---
id: pyvips-binary
version: "8.18.5"
license: LGPL-3.0-or-later
license_treatment: copyleft
maintenance: active
---

# pyvips-binary — Binary distribution of libvips and dependencies for use with pyvips

License: copyleft · Maintenance: active · Downloads: 131.4K/mo

## What it is and what it does

pyvips-binary is a companion package that bundles pre-compiled libvips binaries and their dependencies into platform-specific wheels. It is designed to simplify installation of pyvips when using CFFI's API mode, eliminating the need to compile libvips from source or manage system-level library dependencies. The package provides wheels for macOS (Intel and ARM), Linux (x86_64, aarch64, armv7l, musl), and Windows (32-bit, 64-bit, ARM64).

This is an optional component of the pyvips ecosystem—users can install pyvips alone and manage libvips separately, or use pyvips-binary to get pre-built binaries. The single runtime dependency is cffi, which pyvips itself requires for CFFI mode. The package is actively maintained, supports Python 3.7 through 3.14, and has no known security vulnerabilities.

Use it for:

- Simplify pyvips setup on CI/CD pipelines by avoiding libvips compilation steps.
- Deploy image processing applications without requiring system-level libvips installation.
- Use pyvips on platforms where compiling libvips from source is difficult or slow.
- Ensure consistent libvips versions across development, testing, and production environments.
- Reduce installation time for projects that need fast image resizing, format conversion, or thumbnail generation.

## Worth the install?

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

Provides pre-built binary wheels of libvips and its dependencies for use with pyvips in CFFI API mode across common platforms.

Yes, if you are using pyvips and want to avoid compiling libvips from source. The package is actively maintained, covers most common platforms, has no known vulnerabilities, and carries a copyleft license that is generally compatible with open-source projects. Install it alongside pyvips for a simpler setup experience; it is optional but recommended for most users.

## Install

pip install pyvips-binary
uv add pyvips-binary
poetry add pyvips-binary

## Installing pyvips-binary

Before you install: Medium install friction due to platform-specific wheel selection, but the package is actively maintained with a recent release and supports current Python versions (3.7–3.14). No known vulnerabilities.

License in practice: Licensed under LGPL-3.0-or-later (copyleft). Derivative works and distributions must comply with copyleft obligations; review your project's license compatibility before use.

Quickstart:

pip install pyvips-binary

import pyvips
image = pyvips.Image.new_from_file('photo.jpg')
result = image.resize(0.5)

Requires pyvips to be installed separately; this package provides only the libvips binaries. Python 3.7 or later required.

Verify before relying:

- Whether pyvips-binary is required or optional when pyvips is already installed
- Performance or compatibility differences between CFFI API mode and other pyvips modes
- Whether all common platforms are covered by the available wheels

## Package facts

- License: LGPL-3.0-or-later (copyleft)
- Python support: supports_current
- Install friction: medium
- Maintenance: active
- Downloads: 131.4K/month (top 15,000 on PyPI)
- Known vulnerabilities: none known

## Tags

libvips binary wheels, pyvips cffi mode, image processing binaries, pre-compiled libvips, cross-platform image library, graphics processing binaries, image-processing, binary-distribution

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