HardView 3.0 — The Best Python Library for Hardware and System Info

#programming #python #c #opensource

Introducing HardView 3.0 – A Powerful Window into Your Hardware with Python

If you’ve ever needed to access in-depth hardware and system information from Python — whether for diagnostics, system profiling, or real-time monitoring — HardView is the tool for you.

With the release of HardView v3, the library has become faster, more complete, and now includes powerful new features like SMART disk data and live performance monitoring. It's built for developers who want structured, high-quality hardware data with minimal overhead.

🔧 What is HardView?

HardView is a cross-platform, high-performance hardware information module for Python. It’s written in native C for speed, with a simple Python API for ease of use.

🖥️ Works on both Windows (via WMI) and Linux (via /proc and /sys)
⚙️ Returns data in structured JSON or Python objects
⚡ Built with native C code for high speed
🧩 Designed to be modular and extensible

🌟 What’s New in HardView v3?

Here’s what version 3.0 brings to the table:

Advanced Disk & SMART Info
Get full details on disk models, partitions, and SMART attributes — great for health checks and diagnostics.
Real-Time Performance Monitoring
Monitor CPU and RAM usage live, or over time, with built-in timers.
Expanded Hardware Coverage
Now includes GPU info, chassis type, socket info, and more.
Fully JSON + Object Support
All data is accessible as JSON strings or rich Python objects — your choice.

📦 Installation

Install directly from PyPI:

pip install hardview

Or from source:

git clone https://github.com/gafoo173/HardView.git
cd hardview
pip install .

Need setup help? Check the installation guide.

🚀 Quick Example

Here’s how easy it is to use:

import HardView
import json

# JSON output
cpu_json = HardView.get_cpu_info()

# Python object output
cpu_object = HardView.get_cpu_info_objects()

# Real-time monitoring
live_cpu = HardView.monitor_cpu_usage_duration(5, 1000)

# Pretty print
import pprint
pprint.pprint(json.loads(cpu_json))

🧠 What Can You Get?

Function (JSON)	Function (Object)	Description
`get_bios_info()`	`get_bios_info_objects()`	BIOS vendor, version, date
`get_cpu_info()`	`get_cpu_info_objects()`	Model, cores, threads, clocks
`get_ram_info()`	`get_ram_info_objects()`	Total RAM + module details
`get_disk_info()`	`get_disk_info_objects()`	Physical storage devices
`get_partitions_info()`	`get_partitions_info_objects()`	Disk partitions
`get_smart_info()`	`get_smart_info_objects()`	SMART attributes (Windows only)
`get_gpu_info()`	`get_gpu_info_objects()`	GPU name and memory
`get_network_info()`	`get_network_info_objects()`	Network adapter info
`get_cpu_usage()`	`get_cpu_usage_objects()`	Real-time CPU usage (%)
`monitor_cpu_usage_duration(d, i)`	`monitor_cpu_usage_duration_objects(d, i)`	Track CPU usage over time

...and many more for chassis, baseboard, system ID, and combined system performance.

🖥️ Platform Support

Feature	Windows	Linux
BIOS / System Info	✅	✅
CPU / RAM Info	✅	✅
Disk / Partition Info	✅	✅
SMART Info	✅	🚫
Performance Monitoring	✅	✅
GPU & Network Info	✅	✅

Note: SMART and some advanced features are currently Windows-only.

🚦 Performance

HardView is implemented in C for maximum speed and minimal CPU overhead.
Want proof? See the full benchmark comparison here:
👉 Performance & Feature Benchmarks

📚 Learn More

✍️ Bonus Read

Curious how HardView compares to old-school Python hardware scripts?
Check out this detailed comparison article:
👉 From 200 Lines to 7 — Comparing Traditional Scripts to HardView