# BoboTiG/python-mss

An ultra fast cross-platform multiple screenshots module in pure Python using ctypes.

Repository: https://github.com/BoboTiG/python-mss
Canonical: https://ross.abutalabs.com/products/python-mss
Homepage: https://python-mss.readthedocs.io
Language: Python
License: MIT
License Family: permissive
Topics: python, screenshot, ctypes, python-library, mss, monitor, cli, efficiency, gnu-linux, macos, windows, cross-platform, python-mss
Last push: 2026-08-24T12:56:19+00:00

## Health v2 (maintenance only)
Score: 81/100 (v2, computed 2026-09-02T17:46:02.011165+00:00)
- activity 99, release rhythm 48, longevity 100
- inputs: {"age_days": 4811, "days_push": 9, "days_rel": 132, "gap_med": 262.0, "n_releases_24m": 3}
- flags: none
- formula: round(0.45*activity + 0.35*rhythm + 0.20*longevity); archived -> min(score, 10)

## Adoption (not part of the score)
Stars 1280, forks 115 (observed 2026-08-28T04:04:13.672113+00:00)

## What it is
Python MSS is an ultra-fast, cross-platform screenshot library in pure Python using ctypes, capable of capturing one or all monitors with no external dependencies. It integrates well with PIL, NumPy, and OpenCV, making it suitable for embedding in games, AI, and computer vision applications.

## Use cases
- take screenshots of all monitors in python
- fast screen capture for computer vision
- capture screenshots per monitor
- grab screen pixels for AI training data
- save screenshots as png without dependencies
- embed screenshot capture in a game or automation script

## When to choose
- you need fast, dependency-free screen capture across Linux, macOS, and Windows
- you want per-monitor screenshots or raw pixel data for NumPy/OpenCV pipelines
- you need a thread-safe, lightweight screenshot module to embed in larger software

## When to avoid
- you need advanced capture features like window-specific capture, video recording, or annotations
- you are not working in Python or need a GUI-based screenshot tool
- you require formats beyond PNG without adding PIL yourself

## Facets
- artifact type: library
- maturity: stable
- function: image-processing, cli, developer-tools
- domain: cross-platform, computer-vision, developer-tools
- platform: windows, python, cross-platform, cli
- tags: screenshot, screen-capture, ctypes, multi-monitor, no-dependency, thread-safe, automation, linux, macos

## Member repositories
- BoboTiG/python-mss (main) score 81

## Provenance
- Observed fields: from GitHub, fetched 2026-08-28T04:04:13.672113+00:00.
- Health v2: computed from the inputs above; adoption is never an input.
- Inferred fields (summary, facets, guidance): AI-extracted, prompt v1, taxonomy v1, on 2026-08-30T05:02:34.787717+00:00, confidence not recorded.
  - readme: https://github.com/BoboTiG/python-mss (fetched 2026-08-28T04:04:13.672113+00:00, sha d78b2ec1e062)
- Data as of 2026-08-30T08:39:29.467469+00:00.