :: 3Programming Language :: Python :: 3 :: OnlyProgramming Language :: Python :: 3.10Programming Language :: Python :: 3.11Programming Language :: Python :: 3.12Programming Language :: Python :: 3.9Programming Language :: Python :: Implementation :: CPython |
Evidence: python_novaclient-18.13.0-py3-none-any.whl
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See also python-glanceclient · python-heatclient · python-neutronclient · python-designateclient · python-keystoneclient · python-troveclient · python-magnumclient · python-manilaclient · python-swiftclient · cudo-compute