---
id: python-snappy
version: "0.7.3"
license: BSD
license_treatment: permissive
maintenance: dormant
---

# python-snappy — Python library for the snappy compression library from Google

License: permissive · Maintenance: dormant · Downloads: 15.6M/mo

## What it is and what it does

python-snappy wraps Google's Snappy compression library for Python, delegating compression and decompression operations to cramjam. It exposes both a Python API for in-process compression and a command-line interface for file and stream compression. The package is designed for scenarios where fast, moderate-ratio compression is preferred over maximum compression ratios.

The library supports Python 3.8, 3.9, 3.10, 3.11, and 3.12 on POSIX and macOS systems. It is classified as Beta and has been in development since 2011-03-29, with a permissive BSD license. Installation is straightforward via pip with low friction, though the project has entered a dormant maintenance phase with no releases for 715 days.

Use it for:

- Compress and decompress data streams in applications requiring fast compression over maximum ratio.
- Command-line compression of files using `python -m snappy` for quick ad-hoc compression tasks.
- Integration into data pipelines or storage systems where Snappy format compatibility is needed.
- Batch processing of large datasets where compression speed is a bottleneck.

## Worth the install?

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

Python binding for Google's Snappy compression library, providing fast compression and decompression of data via the cramjam backend.

Yes, with conditions. The package is stable, permissively licensed, and has low install friction. However, dormant maintenance (715 days since last release) means security or compatibility issues may not be addressed quickly. Install if you need Snappy compression and can accept that bug fixes or Python version support updates may lag; avoid if you require active upstream support.

## Install

pip install python-snappy
uv add python-snappy
poetry add python-snappy

## Installing python-snappy

Before you install: Low install friction with a pure wheel distribution. Maintenance is dormant—last release was 715 days ago, though the repository remains active with a recent commit on 2024-10-16 and moderate community interest (490 stars).

License in practice: BSD license (permissive) means you can use, modify, and distribute this package with minimal restrictions, provided you include the license notice.

Quickstart:

pip install python-snappy

import snappy
compressed = snappy.compress(b'data')
original = snappy.decompress(compressed)

Requires Python >=3.8; cramjam is the sole runtime dependency.

Verify before relying:

- Whether dormant maintenance status indicates abandonment risk or stable maturity.
- Performance characteristics compared to other Python compression libraries.
- Actual compatibility with Python 3.12 in production use beyond classifier declarations.

## Package facts

- License: BSD (permissive)
- Python support: unspecified
- Install friction: low
- Maintenance: dormant
- Downloads: 15.6M/month (top 5,000 on PyPI)
- Known vulnerabilities: none known

## Tags

snappy compression python, google snappy library, fast data compression, compress decompress snappy, python compression binding, snappy codec, compression, snappy

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