bytesparse
Library to handle sparse bytes within a virtual memory space
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
Yes, if you need to work with sparse binary data at arbitrary addresses. The pure Python implementation, zero runtime dependencies, and bytearray-like interface make it easy to adopt. The lack of recent releases (406 days) is a minor concern but not a blocker given the stable, mature codebase and absence of known vulnerabilities. Best suited for embedded systems simulation, firmware manipulation, and memory emulation tasks.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- Requires Python 3.9 or later.
- No runtime dependencies and a pure Python implementation make installation straightforward.
- The package is marked Production/Stable and has been maintained since 2021, though the last release was over a year ago.
License · maintenance · safety
BSD-2-Clause (permissive) — Licensed under BSD-2-Clause (permissive), allowing free use, modification, and distribution with minimal restrictions—suitable for both open-source and commercial projects.
last release 2025-07-04 (406 days) · last repo commit 2025-07-04 · 2 stars
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 225,266 downloads/mo, #9,223 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
from bytesparse import bytesparse
m = bytesparse(b'Hello, World!')
print(len(m)) # 13
print(bytes(m)) # b'Hello, World!'
m.extend(b'!!')
print(bytes(m)) # b'Hello, World!!!'- Whether the Cython implementation (cbytesparse) offers meaningful performance gains for typical use cases.
- How memory overhead compares to a contiguous bytearray when storing mostly-contiguous data.
- Real-world performance characteristics with very large address ranges or many fragmented blocks.
What it is and what it does
bytesparse is a Python library that implements a virtual memory container similar to bytearray but capable of storing sparse, non-contiguous chunks of data. Unlike bytearray, which requires contiguous allocation from address zero, bytesparse allows you to store data at arbitrary addresses with gaps in between—useful when emulating microcontroller memory spaces or handling other sparse data structures. The library provides two main classes: Memory (generic virtual memory with infinite address range) and bytesparse (a subclass that behaves more like bytearray). Both inherit from collections.abc.MutableSequence and MutableMapping, so they support familiar Python sequence and mapping operations.
The implementation is pure Python for maximum compatibility and leverages Python's arbitrary-precision integers to support even negative addresses. Data chunks are stored internally as bytearray objects, and the library provides a rich API for manipulating sparse memory: slicing, insertion, deletion, block management, memory views, cropping, shifting, and flooding empty spaces. The package also offers an experimental Cython implementation for performance-critical use cases.
Use it for
- Emulate the address space of a microcontroller or embedded system where memory is sparse and non-contiguous.
- Store and manipulate binary data with gaps (e.g., firmware images with reserved regions or discontinuous segments).
- Implement a memory model for a debugger, simulator, or virtual machine that needs to track data at arbitrary addresses.
- Manage sparse binary patches or overlays where only certain address ranges contain meaningful data.
- Work with hex dump formats or binary file structures that have gaps or non-zero starting addresses.
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
Yes, if you need to work with sparse binary data at arbitrary addresses.
The pure Python implementation, zero runtime dependencies, and bytearray-like interface make it easy to adopt. The lack of recent releases (406 days) is a minor concern but not a blocker given the stable, mature codebase and absence of known vulnerabilities. Best suited for embedded systems simulation, firmware manipulation, and memory emulation tasks.
Install
bytesparse on PyPI
Before you install
No runtime dependencies and a pure Python implementation make installation straightforward. The package is marked Production/Stable and has been maintained since 2021, though the last release was over a year ago.
Requires Python 3.9 or later.
License in practice
Licensed under BSD-2-Clause (permissive), allowing free use, modification, and distribution with minimal restrictions—suitable for both open-source and commercial projects.
Quickstart
from bytesparse import bytesparse
m = bytesparse(b'Hello, World!')
print(len(m)) # 13
print(bytes(m)) # b'Hello, World!'
m.extend(b'!!')
print(bytes(m)) # b'Hello, World!!!'Verify before relying
- Whether the Cython implementation (cbytesparse) offers meaningful performance gains for typical use cases.
- How memory overhead compares to a contiguous bytearray when storing mostly-contiguous data.
- Real-world performance characteristics with very large address ranges or many fragmented blocks.
Package facts
| License | BSD-2-Clause permissive |
| Python support | Supports the current Python release >=3.9 |
| Install friction | Low. Pure-Python wheel |
| Runtime dependencies | None |
| Maintenance | Aging 406 days since the last release |
| Last repo commit | |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 225,266 / month, #9,223 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/StableIntended Audience :: DevelopersOperating System :: OS IndependentProgramming Language :: PythonProgramming Language :: Python :: 3Programming Language :: Python :: 3 :: OnlyProgramming Language :: Python :: 3.10Programming Language :: Python :: 3.11Programming Language :: Python :: 3.12Programming Language :: Python :: 3.13Programming Language :: Python :: 3.14Programming Language :: Python :: 3.9Programming Language :: Python :: Implementation :: CPythonProgramming Language :: Python :: Implementation :: PyPyTopic :: Scientific/Engineering :: Interface Engine/Protocol TranslatorTopic :: Software DevelopmentTopic :: Software Development :: Embedded SystemsTopic :: Utilities |
Evidence: bytesparse-1.1.0-py3-none-any.whl
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See also fla-core · HLL · sparse-dot-topn · memchunk · cobs · hexrec · nvidia-nvshmem-cu13 · nvidia-nvshmem-cu12 · nvidia-cusparse-cu11 · onemkl-sycl-sparse