rpmfile
Read rpm archive files
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
Yes. Low install friction, no runtime dependencies, active maintenance, MIT license, and zero known vulnerabilities make this a safe choice. Install it if you need to programmatically work with RPM files in Python without relying on system RPM tools.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- Requires Python >= 3.10; optional zstandard module needed for zstd-compressed RPMs.
- Low friction installation with no runtime dependencies.
- Active maintenance with recent commits and a stable release history since 2014.
License · maintenance · safety
MIT (permissive) — MIT license permits unrestricted use, modification, and distribution with minimal legal constraint.
last release 2026-05-06 (100 days) · last repo commit 2026-05-06 · 31 stars
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 1,099,790 downloads/mo, #4,371 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
import rpmfile
with rpmfile.open('file.rpm') as rpm:
print(rpm.headers.keys())
fd = rpm.extractfile('./usr/bin/script')
print(fd.read())- Whether zstandard is truly optional or required for common RPM variants in practice.
- Performance characteristics when handling large RPM files or batch extraction.
What it is and what it does
rpmfile is a Python library for reading and inspecting RPM archive files, designed to mirror the interface of Python's built-in tarfile module. It lets you open an RPM, examine its headers and metadata, list contents, and extract individual files programmatically without needing system RPM tools.
The package supports both standard and zstd-compressed RPM files (the latter requires an optional zstandard dependency). It provides both a Python API for programmatic access and command-line tools for listing, extracting, and displaying RPM information. The library has been maintained since 2014 and currently supports Python 3.10 through 3.14.
Use it for
- Extract specific files from RPM packages in build or deployment automation scripts.
- Inspect RPM headers and metadata without installing the package on the system.
- Parse RPM contents in CI/CD pipelines to validate package structure or contents.
- Read RPM files from remote sources via stdin in shell pipelines.
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
Yes.
Low install friction, no runtime dependencies, active maintenance, MIT license, and zero known vulnerabilities make this a safe choice. Install it if you need to programmatically work with RPM files in Python without relying on system RPM tools.
Install
rpmfile on PyPI
Before you install
Low friction installation with no runtime dependencies. Active maintenance with recent commits and a stable release history since 2014.
Requires Python >= 3.10; optional zstandard module needed for zstd-compressed RPMs.
License in practice
MIT license permits unrestricted use, modification, and distribution with minimal legal constraint.
Quickstart
import rpmfile
with rpmfile.open('file.rpm') as rpm:
print(rpm.headers.keys())
fd = rpm.extractfile('./usr/bin/script')
print(fd.read())Verify before relying
- Whether zstandard is truly optional or required for common RPM variants in practice.
- Performance characteristics when handling large RPM files or batch extraction.
Package facts
| License | MIT permissive |
| Python support | Supports the current Python release >=3.10 |
| Install friction | Low. Pure-Python wheel |
| Runtime dependencies | None |
| Maintenance | Actively maintained 100 days since the last release |
| Last repo commit | |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 1,099,790 / month, #4,371 on PyPI 30-day window, as of 2026-08-14 |
| Known vulnerabilities | None known OSV.dev, checked 2026-08-14 |
| Classifiers | Intended Audience :: DevelopersNatural Language :: EnglishOperating System :: OS IndependentProgramming Language :: Python :: 3Programming Language :: Python :: 3.10Programming Language :: Python :: 3.11Programming Language :: Python :: 3.12Programming Language :: Python :: 3.13Programming Language :: Python :: 3.14 |
Evidence: rpmfile-2.2.1-py3-none-any.whl
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See also tzst · backports.tarfile · fastar · unix-ar · rpm · extractcode · securetar · koji · rpm-vercmp · version-utils