meshio
github.com
What it is
meshio is free, MIT-licensed software for reading and writing unstructured mesh files and converting among supported formats. Its format coverage includes Abaqus, ANSYS msh, CGNS, Gmsh, STL, VTK, VTU, and XDMF. A Python API reads meshes, exposes points and cells, and writes them in a selected format. The command-line tool converts, inspects, compresses, decompresses, and switches files between ASCII and binary forms. XDMF support handles time series that use one shared mesh. A ParaView plugin opens meshio-supported files after installation when ParaView uses the matching Python major version. Installation is documented through pip and conda-forge. Some formats need optional netCDF4 and h5py dependencies from the all extra. meshio specifies Python 3.8 or later and supports Windows, macOS, and Linux. Project metadata targets science, engineering, and scientific research.
Spec sheet
- Purpose
- meshio reads and writes unstructured mesh files and converts between supported formats.Read 4 Oct 2026 · github.com
- License
- meshio is published under the MIT license.Read 4 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Command line
- The command-line tool can convert, inspect, compress, decompress, and switch mesh files between ASCII and binary formats.Read 4 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Formats
- Supported formats include Abaqus, ANSYS msh, CGNS, Gmsh, STL, VTK, VTU and XDMF.Read 4 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Install
- The project documents installation with pip or conda-forge.Read 4 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Intended audience
- Project metadata lists science and engineering among its topics and identifies scientific research as an intended audience.Read 4 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Maintainer location
- GitHub lists maintainer Nico Schlömer in Berlin, Germany.Read 4 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Optional dependencies
- The all extra installs netCDF4 and h5py, which are needed for some formats.Read 4 Oct 2026 · github.com
- ParaView integration
- A ParaView plugin lets users open meshio-supported files in ParaView after installing the plugin and matching ParaView’s Python major version.Read 4 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Platform support
- Project metadata classifies the operating system as independent.Read 4 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Python API
- The Python API can read meshes, expose points and cells, and write meshes to a selected format.Read 4 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Python requirement
- Project metadata specifies Python 3.8 or later.Read 4 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Time series
- Its XDMF support includes reading and writing time series that share a mesh.Read 4 Oct 2026 · github.com
Plans and prices
meshio Free MIT-licensed software · core uses NumPy · some formats require optional netCDF4 and h5py dependencies Read 4 Oct 2026 · github.com
Strong points and limits
Strong points
- Free MIT-licensed software
- Broad mesh-format conversion
- Python API available
- Command-line inspection and compression
- Supports shared-mesh XDMF time series
Limits
- Some formats require netCDF4 and h5py
- ParaView needs a matching Python major version
- Requires Python 3.8 or later
Who it suits
It suits scientific and engineering users working with unstructured meshes, especially those needing Python, command-line, or ParaView workflows across Windows, macOS, or Linux.
Verdict
meshio provides a focused toolkit for moving unstructured mesh data between formats. Its APIs, command-line utilities, and ParaView integration cover several workflow styles, with optional dependencies and version requirements to check first.
Where Specifiction places it
- 3D File Converter Software#20 of 317.5
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