usd-core
Pixar's Universal Scene Description
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
Yes, if you need USD scene interchange in a Python application and are comfortable with the unclear license terms. The package is actively maintained, widely used (top 5000 on PyPI), has no known vulnerabilities, and supports current Python versions. Verify the LicenseRef-TOST-1.0 terms for your use case before committing to production.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- Requires Python 3.9–3.14; compiled wheels are platform-specific (macOS 10.15+, manylinux_2_27+, Windows 10+).
- Medium install friction due to compiled wheels across multiple Python versions (3.9–3.14) and platforms (macOS, Linux, Windows).
- Actively maintained with recent releases; last commit 2026-08-06 and 7442 repository stars indicate ongoing development.
License · maintenance · safety
LicenseRef-TOST-1.0 (unclear) — License is marked as LicenseRef-TOST-1.0 with unclear treatment—not a standard SPDX identifier. Review the actual license terms at the project homepage before use in commercial or proprietary contexts.
last release 2026-07-20 (25 days) · last repo commit 2026-08-06 · 7,442 stars
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 2,120,342 downloads/mo, #3,278 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
pip install usd-core==26.8- Whether LicenseRef-TOST-1.0 is compatible with your intended use (commercial, proprietary, open-source).
- Whether the core-only package (without optional plugins or imaging features) meets your 3D pipeline needs.
- Specific API surface and typical usage patterns for the core libraries.
- Performance characteristics and memory footprint for large scene graphs.
What it is and what it does
USD is Pixar's domain-agnostic data model and composition system for 3D scene interchange. The usd-core package provides the foundational libraries—a low-level data model with plugin architecture and a multi-threaded composition engine—that enable applications to read, write, and compose complex 3D scenes from modular assets. It handles static and time-sampled geometry, shading, and lighting data, making it a central interchange format in professional 3D pipelines.
This is the core-only distribution; it does not include optional plugins, imaging features, or rendering capabilities from the full USD distribution. It's designed for applications that need to parse, manipulate, or generate USD scene files programmatically, or that integrate USD as a scene interchange layer in a larger pipeline.
Use it for
- Build a 3D asset pipeline that reads and writes USD files from multiple content creation tools.
- Programmatically compose complex scenes from reusable USD assets and modular components.
- Integrate USD scene interchange into a custom rendering or simulation engine.
- Parse and query 3D geometry, shading, and animation data from USD files in production workflows.
- Develop plugins or extensions on top of USD's composition engine for domain-specific scene authoring.
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
Yes, if you need USD scene interchange in a Python application and are comfortable with the unclear license terms.
The package is actively maintained, widely used (top 5000 on PyPI), has no known vulnerabilities, and supports current Python versions. Verify the LicenseRef-TOST-1.0 terms for your use case before committing to production.
Install
usd-core on PyPI
Before you install
Medium install friction due to compiled wheels across multiple Python versions (3.9–3.14) and platforms (macOS, Linux, Windows). Actively maintained with recent releases; last commit 2026-08-06 and 7442 repository stars indicate ongoing development.
Requires Python 3.9–3.14; compiled wheels are platform-specific (macOS 10.15+, manylinux_2_27+, Windows 10+).
License in practice
License is marked as LicenseRef-TOST-1.0 with unclear treatment—not a standard SPDX identifier. Review the actual license terms at the project homepage before use in commercial or proprietary contexts.
Quickstart
pip install usd-core==26.8Verify before relying
- Whether LicenseRef-TOST-1.0 is compatible with your intended use (commercial, proprietary, open-source).
- Whether the core-only package (without optional plugins or imaging features) meets your 3D pipeline needs.
- Specific API surface and typical usage patterns for the core libraries.
- Performance characteristics and memory footprint for large scene graphs.
Package facts
| License | LicenseRef-TOST-1.0 unclear |
| Python support | Supports the current Python release <3.15,>=3.9 |
| Install friction | Medium. Platform-specific wheel |
| Runtime dependencies | None |
| Maintenance | Actively maintained 25 days since the last release |
| Last repo commit | |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 2,120,342 / month, #3,278 on PyPI 30-day window, as of 2026-08-14 |
| Known vulnerabilities | None known OSV.dev, checked 2026-08-14 |
| Classifiers | Environment :: ConsoleOperating System :: MacOS :: MacOS XOperating System :: Microsoft :: Windows :: Windows 10Operating System :: POSIX :: LinuxProgramming Language :: Python :: 3Topic :: Multimedia :: Graphics |
Evidence: usd_core-26.8-cp310-none-macosx_10_15_universal2.whl; usd_core-26.8-cp310-none-manylinux_2_27_x86_64.manylinux_2_28_x86_64.whl; usd_core-26.8-cp310-none-win_amd64.whl; usd_core-26.8-cp311-none-macosx_10_15_universal2.whl; usd_core-26.8-cp311-none-manylinux_2_27_x86_64.manylinux_2_28_x86_64.whl; usd_core-26.8-cp311-none-win_amd64.whl; usd_core-26.8-cp312-none-macosx_10_15_universal2.whl; usd_core-26.8-cp312-none-manylinux_2_27_x86_64.manylinux_2_28_x86_64.whl; usd_core-26.8-cp312-none-win_amd64.whl; usd_core-26.8-cp313-none-macosx_10_15_universal2.whl; usd_core-26.8-cp313-none-manylinux_2_27_x86_64.manylinux_2_28_x86_64.whl; usd_core-26.8-cp313-none-win_amd64.whl; usd_core-26.8-cp314-none-macosx_10_15_universal2.whl; usd_core-26.8-cp314-none-manylinux_2_27_x86_64.manylinux_2_28_x86_64.whl; usd_core-26.8-cp314-none-win_amd64.whl; usd_core-26.8-cp39-none-macosx_10_15_universal2.whl; usd_core-26.8-cp39-none-manylinux_2_27_x86_64.manylinux_2_28_x86_64.whl; usd_core-26.8-cp39-none-win_amd64.whl
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See also urdf-usd-converter · newton-usd-schemas · usd-exchange · mujoco-usd-converter · open3d-cpu · open3d · gsplat · tensorflow-graphics · Panda3D · Geode-Conversion