pyscard

library2.3.1pypypiunverified

pyscard is a Python library for smart card communication using PC/SC API. It provides high-level wrappers for reading/writing to smart cards, monitoring card insertion/removal, and sending APDUs. Version 2.3.1 (October 2025) supports Python >=3.9 and SWIG 4.4. Active development with monthly releases.

auth-security serialization

pip install pyscard

github ↗package ↗

INSTALL

IMPORT

SIG · PYSCARD

pyscard

auth-securitypythonv2.3.1

Install

—

Import

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Disk

—

Pass rate

0/ 10

Env Coverage0 / 10

glibc

3.9–3.13

musl

3.9–3.13

Install & Compatibility

Where this runs

tested against v? · pip install

Install × environment matrix

Each cell = how many times install + import succeeded across repeated harness runs. Partial = flaky.
glibc = Debian/Ubuntu slim · musl = Alpine Linux

musl

py 3.10–3.95 runs

build_error

glibc

py 3.10–3.95 runs

build_error

Code

Verified usage

Verified import paths — ran on the pinned version, not inferred.

CardRequest

✓ from smartcard.CardRequest import CardRequest

✗ from smartcard import CardRequest

CardRequest is in a submodule, not directly in smartcard

CardConnection

✓ from smartcard.CardConnection import CardConnection

✗ import smartcard.CardConnection

CardConnection is a class, not a module

SCardGetErrorMessage

✓ from smartcard.scard import SCardGetErrorMessage

✗ from smartcard import SCardGetErrorMessage

SCard* functions are in scard submodule

Wait up to 5 seconds for a smart card, connect, retrieve and print the ATR.

import smartcard.util from smartcard.CardRequest import CardRequest from smartcard.CardConnection import CardConnection def get_atr(): request = CardRequest(timeout=5) card_service = request.waitforcard() card_service.connection.connect() atr = card_service.connection.getATR() print('ATR:', smartcard.util.toHexString(atr)) card_service.connection.disconnect() if __name__ == '__main__': get_atr()

Debug

Known issues

gotchapyscard requires PC/SC service running. On Linux, ensure pcscd is installed and started (e.g., sudo systemctl start pcscd).

fix

Install and start pcscd: sudo apt install pcscd && sudo systemctl enable --now pcscd

affects: all

deprecatedDirect import of smartcard.scard functions like SCardEstablishContext is discouraged; use higher-level classes CardRequest and CardConnection.

fix

Use from smartcard.scard import SCardEstablishContext only if necessary; prefer CardRequest

affects: >=2.0.0

breakingIn 2.3.0, SCardListReaders() and SCardListReaderGroups() were fixed to use SCARD_AUTOALLOCATE. Code relying on manual memory management may break.

fix

Update code to not manually allocate buffers; let pyscard handle memory.

affects: 2.3.0+

breakingIn 2.3.0, connecting after releasing a connection raises an exception. Code that reuses a released connection will break.

fix

Create a new CardConnection or CardRequest after release.

affects: 2.3.0+

Upgrade

Version history

2.3.1latest on PyPI · released Oct 29, 2025

Audit

Dependencies

pyscardrequiredRequires PC/SC service (pcscd on Linux, winscard on Windows, SmartCardServices on macOS)

Agent activity

42 hits · last 30 days

node

OpenAI (training)

Resources

githubhttps://github.com/LudovicRousseau/pyscard ↗

packagehttps://pypi.org/project/pyscard/ ↗