11 Best Python Network Programming Libraries in 2023

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by aswini1 dot icon Updated: Apr 7, 2023

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Python Network Programming libraries offer easy-to-use APIs for socket programming. It will allow developers to create and manage network sockets. It will help communication between two endpoints. These libraries support protocols like UDP, HTTPS, FTP, TCP, HTTP, SSH, and others. The Master Python Networking library depends on how much you understand about machine learning libraries and deep learning libraries.  


Network programmability libraries like asyncio offer support for asynchronous programming. Network automation allows developers to write scalable, high-performance network applications. It can handle many connections. These libraries can help serialize data, making sending data over the network easier. The popular libraries offer network analysis tools. It will allow developers to analyze and manipulate network packets. These libraries are like Requests. It offers support for web scraping to extract data from web pages.  


The machine learning library offers various features to help Python developers. The Python programming language helps add network functionality to their applications. There are two levels of network service access available in different programming languages, like high-level and low-level access. Low-level access allows programmers to use and access the basic socket support for the OS using the Python packages.  


Here are the 11 best Python Network Programming Libraries handpicked to help developers:  

opensnitch:  

  • It allows users to control and monitor network connections.  
  • It is on their system by setting rules to allow or deny access.   
  • It is built using Python and the Qt framework.  
  • It uses the iptables firewall to control network traffic.    
  • It offers real-time information about network activity, like ports, protocols, and IP addresses.  

opensnitchby evilsocket

Python doticonstar image 8860 doticonVersion:v1.6.0-rc.5doticon
License: Strong Copyleft (GPL-3.0)

OpenSnitch is a GNU/Linux interactive application firewall inspired by Little Snitch.

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            opensnitchby evilsocket

            Python doticon star image 8860 doticonVersion:v1.6.0-rc.5doticon License: Strong Copyleft (GPL-3.0)

            OpenSnitch is a GNU/Linux interactive application firewall inspired by Little Snitch.
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                      scapy:  

                      • It allows users to interact with network packets at a low level.    
                      • It offers a powerful API to create, send, receive, and dissect network packets.   
                      • It can be used for network analysis, packet manipulation, and packet sniffing.  

                      scapyby secdev

                      Python doticonstar image 8877 doticonVersion:v2.5.0doticon
                      License: Strong Copyleft (GPL-2.0)

                      Scapy: the Python-based interactive packet manipulation program & library. Supports Python 2 & Python 3.

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                                scapyby secdev

                                Python doticon star image 8877 doticonVersion:v2.5.0doticon License: Strong Copyleft (GPL-2.0)

                                Scapy: the Python-based interactive packet manipulation program & library. Supports Python 2 & Python 3.
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                                          trio:  

                                          • It helps write concurrent and asynchronous network applications.   
                                          • It offers an alternative to the standard libraries.  
                                          • It will focus on safety, usability, and simplicity.   
                                          • It is a simple, safe design and comprehensive features make it the best for various projects.   

                                          trioby python-trio

                                          Python doticonstar image 5382 doticonVersion:Currentdoticon
                                          License: Others (Non-SPDX)

                                          Trio – a friendly Python library for async concurrency and I/O

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                                                    trioby python-trio

                                                    Python doticon star image 5382 doticonVersion:Currentdoticon License: Others (Non-SPDX)

                                                    Trio – a friendly Python library for async concurrency and I/O
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                                                              crossbar:  

                                                              • It helps build real-time, scalable, and distributed systems using the WebSocket protocol.  
                                                              • It offers a powerful framework for building microservices, distributed systems, and event-driven applications.  
                                                              • It allows developers to create real-time communication applications.  
                                                              • It can help push data to clients in real-time using WebSockets.  

                                                              crossbarby crossbario

                                                              Python doticonstar image 2034 doticonVersion:Currentdoticon
                                                              License: Others (Non-SPDX)

                                                              Crossbar.io - WAMP application router

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                                                                        crossbarby crossbario

                                                                        Python doticon star image 2034 doticonVersion:Currentdoticon License: Others (Non-SPDX)

                                                                        Crossbar.io - WAMP application router
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                                                                                  napalm:  

                                                                                  • It is a Network Automation and Programmability Abstraction Layer. 
                                                                                  • It offers a vendor-agnostic API to manage and configure network devices.  
                                                                                  • It supports various network devices like Juniper, Cisco, and Arista.  
                                                                                  • It has comprehensive features making it best for network programming and automation.  
                                                                                  • It would be a great assignment to use Network Programmability in such conditions.  

                                                                                  napalmby napalm-automation

                                                                                  Python doticonstar image 2063 doticonVersion:4.1.0doticon
                                                                                  License: Permissive (Apache-2.0)

                                                                                  Network Automation and Programmability Abstraction Layer with Multivendor support

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                                                                                            napalmby napalm-automation

                                                                                            Python doticon star image 2063 doticonVersion:4.1.0doticon License: Permissive (Apache-2.0)

                                                                                            Network Automation and Programmability Abstraction Layer with Multivendor support
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                                                                                                      gns3-gui:  

                                                                                                      • It allows users to access complex networks.  
                                                                                                      • It uses real network devices, software-based routers & switches, and virtual machines.   
                                                                                                      • It offers various tools and features to build and manage network topologies.   
                                                                                                      • It can be used for various network engineering tasks.  
                                                                                                      • It can help with testing, designing and troubleshooting network configurations.   

                                                                                                      gns3-guiby GNS3

                                                                                                      Python doticonstar image 1804 doticonVersion:v2.2.40.1doticon
                                                                                                      License: Strong Copyleft (GPL-3.0)

                                                                                                      GNS3 Graphical Network Simulator

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                                                                                                                gns3-guiby GNS3

                                                                                                                Python doticon star image 1804 doticonVersion:v2.2.40.1doticon License: Strong Copyleft (GPL-3.0)

                                                                                                                GNS3 Graphical Network Simulator
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                                                                                                                          pennylane:  

                                                                                                                          • It is an open source Python library for quantum computing, information, and machine learning.   
                                                                                                                          • It offers a powerful framework for developing and experimenting with quantum algorithms.   
                                                                                                                          • It helps integrate seamlessly with libraries.  
                                                                                                                          • It is easy to incorporate quantum computing into machine learning workflows.  

                                                                                                                          pennylaneby PennyLaneAI

                                                                                                                          Python doticonstar image 1795 doticonVersion:v0.30.0doticon
                                                                                                                          License: Permissive (Apache-2.0)

                                                                                                                          PennyLane is a cross-platform Python library for differentiable programming of quantum computers. Train a quantum computer the same way as a neural network.

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                                                                                                                                    pennylaneby PennyLaneAI

                                                                                                                                    Python doticon star image 1795 doticonVersion:v0.30.0doticon License: Permissive (Apache-2.0)

                                                                                                                                    PennyLane is a cross-platform Python library for differentiable programming of quantum computers. Train a quantum computer the same way as a neural network.
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                                                                                                                                              geneva:  

                                                                                                                                              • It runs exclusively on one side of the network connection and doesn’t require a proxy.     
                                                                                                                                              • It defeats censorship by modifying the network traffic.  
                                                                                                                                              • It can help with modifying packets and injecting traffic.   
                                                                                                                                              • It is composed of four basic packet-level actions for representing censorship evasion strategies.  

                                                                                                                                              genevaby Kkevsterrr

                                                                                                                                              Python doticonstar image 1640 doticonVersion:Currentdoticon
                                                                                                                                              License: Permissive (BSD-3-Clause)

                                                                                                                                              automated censorship evasion for the client-side and server-side

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                                                                                                                                                        genevaby Kkevsterrr

                                                                                                                                                        Python doticon star image 1640 doticonVersion:Currentdoticon License: Permissive (BSD-3-Clause)

                                                                                                                                                        automated censorship evasion for the client-side and server-side
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                                                                                                                                                                  evillimiter:  

                                                                                                                                                                  • It is a Python library and command-line tool to limit the bandwidth of devices on a network.   
                                                                                                                                                                  • It can be used for monitoring network traffic and testing network performance.  
                                                                                                                                                                  • Also, it can help with controlling bandwidth usage on shared networks.   
                                                                                                                                                                  • Its simple interface and flexible device identification make it easy.  

                                                                                                                                                                  evillimiterby bitbrute

                                                                                                                                                                  Python doticonstar image 1290 doticonVersion:v1.5.0doticon
                                                                                                                                                                  License: Permissive (MIT)

                                                                                                                                                                  Tool that monitors, analyzes and limits the bandwidth of devices on the local network without administrative access.

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                                                                                                                                                                            evillimiterby bitbrute

                                                                                                                                                                            Python doticon star image 1290 doticonVersion:v1.5.0doticon License: Permissive (MIT)

                                                                                                                                                                            Tool that monitors, analyzes and limits the bandwidth of devices on the local network without administrative access.
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                                                                                                                                                                                      fopnp:  

                                                                                                                                                                                      • It offers code snippets and examples which demonstrate different networking protocols and concepts.  
                                                                                                                                                                                      • It will help include network protocols like HTTP, SSH, TCP/IP, and SMTP.  
                                                                                                                                                                                      • It helps with TCP listener, TCP client connection, and TCP server connection. 
                                                                                                                                                                                      • It covers various concepts like network security, network performance optimization, and socket programming.  

                                                                                                                                                                                      fopnpby brandon-rhodes

                                                                                                                                                                                      Python doticonstar image 1314 doticonVersion:v1.0doticon
                                                                                                                                                                                      no licences License: No License (null)

                                                                                                                                                                                      Foundations of Python Network Programming (Apress) — scripts and examples

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                                                                                                                                                                                                fopnpby brandon-rhodes

                                                                                                                                                                                                Python doticon star image 1314 doticonVersion:v1.0doticonno licences License: No License

                                                                                                                                                                                                Foundations of Python Network Programming (Apress) — scripts and examples
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                                                                                                                                                                                                          hamms:  

                                                                                                                                                                                                          • It is a Python library for calculating the hamming distance between two strings.   
                                                                                                                                                                                                          • It can be used with strings of any length and with any symbol.  
                                                                                                                                                                                                          • It performs error checking to ensure that the two strings are of equal length.  

                                                                                                                                                                                                          hammsby kevinburke

                                                                                                                                                                                                          Python doticonstar image 1217 doticonVersion:Currentdoticon
                                                                                                                                                                                                          License: Permissive (MIT)

                                                                                                                                                                                                          Malformed servers to test your HTTP client

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                                                                                                                                                                                                                    hammsby kevinburke

                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Python doticon star image 1217 doticonVersion:Currentdoticon License: Permissive (MIT)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Malformed servers to test your HTTP client
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                                                                                                                                                                                                                              FAQs:  


                                                                                                                                                                                                                              What is Network Automation and how does it relate to Python Network Programming?  

                                                                                                                                                                                                                              The process of automating the management, configuration, deployment, operations, and testing of virtual and physical devices within a network is known as Network Automation. Python network automation has many modules used to automate network tasks like SSH connections to switches and routes.  


                                                                                                                                                                                                                              What is a client in the context of network automation with Python?  

                                                                                                                                                                                                                              A client is a computer program which uses Python modules and libraries to interact with network devices. We can perform tasks like operating network equipment, configuring, topologies, managing, services, and connectivity.  

                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Is there any advantage to using more than one python library when doing advanced networking tasks such as SDN or cloud computing integration?  

                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Yes, there can be advantages to using more than one Python library if you are performing advanced networking tasks. You can perform tasks like cloud computing integration and SDN. With the help of multiple libraries, you can leverage their strengths and build a more flexible solution.  

                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

                                                                                                                                                                                                                              What are the tips for choosing the right library when developing an application? 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                              When incorporating third-party frameworks or libraries into your application, you should consider the following best practices: 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                              • Creating and maintaining an inventory catalog of all the third-party libraries. 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                              • Using a framework or library from trusted sources which are actively maintained and used by many applications. 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                              • Proactively keep components and libraries updated. 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                              • Reduces the attack surface by encapsulating the library and exposing only the needed behavior in your application. 

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