---
id: arpy
version: "2.3.0"
license: Simplified BSD
license_treatment: permissive
maintenance: active
---

# arpy — Library for accessing "ar" files

License: permissive · Maintenance: active · Downloads: 183.3K/mo

## 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 above — verify before relying.

Arpy reads and extracts files from ar archives (GNU and BSD formats) using a standard Python file-like interface, supporting both direct access and streaming.

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

pip install arpy
uv add arpy
poetry add arpy

## Installing arpy

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: unspecified
- Install friction: high
- Maintenance: active
- Downloads: 183.3K/month (top 15,000 on PyPI)
- Known vulnerabilities: none known

## Tags

ar archive reader, extract ar files python, gnu bsd archive format, ar file parser, archive library python, read ar archives, ar format support, archive-format, static-libraries

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