diskcache
Disk Cache -- Disk and file backed persistent cache.
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
Yes, with caution regarding security. DiskCache is a mature, well-tested library (Production/Stable since 2016, 2903 GitHub stars) with zero runtime dependencies and low install friction. However, two known vulnerabilities are flagged in the security record—verify whether they affect version 5.6.3 or your use case before deploying to production. The dormant maintenance status (last release over 2 years old) means security patches may be slow; evaluate whether that risk is acceptable for your application.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- Installation is straightforward with no compiled dependencies.
- The package is dormant (last release 2023-08-31, last commit 2024-08-10) but marked Production/Stable; low install friction and no runtime dependencies make adoption smooth.
License · maintenance · safety
Apache 2.0 (permissive) — Licensed under Apache 2.0 (permissive), allowing commercial and private use with minimal restrictions—suitable for most projects without licensing concerns.
last release 2023-08-31 (1079 days) · last repo commit 2024-08-10 · 2,903 stars
2 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 40,220,254 downloads/mo, #684 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
pip install diskcache
import diskcache as dc
cache = dc.Cache('/tmp/mycache')
cache['key'] = 'value'
print(cache['key'])- Whether the two known vulnerabilities (GHSA-w8v5-vhqr-4h9v, PYSEC-2026-2447) affect current deployments or have been patched in 5.6.3
- Performance characteristics on very large caches or under sustained concurrent load beyond the published benchmarks
- Compatibility with Python versions beyond 3.9 (classifiers list up to 3.9 but requires_python is >=3)
What it is and what it does
DiskCache is a pure-Python caching library that uses SQLite and the filesystem to store cached data on disk rather than in memory. It provides a dictionary-like API compatible with Django's cache framework, making it a drop-in replacement for Django's file-based cache or an alternative to running separate Memcached or Redis instances. The library includes multiple eviction policies (LRU and LFU), tag-based metadata for selective eviction, and higher-level data structures like Deque and Index for persistent cross-process storage.
The package targets scenarios where memory is constrained but disk space is abundant—common in cloud environments. It offers thread-safe and process-safe operations, memoization with cache-stampede prevention, cross-process locking, and throttling primitives. With 100% test coverage and stress testing documented in the description, it aims to provide reliability comparable to production caching systems without requiring a separate daemon process or C compilation.
Use it for
- Replace Django's broken file-based cache backend with a performant pure-Python alternative that scales without linear slowdown
- Cache API responses or database query results in memory-constrained environments where running Memcached or Redis is impractical
- Implement cross-process synchronization primitives (locks, throttles, memoization) for multi-worker applications without external services
- Store large datasets on disk as a persistent, queryable key-value store using SQLite as the backing database
- Reduce load on Elasticsearch or other backend services by caching results locally on application servers
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
Yes, with caution regarding security.
DiskCache is a mature, well-tested library (Production/Stable since 2016, 2903 GitHub stars) with zero runtime dependencies and low install friction. However, two known vulnerabilities are flagged in the security record—verify whether they affect version 5.6.3 or your use case before deploying to production. The dormant maintenance status (last release over 2 years old) means security patches may be slow; evaluate whether that risk is acceptable for your application.
Install
diskcache on PyPI
Before you install
Installation is straightforward with no compiled dependencies. The package is dormant (last release 2023-08-31, last commit 2024-08-10) but marked Production/Stable; low install friction and no runtime dependencies make adoption smooth.
License in practice
Licensed under Apache 2.0 (permissive), allowing commercial and private use with minimal restrictions—suitable for most projects without licensing concerns.
Quickstart
pip install diskcache
import diskcache as dc
cache = dc.Cache('/tmp/mycache')
cache['key'] = 'value'
print(cache['key'])Verify before relying
- Whether the two known vulnerabilities (GHSA-w8v5-vhqr-4h9v, PYSEC-2026-2447) affect current deployments or have been patched in 5.6.3
- Performance characteristics on very large caches or under sustained concurrent load beyond the published benchmarks
- Compatibility with Python versions beyond 3.9 (classifiers list up to 3.9 but requires_python is >=3)
Package facts
| License | Apache 2.0 permissive |
| Python support | Supports the current Python release >=3 |
| Install friction | Low. Pure-Python wheel |
| Runtime dependencies | None |
| Maintenance | Dormant 1,079 days since the last release |
| Last repo commit | |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 40,220,254 / month, #684 on PyPI 30-day window, as of 2026-08-14 |
| Known vulnerabilities | 2 GHSA-w8v5-vhqr-4h9v, PYSEC-2026-2447 |
| Classifiers | Development Status :: 5 - Production/StableIntended Audience :: DevelopersLicense :: OSI Approved :: Apache Software LicenseNatural Language :: EnglishProgramming Language :: PythonProgramming Language :: Python :: 3Programming Language :: Python :: 3.5Programming Language :: Python :: 3.6Programming Language :: Python :: 3.7Programming Language :: Python :: 3.8Programming Language :: Python :: 3.9Programming Language :: Python :: Implementation :: CPython |
Evidence: diskcache-5.6.3-py3-none-any.whl
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See also diskcache-weave · fcache · seba-sqlite · flexcache · diskcache-stubs · pickleshare · pylibmc · sqlitedict · cache-to-disk · cashews