{"categories":[{"label":"Python Modules","url":"https://skillfed.io/packages/category/software-development-libraries-python-modules/14"}],"enrichment":{"capability":"Provides GNU readline library support for Python on platforms like macOS that lack it by default, bundling and statically linking readline into a Python extension module.","skillfed_tags":["deprecated","legacy-python"],"use_cases":["Restoring GNU readline on macOS systems where the standard library uses editline instead, for full readline compatibility in interactive shells.","Supporting legacy Python 2.x or early Python 3.x applications that depend on readline functionality and cannot be updated.","Providing readline on systems with licensing restrictions that prevent shipping GNU readline by default (historical use case)."],"what_it_does":"readline is a deprecated Python extension that bundles and statically links the GNU readline library, providing full readline functionality on platforms like macOS that ship with editline (libedit) instead. It was designed to give users proper line-editing, history, and completion support in interactive Python sessions without requiring separate system libraries. The module compiles readline 6.2 from source and links it directly into the Python extension, making installation self-contained.\n\nThis package is no longer maintained and has been superseded by gnureadline. It only supports Python versions up to 3.3 and explicitly prevents installation on Python 3.4 and later. The last release was in 2022, and the codebase is aging. Unless you are stuck on very old Python versions and cannot migrate to gnureadline, this package should be avoided.","worth_installing":"No. This package is explicitly deprecated and has been renamed to gnureadline. It is capped at Python < 3.4, has not been updated since 2022, and carries high compilation friction. Install gnureadline instead if you need GNU readline support on modern Python."},"id":"readline","links":{"html":"https://skillfed.io/packages/readline","md":"https://skillfed.io/packages/readline.md","pypi":"https://pypi.org/project/readline/"},"maintenance":{"status":"aging"},"meta":{"latest_release":"2022-10-12","license_spdx":null,"license_treatment":"copyleft","name":"readline","python_support":"capped_below_current","summary":"The standard Python readline extension statically linked against the GNU readline library."},"popularity":{"monthly_downloads":254816,"position":8490,"tier":"top_15000"},"security":{"n_vulnerabilities":0},"version":"6.2.4.2"}