diff --git a/python/flatbuffers/encode.py b/python/flatbuffers/encode.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c4f1a59
--- /dev/null
+++ b/python/flatbuffers/encode.py
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+# Copyright 2014 Google Inc. All rights reserved.
+#
+# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+# you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+# You may obtain a copy of the License at
+#
+#     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+# WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+# See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+# limitations under the License.
+
+from . import number_types as N
+from . import packer
+from .compat import memoryview_type
+from .compat import import_numpy, NumpyRequiredForThisFeature
+
+np = import_numpy()
+
+FILE_IDENTIFIER_LENGTH=4
+
+def Get(packer_type, buf, head):
+    """ Get decodes a value at buf[head] using `packer_type`. """
+    return packer_type.unpack_from(memoryview_type(buf), head)[0]
+
+
+def GetVectorAsNumpy(numpy_type, buf, count, offset):
+    """ GetVecAsNumpy decodes values starting at buf[head] as
+    `numpy_type`, where `numpy_type` is a numpy dtype. """
+    if np is not None:
+        # TODO: could set .flags.writeable = False to make users jump through
+        #       hoops before modifying...
+        return np.frombuffer(buf, dtype=numpy_type, count=count, offset=offset)
+    else:
+        raise NumpyRequiredForThisFeature('Numpy was not found.')
+
+
+def Write(packer_type, buf, head, n):
+    """ Write encodes `n` at buf[head] using `packer_type`. """
+    packer_type.pack_into(buf, head, n)