arpy
Library for accessing "ar" files
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
Yes, if you need to work with ar archives in Python and can tolerate source-only installation. The library is stable, actively maintained, has no external dependencies, and fills a niche use case with a clean API. Install friction is the main trade-off; if you have a build environment or prebuilt wheels available, it's a straightforward choice.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- High install friction due to source-only distribution (arpy-2.3.0.tar.gz).
- Package is actively maintained with recent commits (last on 2026-07-01) and marked Production/Stable, but no prebuilt wheels available.
License · maintenance · safety
Simplified BSD (permissive) — Simplified BSD license is permissive; you can use, modify, and distribute arpy freely in commercial and private projects with minimal restrictions.
last release 2022-06-11 (1525 days) · last repo commit 2026-07-01 · 13 stars
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 183,316 downloads/mo, #10,068 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
import arpy
with arpy.Archive('file.ar') as ar:
print(ar.namelist())
with ar.open('content.txt') as f:
print(f.read())- Whether the package works reliably with ar archives created by modern toolchains (e.g., recent GNU binutils versions).
- Performance characteristics when handling large or deeply nested ar archives.
What it is and what it does
Arpy is a Python library for reading and extracting files from ar archives, the static library format used by Unix build tools and package managers. It supports both GNU and BSD ar variants and exposes archived files through Python's standard file interface, allowing you to open, read, and list archive contents using familiar patterns like context managers and iteration.
The library has no runtime dependencies and works across Python 3.5 through 3.11 (both CPython and PyPy). It's marked Production/Stable and has been maintained since 2010, though the last release was in 2022. The main friction point is that it's distributed as source only, requiring compilation on install.
Use it for
- Extract object files or libraries from .a static archives in build pipelines.
- Inspect or validate the contents of ar archives without external tools.
- Automate processing of Debian .deb packages (which use ar format internally).
- Parse GNU ar archives in embedded systems or cross-compilation workflows.
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
Yes, if you need to work with ar archives in Python and can tolerate source-only installation.
The library is stable, actively maintained, has no external dependencies, and fills a niche use case with a clean API. Install friction is the main trade-off; if you have a build environment or prebuilt wheels available, it's a straightforward choice.
Install
arpy on PyPI
Before you install
High install friction due to source-only distribution (arpy-2.3.0.tar.gz). Package is actively maintained with recent commits (last on 2026-07-01) and marked Production/Stable, but no prebuilt wheels available.
License in practice
Simplified BSD license is permissive; you can use, modify, and distribute arpy freely in commercial and private projects with minimal restrictions.
Quickstart
import arpy
with arpy.Archive('file.ar') as ar:
print(ar.namelist())
with ar.open('content.txt') as f:
print(f.read())Verify before relying
- Whether the package works reliably with ar archives created by modern toolchains (e.g., recent GNU binutils versions).
- Performance characteristics when handling large or deeply nested ar archives.
Package facts
| License | Simplified BSD permissive |
| Python support | Not specified |
| Install friction | High. Source build required |
| Runtime dependencies | None |
| Maintenance | Actively maintained 1,525 days since the last release |
| Last repo commit | |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 183,316 / month, #10,068 on PyPI 30-day window, as of 2026-08-14 |
| Known vulnerabilities | None known OSV.dev, checked 2026-08-14 |
| Classifiers | Development Status :: 5 - Production/StableLicense :: OSI Approved :: BSD LicenseProgramming Language :: Python :: 3.10Programming Language :: Python :: 3.11Programming Language :: Python :: 3.5Programming Language :: Python :: 3.6Programming Language :: Python :: 3.7Programming Language :: Python :: 3.8Programming Language :: Python :: 3.9Programming Language :: Python :: Implementation :: CPythonProgramming Language :: Python :: Implementation :: PyPyTopic :: System :: Archiving |
Evidence: arpy-2.3.0.tar.gz
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