---
id: scikit-rf
version: "2.1.0"
license: LICENSE.txt
license_treatment: permissive
maintenance: active
---

# scikit-rf — Object Oriented Microwave Engineering

License: permissive · Maintenance: active · Downloads: 467.4K/mo

## What it is and what it does

scikit-rf is a production-grade library for RF and microwave engineering built on Python's scientific stack. It provides an object-oriented interface for working with network parameters and Touchstone files. The library integrates with numpy, scipy, and pandas for numerical computation and data handling, and includes optional GUI applications for specialized workflows.

The package targets engineers and researchers in RF and microwave domains who need programmatic access to circuit analysis. The codebase has been actively maintained since its first release in 2012 and supports current Python versions through 3.14, with a recent release on 2026-08-13.

Use it for:

- Load and analyze network parameter measurements from Touchstone files in automated workflows.
- Integrate RF measurements into Python-based data pipelines using numpy, scipy, and pandas.
- Perform circuit analysis and transformations for RF and microwave engineering design.
- Work with network parameters in research and practical engineering applications.
- Access RF/microwave tools without proprietary software dependencies.

## Worth the install?

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

scikit-rf is an object-oriented Python library for RF and microwave engineering, providing tools to work with network parameters and Touchstone files.

Yes. scikit-rf is a mature, actively maintained library with no known vulnerabilities, low install friction, and permissive 3-clause BSD licensing. It fills a clear niche in RF and microwave engineering where open-source alternatives are limited. Install it if you work with network parameters or Touchstone files in Python.

## Install

pip install scikit-rf
uv add scikit-rf
poetry add scikit-rf

## Installing scikit-rf

Before you install: Low friction install with a pure-wheel distribution. Actively maintained with release on 2026-08-13. Depends on well-established scientific stack (numpy, scipy, pandas, typing-extensions).

License in practice: Permissively licensed under 3-clause BSD, imposing no restrictions on commercial or proprietary use and requiring only attribution.

Quickstart:

pip install scikit-rf

import scikit_rf

# Work with network data using numpy, scipy, pandas integration

Requires Python 3.10 or later.

Verify before relying:

- Whether GUI applications (data-grabber, multiline-trl) are included in base install or require [plot,visa] extras.
- Specific capabilities for network parameter transformations, Touchstone file formats supported, and circuit analysis workflows.
- Performance characteristics when working with large datasets or high-frequency simulations.

## Package facts

- License: LICENSE.txt (permissive)
- Python support: supports_current
- Install friction: low
- Maintenance: active
- Downloads: 467.4K/month (top 15,000 on PyPI)
- Known vulnerabilities: none known

## Tags

RF microwave engineering python, network parameter analysis, touchstone file handling, microwave circuit tools, S-parameter processing, radio frequency library, impedance calculations, rf-engineering, microwave-circuits, network-analysis

[View on SkillFed](https://skillfed.io/packages/scikit-rf) · [View on PyPI](https://pypi.org/project/scikit-rf/)