{"categories":[{"label":"Utilities","url":"https://skillfed.io/packages/category/utilities/5"}],"enrichment":{"capability":"Removes Python bytecode files (.pyc) and __pycache__ directories across your project in a single command, with optional cleanup of tool debris and empty directories.","skillfed_tags":["cli-tool","development-utilities"],"use_cases":["Clean bytecode before committing to version control to avoid merge conflicts from .pyc file changes.","Remove accumulated __pycache__ directories and tool caches after switching Python versions or development environments.","Integrate into tox or CI/CD pipelines as a pre-test cleanup step via the --debris flag.","Safely delete arbitrary project files using glob patterns with the --erase option and dry-run preview.","Detect and remove empty directories left behind after code refactoring with the --folders flag."],"what_it_does":"PyClean is a command-line utility that removes Python bytecode artifacts (.pyc files and __pycache__ directories) from your project tree in a single, cross-platform command. It addresses the common problem of bytecode clutter that accumulates during development, especially when switching between Python versions or working across different operating systems. Unlike shell commands like `rm` or `find`, PyClean provides a safe, intentional interface with options for dry-run preview, verbose output, and interactive confirmation.\n\nBeyond bytecode cleanup, PyClean can optionally remove debris from popular development tools (pytest, coverage, ruff, mypy, tox, and others) in their default locations, detect and remove empty directories left after refactoring, and integrate with Git's `git clean` command. It supports globbing for arbitrary file deletion with safety constraints to prevent accidental data loss. The tool is actively maintained, supports modern Python versions (3.9\u20133.14), runs on both CPython and PyPy, and has no runtime dependencies.","worth_installing":"Yes. PyClean solves a genuine cross-platform problem with zero dependencies, active maintenance, and a clear safety-first design. The copyleft license is a minor consideration for development tools but not a blocker for most projects. Install it if you work in multi-version Python environments or want a safer alternative to shell commands for bytecode cleanup."},"id":"pyclean","links":{"html":"https://skillfed.io/packages/pyclean","md":"https://skillfed.io/packages/pyclean.md","pypi":"https://pypi.org/project/pyclean/"},"maintenance":{"status":"active"},"meta":{"latest_release":"2026-05-23","license_spdx":"GPL-3.0-or-later","license_treatment":"copyleft","name":"pyclean","python_support":"supports_current","summary":"Pure Python cross-platform pyclean. Clean up your Python bytecode."},"popularity":{"monthly_downloads":645611,"position":5598,"tier":"top_15000"},"security":{"n_vulnerabilities":0},"version":"3.7.0"}