pycdc

What pycdc is

pycdc is the command-line decompiler in Decompyle++, a C++ project that translates compiled Python bytecode into readable Python source. Give the pycdc command a PYC file and it prints the resulting source to standard output. The companion command, pycdas, disassembles a PYC file and prints its bytecode. Both tools can also process Python marshalled code objects, but those objects contain no version metadata, so you must supply the Python version. Decompyle++ aims to support bytecode from any Python version, and handles bytecode rather than native code.

The project runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows. To build it, use CMake to generate a project or makefile, then build the generated files. The README describes using tools such as MSVC for Windows project files and gives makefile build and test instructions for Unix-like systems or MSYS. Decompyle++ is licensed under the GNU General Public License, version 3, and credits Michael Hansen and Darryl Pogue as its authors. Its plan is free, with GPL-3.0-licensed source code; the repository has no packaged GitHub releases.

Who it suits

pycdc suits developers who need to turn compiled Python bytecode into source or inspect bytecode through disassembly. It is also relevant to people comfortable building C++ software with CMake on Linux, macOS, Windows, or MSYS.

Limits

The free plan provides GPL-3.0-licensed source code, with no packaged GitHub releases. Processing marshalled code objects requires specifying the Python version.

Getting started

1. Open the project website on GitHub.
2. Use CMake to generate a project or makefile.
3. Build the generated files with the tools for your platform.
4. For marshalled code objects, specify the Python version when using either tool.

Verdict

Choose pycdc if you need a free command-line tool for decompiling Python bytecode and can build the project from source. Look elsewhere if you need native-code decompilation or packaged GitHub releases.