rpm
Shim RPM module for use in virtualenvs.
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
Yes, if you need RPM bindings in a virtualenv on a Linux system with system RPM installed. The shim is lightweight, has no dependencies, and solves a specific problem that has no other workaround. However, maintenance is aging (last release 493 days ago), so verify compatibility with your specific RPM and Python versions before relying on it in production.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- System must have RPM Python bindings installed (python3-rpm or equivalent) outside the virtualenv; the shim only makes them accessible within the virtualenv, it does not provide the bindings themselves.
- Low install friction with no runtime dependencies.
- Maintenance is aging—last release was 493 days ago and the repository has minimal activity (3 stars), though it remains unarchived and the last commit is recent.
License · maintenance · safety
MIT (permissive) — MIT license is permissive; you can use, modify, and distribute this package freely with minimal restrictions.
last release 2025-04-08 (493 days) · last repo commit 2026-01-09 · 3 stars
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 230,368 downloads/mo, #9,112 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
# On host system with rpm bindings installed:
$ pip install rpm
# In virtualenv:
$ python -c "import rpm; print(rpm.__version__)"- Whether the shim works correctly with all system RPM versions and Python versions listed in classifiers
- Whether virtualenv isolation is preserved when using the shim
- Current test coverage and whether the package is actively tested against modern RPM releases
What it is and what it does
rpm is a shim module that bridges the gap between system-installed RPM Python bindings and Python virtualenvs. RPM's official Python bindings are tied to the system RPM installation and are not packaged on PyPI, making them inaccessible inside isolated environments. This shim allows you to import and use those system bindings from within a virtualenv without modifying the system installation.
The package is designed specifically for Linux systems running RPM-based distributions. It has no runtime dependencies and installs as a pure Python wheel. The shim works by making the system's rpm module available to the virtualenv's Python interpreter, enabling workflows that need both isolation and access to system package management APIs.
Use it for
- Build tools or CI/CD scripts running in virtualenvs that need to query or manipulate system RPM packages
- Container image builders or deployment tools that must inspect installed RPM packages from within an isolated Python environment
- Package management utilities that need to integrate system RPM operations with Python code running in a venv
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
Yes, if you need RPM bindings in a virtualenv on a Linux system with system RPM installed.
The shim is lightweight, has no dependencies, and solves a specific problem that has no other workaround. However, maintenance is aging (last release 493 days ago), so verify compatibility with your specific RPM and Python versions before relying on it in production.
Install
rpm on PyPI
Before you install
Low install friction with no runtime dependencies. Maintenance is aging—last release was 493 days ago and the repository has minimal activity (3 stars), though it remains unarchived and the last commit is recent.
System must have RPM Python bindings installed (python3-rpm or equivalent) outside the virtualenv; the shim only makes them accessible within the virtualenv, it does not provide the bindings themselves.
License in practice
MIT license is permissive; you can use, modify, and distribute this package freely with minimal restrictions.
Quickstart
# On host system with rpm bindings installed:
$ pip install rpm
# In virtualenv:
$ python -c "import rpm; print(rpm.__version__)"Verify before relying
- Whether the shim works correctly with all system RPM versions and Python versions listed in classifiers
- Whether virtualenv isolation is preserved when using the shim
- Current test coverage and whether the package is actively tested against modern RPM releases
Package facts
| License | MIT permissive |
| Python support | Supports the current Python release >=3.6 |
| Install friction | Low. Pure-Python wheel |
| Runtime dependencies | None |
| Maintenance | Aging 493 days since the last release |
| Last repo commit | |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 230,368 / month, #9,112 on PyPI 30-day window, as of 2026-08-14 |
| Known vulnerabilities | None known OSV.dev, checked 2026-08-14 |
| Classifiers | Development Status :: 4 - BetaEnvironment :: ConsoleIntended Audience :: DevelopersLicense :: OSI Approved :: MIT LicenseOperating System :: POSIX :: LinuxProgramming Language :: PythonProgramming Language :: Python :: 3Programming Language :: Python :: 3 :: OnlyProgramming Language :: Python :: 3.10Programming Language :: Python :: 3.11Programming Language :: Python :: 3.6Programming Language :: Python :: 3.7Programming Language :: Python :: 3.8Programming Language :: Python :: 3.9Topic :: Software DevelopmentTopic :: Utilities |
Evidence: rpm-0.4.0-py3-none-any.whl
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