What Python Version Does FontForge Use?

FontForge relies on Python to handle complex typography automation, batch processing, and custom script execution. In modern standard releases, FontForge packages or links to Python 3—predominantly Python 3.10 or Python 3.11 in recent releases—having completely phased out legacy Python 2 support. However, because packaging methods vary across operating systems, the exact Python version depends on the platform and installer package you use.

Python in Windows Installers

The official standard installer for Microsoft Windows bundles an embedded version of Python built through the MSYS2/MinGW environment. Modern standard builds (such as the 2023 release and subsequent stable builds) bundle a complete Python 3.11 or Python 3.10 environment.

This installation is entirely self-contained. The interpreter executable, standard library modules, and FontForge extension bindings reside directly within the FontForgeBuilds directory structure, ensuring the application functions without requiring a separate Python installation on your host system.

Python in macOS Packages

For macOS users downloading the official pre-compiled .app disk image (.dmg), FontForge bundles its own internal Python 3 framework inside the application bundle.

If you install FontForge on macOS via alternative package managers like Homebrew or MacPorts, FontForge does not bundle its own interpreter. Instead, it compiles against and dynamically links to the active Python 3 version managed by that package manager (typically Python 3.11 or 3.12).

Python in Linux Distributions

Linux packages do not bundle an isolated Python distribution. Standard distributions (including Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora, and Arch) provide FontForge through native packages that link dynamically to the operating system's native Python 3 interpreter. Installing the python3-fontforge package integrates the FontForge module into your primary system Python environment.

Legacy Python 2 Support

Older FontForge releases distributed prior to 2020 historically bundled Python 2.7. Modern development has completely dropped Python 2 compatibility, and all current standard maintenance releases and builds exclusively support and distribute Python 3.

How to Check Your Exact Bundled Version

Because minor revisions change as new installers are released, you can confirm the exact Python version embedded in your specific FontForge installation directly through the interactive interpreter.

  1. Launch FontForge.
  2. Open the scripting console by navigating to File > Execute Script or launch the interactive terminal by running fontforge -lang=py.
  3. Enter the following commands:
import sys
print(sys.version)

The output will display the exact Python version number, build date, and compiler information packaged with your FontForge software.