ar
Access ar archive files (.a)!
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
Yes, if you need to parse ar archives in Python without system dependencies. The package is straightforward, has no external runtime dependencies, and covers a narrow but real use case. Maintenance is aging but not abandoned; the code is stable and suitable for build automation or library inspection tasks where ar format support is needed.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- Requires Python 3.8 or later; ar archives must be opened in binary mode.
- Low friction installation with no runtime dependencies.
- Maintenance status is aging—last commit was 2025-12-18, but the repository is not archived and the package remains functional.
License · maintenance · safety
permissive license (permissive) — Licensed under Apache License Version 2.0, a permissive license that allows commercial and derivative use with minimal restrictions, requiring only attribution and notice of modifications.
last release 2025-10-08 (310 days) · last repo commit 2025-12-18 · 13 stars
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 109,543 downloads/mo, #12,513 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
pip install ar
from ar import Archive
with open('file.a', 'rb') as f:
archive = Archive(f)
for entry in archive:
print(entry.name)- Whether the package handles all ar archive variants (GNU, BSD, etc.) or has known format limitations.
- Performance characteristics when working with large archives or many files.
What it is and what it does
ar is a pure-Python parser for Unix ar archive files (.a), commonly used in build systems and static libraries. It provides a simple interface to iterate over archive entries, read individual file contents, and extract files to disk without requiring external tools or compiled dependencies.
The package exposes an Archive class that wraps a binary file handle and supports iteration over entries, opening and reading specific files by name, and extracting all contents. It supports Python 3.8 through 3.11 and has no external runtime dependencies, making it lightweight for build automation, static library inspection, or archive manipulation in pure Python environments.
Use it for
- Extract object files or metadata from static libraries (.a) in build pipelines.
- Inspect the contents of ar archives without invoking system tools like ar or tar.
- Read embedded files from ar archives in cross-platform Python applications.
- Automate library analysis or dependency inspection in CI/CD workflows.
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
Yes, if you need to parse ar archives in Python without system dependencies.
The package is straightforward, has no external runtime dependencies, and covers a narrow but real use case. Maintenance is aging but not abandoned; the code is stable and suitable for build automation or library inspection tasks where ar format support is needed.
Install
ar on PyPI
Before you install
Low friction installation with no runtime dependencies. Maintenance status is aging—last commit was 2025-12-18, but the repository is not archived and the package remains functional.
Requires Python 3.8 or later; ar archives must be opened in binary mode.
License in practice
Licensed under Apache License Version 2.0, a permissive license that allows commercial and derivative use with minimal restrictions, requiring only attribution and notice of modifications.
Quickstart
pip install ar
from ar import Archive
with open('file.a', 'rb') as f:
archive = Archive(f)
for entry in archive:
print(entry.name)Verify before relying
- Whether the package handles all ar archive variants (GNU, BSD, etc.) or has known format limitations.
- Performance characteristics when working with large archives or many files.
Package facts
| License | permissive license permissive |
| Python support | Supports the current Python release >=3.8 |
| Install friction | Low. Pure-Python wheel |
| Runtime dependencies | None |
| Maintenance | Aging 310 days since the last release |
| Last repo commit | |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 109,543 / month, #12,513 on PyPI 30-day window, as of 2026-08-14 |
| Known vulnerabilities | None known OSV.dev, checked 2026-08-14 |
| Classifiers | Development Status :: 4 - BetaLicense :: OSI Approved :: Apache Software LicenseProgramming Language :: PythonProgramming Language :: Python :: 3Programming Language :: Python :: 3.10Programming Language :: Python :: 3.11Programming Language :: Python :: 3.8Programming Language :: Python :: 3.9 |
Evidence: ar-1.0.1-py3-none-any.whl
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See also arpy · unix-ar · arcp · extractcode · libarchive-c · unrar · python-debian · harfile · pyunpack · kaldi-python-io