{"categories":[{"label":"Python Modules","url":"https://skillfed.io/packages/category/software-development-libraries-python-modules/5"},{"label":"Build Tools","url":"https://skillfed.io/packages/category/software-development-build-tools"}],"enrichment":{"capability":"Analyzes and edits Mach-O headers, the executable format used by macOS, and rewrites dylib references to be @executable_path relative.","skillfed_tags":["macos-native","binary-analysis","build-tools"],"use_cases":["Analyze dependencies of macOS binaries to understand which dylibs they load at runtime.","Rewrite dylib references in Mach-O headers to use relative paths for relocatable application bundles.","Inspect and debug Mach-O headers and load commands in binary files during macOS development.","Automate binary relocation tasks in build pipelines that package Python applications for macOS.","Parse and validate Mach-O structures in custom macOS tooling or security analysis workflows."],"what_it_does":"macholib is a pure-Python library for reading and modifying Mach-O headers, the binary executable format used by macOS. Despite targeting a platform-specific format, it is written to be platform and endian independent, making it portable across systems. The library is commonly used as a dependency analysis tool to understand which dynamic libraries a macOS binary depends on, and to rewrite dylib load commands so they use relative paths like @executable_path instead of absolute paths.\n\nThe package is typically integrated into macOS build and packaging workflows, particularly in tools that need to analyze or relocate binaries. It provides both a programmatic API for working with Mach-O structures and command-line utilities (accessed via `python -m macholib`) for common tasks like dumping binary information, finding dependencies, and creating standalone application bundles.","worth_installing":"Yes, if you are doing macOS binary analysis or packaging. The low install friction, permissive MIT license, and lack of known vulnerabilities make it a safe choice. However, the aging maintenance status (265 days since last release) means you should verify that recent macOS SDK features are supported if you need to work with newly compiled binaries."},"id":"macholib","links":{"html":"https://skillfed.io/packages/macholib","md":"https://skillfed.io/packages/macholib.md","pypi":"https://pypi.org/project/macholib/"},"maintenance":{"status":"aging"},"meta":{"latest_release":"2025-11-22","license_spdx":null,"license_treatment":"permissive","name":"macholib","python_support":"unspecified","summary":"Mach-O header analysis and editing"},"popularity":{"monthly_downloads":2658604,"position":2954,"tier":"top_5000"},"security":{"n_vulnerabilities":0},"version":"1.16.4"}