---
id: python-openstackclient
version: "10.2.1"
license: Apache-2.0
license_treatment: permissive
maintenance: active
---

# python-openstackclient — OpenStack Command-line Client

License: permissive · Maintenance: active · Downloads: 823.1K/mo

## What it is and what it does

OpenStackClient is a command-line interface that unifies management of OpenStack cloud services—compute instances, identity, images, networking, object storage, and block storage—under a single command structure and vocabulary. Instead of learning separate CLI tools for each service, operators use a consistent command grammar (e.g., `openstack server create`, `openstack network list`) to interact with all APIs. It wraps the openstacksdk library and uses cliff for command scaffolding and stevedore for plugin discovery, allowing third-party service clients to register additional commands.

The client supports multiple authentication flows—username/password, federated identity with OIDC, and others—configured through clouds.yaml files, environment variables, or command-line flags. It is actively maintained, supports current Python versions (3.11–3.14), and carries no known security vulnerabilities. It is primarily used by cloud operators, system administrators, and automation engineers who need a single entry point to manage OpenStack infrastructure at scale.

Use it for:

- Provision and manage compute instances, networks, and storage volumes across an OpenStack cloud from a single shell.
- Automate infrastructure deployment and teardown in CI/CD pipelines using consistent, scriptable commands.
- Query and monitor cloud resources (servers, images, networks, quotas) without switching between multiple CLI tools.
- Integrate OpenStack operations into shell scripts and orchestration workflows with a uniform command interface.
- Support federated authentication and multi-cloud identity management through configurable auth plugins.

## Worth the install?

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

A unified command-line client for OpenStack cloud infrastructure that consolidates Compute, Identity, Image, Network, Object Store, and Block Storage APIs into a single shell with consistent command syntax.

Yes. This is the canonical OpenStack CLI, actively maintained with no security vulnerabilities, low install friction, and permissive licensing. Install it if you operate or automate OpenStack infrastructure. The only real prerequisite is Python 3.11+ and valid cloud credentials; if you lack either, defer installation until those are in place.

## Install

pip install python-openstackclient
uv add python-openstackclient
poetry add python-openstackclient

## Installing python-openstackclient

Before you install: Low friction install with a pure Python wheel. Actively maintained with a release within the last 30 days. Requires Python 3.11 or later and pulls in 10 runtime dependencies including openstacksdk, keystoneclient, and cliff for CLI scaffolding.

License in practice: Licensed under Apache-2.0 (permissive), allowing commercial use, modification, and distribution with minimal restrictions—suitable for both open-source and proprietary deployments.

Quickstart:

pip install python-openstackclient
openstack --help
openstack server list

Requires Python 3.11 or later. Authentication credentials must be configured via clouds.yaml, environment variables (OS_* prefix), or command-line flags before commands will execute.

Verify before relying:

- Whether the package's plugin architecture and stevedore integration enable seamless addition of third-party service clients beyond those bundled.
- Performance characteristics and latency profiles when managing large-scale cloud deployments with hundreds or thousands of resources.

## Package facts

- License: Apache-2.0 (permissive)
- Python support: supports_current
- Install friction: low
- Maintenance: active
- Downloads: 823.1K/month (top 5,000 on PyPI)
- Known vulnerabilities: none known

## Tags

openstack command line client, cloud infrastructure cli, openstack api shell, unified cloud management tool, openstack compute network storage cli, cloud provisioning command line, openstack resource management, cloud-infrastructure, openstack, devops-cli

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