{"categories":[{"label":"Python Modules","url":"https://skillfed.io/packages/category/software-development-libraries-python-modules/3"}],"enrichment":{"capability":"xattr is a Python wrapper for reading and writing extended filesystem attributes on macOS, Linux, BSD, and Solaris, with a command-line tool included.","skillfed_tags":["filesystem-metadata","posix-systems"],"use_cases":["Store application-specific metadata or tags on files without modifying file content or using sidecar files.","Implement file tagging or classification systems that persist in the filesystem independently of the file itself.","Migrate or inspect extended attributes across systems using the command-line tool or Python API.","Access macOS file metadata like creation date or file kind via extended attributes (though osxmetadata is recommended for Spotlight metadata).","Build tools that need to associate custom properties with directories or symlinks in a filesystem-native way."],"what_it_does":"xattr is a Python wrapper around the extended filesystem attributes available on modern Unix-like systems (macOS 10.4+, Linux 2.6+, BSD, Solaris). It lets you read, write, and delete metadata stored as name-value pairs directly on files and directories, beyond the standard file permissions and timestamps. The package depends on cffi for C bindings and includes both a Python API and a command-line tool for attribute manipulation.\n\nExtended attributes are useful for storing application-specific metadata, file tags, or custom properties without modifying file content. On Linux, attribute keys must be prefixed with 'user.' namespace. The package supports current Python versions (3.9+) and is available as precompiled wheels for common platforms, though it requires a filesystem and OS that support extended attributes.","worth_installing":"Yes, if you need to work with extended filesystem attributes on macOS, Linux, or BSD. The package is stable, permissively licensed, and has no known vulnerabilities. Install friction is moderate due to C compilation, but wheels are available for modern Python versions. Maintenance has slowed (last release 305 days ago), so verify that your use case doesn't require active development or recent bug fixes."},"id":"xattr","links":{"html":"https://skillfed.io/packages/xattr","md":"https://skillfed.io/packages/xattr.md","pypi":"https://pypi.org/project/xattr/"},"maintenance":{"status":"aging"},"meta":{"latest_release":"2025-10-13","license_spdx":"MIT","license_treatment":"permissive","name":"xattr","python_support":"supports_current","summary":"Python wrapper for extended filesystem attributes"},"popularity":{"monthly_downloads":17560946,"position":1111,"tier":"top_5000"},"security":{"n_vulnerabilities":0},"version":"1.3.0"}