# cffi - **Canonical URI:** https://www.vioscale.ai/software/cffi - **Category:** Developer Tools - **Vendor:** Readthedocs - **Homepage:** https://cffi.readthedocs.io/ - **Also known as:** cffi - **Profile claimed by vendor:** no - **Last updated:** 2026-08-05T12:45:40.440Z ## Vioscale score **45.3 / 100**, confidence 16% (low). Composite of weighted, independently-sourced signals (no user reviews, no vendor payment). | Signal | Score | Weight | Contribution | Evidence present | |---|--:|--:|--:|:--:| | github_stars | 46 | 0.05 | 2.3 | ✓ | | github_activity | 36.1 | 0.18 | 6.5 | ✓ | | release_cadence | 58.9 | 0.12 | 7.1 | ✓ | | security_posture | 0 | 0.14 | 0 | - | | package_downloads | 0 | 0.28 | 0 | - | | stackoverflow_activity | 0 | 0.14 | 0 | - | ## Pricing _As of 2026-07-31, [verify at source](https://cffi.readthedocs.io/). Independently observed._ Open source · Free tier > Free and open source | Plan | Price | Free | Commitment | |---|---|:--:|---| | Open Source | Free | ✓ | - | ### Open Source - Interact with C code from Python - ABI mode - API mode - Embedding support - Windows calling conventions - Thread safety support ## About Interact with almost any C code from Python using C-like declarations that can be copy-pasted from header files or documentation. _Independently observed._ ## Platform & deployment - **Platforms:** CLI ## FAQ ### What is cffi? cffi is a Python library enabling developers to call C code from Python programs. It uses C-style function and type declarations that can be directly extracted from C headers or reference documentation, simplifying the process of building Python-C interfaces. _Source: [https://cffi.readthedocs.io/](https://cffi.readthedocs.io/)._ ### How much does cffi cost? cffi is completely free and released under an open source license. There are no paid editions, subscription tiers, or licensing fees. _Source: [https://cffi.readthedocs.io/](https://cffi.readthedocs.io/)._ ### What calling modes does cffi provide? cffi offers both ABI (Application Binary Interface) mode and API mode. ABI mode allows runtime calls to pre-compiled libraries, while API mode generates C code that integrates with your C extensions. _Source: [https://cffi.readthedocs.io/](https://cffi.readthedocs.io/)._ ### Can cffi be used in multithreaded applications? Yes, cffi includes built-in thread safety support. This feature makes it suitable for use in Python applications that rely on multiple threads. _Source: [https://cffi.readthedocs.io/](https://cffi.readthedocs.io/)._ ### Does cffi support embedding Python in C programs? Yes, cffi includes embedding support. This feature allows Python code using cffi to be integrated into and called from C applications. _Source: [https://cffi.readthedocs.io/](https://cffi.readthedocs.io/)._ ### Is cffi compatible with Windows? cffi supports Windows-specific calling conventions, making it compatible with Windows systems. You can use cffi to call Windows C libraries from Python. _Source: [https://cffi.readthedocs.io/](https://cffi.readthedocs.io/)._ ### Who is cffi intended for? cffi is designed for Python developers who need to integrate with C libraries or write Python extensions without manually coding C code. It is useful whenever C-Python interoperability is required. _Source: [https://cffi.readthedocs.io/](https://cffi.readthedocs.io/)._ ## Facts Every value below carries its source and our confidence. Facts are re-crawled on a freshness schedule. ### content | Attribute | Value | Source | Retrieved | Confidence | |---|---|---|---|---| | content.faq | `[{"answer":"cffi is a Python library enabling developers to call C code from Python programs. It uses C-style function and type declarations that can be directly extracted from C headers or reference documentation, simplifying the process of building Python-C interfaces.","source":"https://cffi.readthedocs.io/","question":"What is cffi?","confidence":0.95},{"answer":"cffi is completely free and released under an open source license. There are no paid editions, subscription tiers, or licensing fees.","source":"https://cffi.readthedocs.io/","question":"How much does cffi cost?","confidence":1},{"answer":"cffi offers both ABI (Application Binary Interface) mode and API mode. ABI mode allows runtime calls to pre-compiled libraries, while API mode generates C code that integrates with your C extensions.","source":"https://cffi.readthedocs.io/","question":"What calling modes does cffi provide?","confidence":0.8},{"answer":"Yes, cffi includes built-in thread safety support. This feature makes it suitable for use in Python applications that rely on multiple threads.","source":"https://cffi.readthedocs.io/","question":"Can cffi be used in multithreaded applications?","confidence":0.9},{"answer":"Yes, cffi includes embedding support. This feature allows Python code using cffi to be integrated into and called from C applications.","source":"https://cffi.readthedocs.io/","question":"Does cffi support embedding Python in C programs?","confidence":0.9},{"answer":"cffi supports Windows-specific calling conventions, making it compatible with Windows systems. You can use cffi to call Windows C libraries from Python.","source":"https://cffi.readthedocs.io/","question":"Is cffi compatible with Windows?","confidence":0.9},{"answer":"cffi is designed for Python developers who need to integrate with C libraries or write Python extensions without manually coding C code. It is useful whenever C-Python interoperability is required.","source":"https://cffi.readthedocs.io/","question":"Who is cffi intended for?","confidence":0.8}]` | [link](https://cffi.readthedocs.io/) | 2026-07-31 | 89% (high) | ### activity | Attribute | Value | Source | Retrieved | Confidence | |---|---|---|---|---| | activity.commits_last_30d | 13 | [link](https://github.com/python-cffi/cffi/pulse) | 2026-07-31 | 65% (medium) | ### adoption | Attribute | Value | Source | Retrieved | Confidence | |---|---|---|---|---| | adoption.github_stars | 274 | [link](https://github.com/python-cffi/cffi) | 2026-07-31 | 90% (high) | ### language | Attribute | Value | Source | Retrieved | Confidence | |---|---|---|---|---| | language.primary | Python | [link](https://github.com/python-cffi/cffi) | 2026-07-31 | 90% (high) | ### pricing | Attribute | Value | Source | Retrieved | Confidence | |---|---|---|---|---| | pricing.free_tier | yes | [link](https://cffi.readthedocs.io/) | 2026-08-05 | 60% (medium) | | pricing.model | open_source | [link](https://cffi.readthedocs.io/) | 2026-08-05 | 60% (medium) | | pricing.price_level | free | [link](https://cffi.readthedocs.io/) | 2026-08-05 | 60% (medium) | | pricing.transparent | yes | [link](https://cffi.readthedocs.io/) | 2026-07-31 | 60% (medium) | ### release | Attribute | Value | Source | Retrieved | Confidence | |---|---|---|---|---| | release.cadence_days | 74 | [link](https://github.com/python-cffi/cffi/releases) | 2026-07-31 | 70% (medium) | --- *Source: Vioscale (https://www.vioscale.ai/software/cffi). Independent, evidence-based software intelligence. Cite the canonical URI.*