{"categories":[{"label":"Software Development","url":"https://skillfed.io/packages/category/software-development/5"}],"enrichment":{"capability":"Locates shared libraries on the system by searching Python packages, environment variables, standard system paths, and platform-specific library directories.","skillfed_tags":["ctypes","library-discovery","cross-platform"],"use_cases":["Locate native libraries installed via conda or system package managers when calling them from ctypes or cffi.","Build Python bindings that need to find platform-specific compiled libraries without hardcoding paths.","Support multiple installation contexts (system, conda, custom HOME directories) in a single codebase.","Resolve library paths in scientific Python packages that wrap Fortran or C libraries like eccodes.","Debug library discovery issues by testing search paths in a controlled, configurable way."],"what_it_does":"findlibs is a utility for locating shared libraries (like .so, .dylib, or .dll files) across different operating systems and installation contexts. It wraps a multi-stage search strategy that checks Python package installations, conda/virtualenv prefixes, environment variables (including custom HOME/DIR variables), user configuration files, standard system paths, and finally falls back to ctypes.util.find_library. This is useful when your Python code needs to call native libraries via ctypes or similar mechanisms but doesn't know where the system has installed them\u2014common in scientific computing and data processing workflows where libraries like eccodes or odc may be installed in non-standard locations.\n\nThe package has no runtime dependencies and installs cleanly. It supports Python 3.10+ and is maintained actively, though it remains in Alpha status. The search behavior can be fine-tuned via environment variables to disable specific search stages, and users can define custom search paths in a configuration file.","worth_installing":"Yes, if you need to locate native shared libraries from Python and want to avoid hardcoding paths or writing platform-specific search logic. The permissive license, zero runtime dependencies, and active maintenance make it low-risk. The Alpha status and small user base mean edge cases may not be well-tested\u2014verify behavior on your target platforms before relying on it in production."},"id":"findlibs","links":{"html":"https://skillfed.io/packages/findlibs","md":"https://skillfed.io/packages/findlibs.md","pypi":"https://pypi.org/project/findlibs/"},"maintenance":{"status":"active"},"meta":{"latest_release":"2026-07-14","license_spdx":null,"license_treatment":"permissive","name":"findlibs","python_support":"supports_current","summary":"A package to search for shared libraries on various platforms"},"popularity":{"monthly_downloads":1168521,"position":4274,"tier":"top_5000"},"security":{"n_vulnerabilities":0},"version":"0.1.3"}