ds-store
Manipulate Finder .DS_Store files from Python
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
Yes, if you need to read or modify .DS_Store files outside macOS. Low install friction, no known vulnerabilities, MIT-licensed, actively maintained, and production-stable. The narrow use case (macOS filesystem metadata on non-Mac platforms) makes it essential for its niche but not generally useful otherwise.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- Low install friction with a single pure-Python dependency (mac_alias).
- Actively maintained with recent commits and production-stable status.
License · maintenance · safety
MIT (permissive) — MIT license permits commercial and private use with minimal restrictions.
last release 2026-06-23 (52 days) · last repo commit 2026-08-02 · 94 stars
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 211,115 downloads/mo, #9,484 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
pip install ds-store
from ds_store import DSStore
with DSStore.open('path/to/.DS_Store') as ds:
for entry in ds:
print(entry.filename)- Specific API surface for modifying .DS_Store entries beyond reading them
- Performance characteristics when handling large or complex .DS_Store files
- Compatibility guarantees with different macOS versions' .DS_Store format variants
What it is and what it does
ds_store is a pure-Python library for reading and modifying macOS Finder .DS_Store files, the hidden metadata files that store folder view settings and file attributes on macOS. Because it's written in pure Python rather than as a native macOS tool, it runs on any platform—Linux, Windows, or macOS—making it useful for build systems, disk image creation, and cross-platform tooling that needs to inspect or manipulate these files without running on a Mac.
The package wraps the binary .DS_Store format (reverse-engineered from public documentation) and exposes it through a Python API. It depends only on mac_alias, another pure-Python library for handling macOS alias records, keeping the dependency chain minimal and portable.
Use it for
- Examine .DS_Store metadata in disk images or macOS filesystem backups on non-Mac systems
- Automate creation of DMG files with specific Finder view settings during cross-platform build processes
- Parse Finder folder attributes and custom icon positions from .DS_Store files in CI/CD pipelines
- Modify .DS_Store files to reset view preferences or clean up metadata in batch operations
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
Yes, if you need to read or modify .DS_Store files outside macOS.
Low install friction, no known vulnerabilities, MIT-licensed, actively maintained, and production-stable. The narrow use case (macOS filesystem metadata on non-Mac platforms) makes it essential for its niche but not generally useful otherwise.
Install
ds-store on PyPI
Before you install
Low install friction with a single pure-Python dependency (mac_alias). Actively maintained with recent commits and production-stable status.
License in practice
MIT license permits commercial and private use with minimal restrictions.
Quickstart
pip install ds-store
from ds_store import DSStore
with DSStore.open('path/to/.DS_Store') as ds:
for entry in ds:
print(entry.filename)Verify before relying
- Specific API surface for modifying .DS_Store entries beyond reading them
- Performance characteristics when handling large or complex .DS_Store files
- Compatibility guarantees with different macOS versions' .DS_Store format variants
Package facts
| License | MIT permissive |
| Python support | Supports the current Python release >=3.10 |
| Install friction | Low. Pure-Python wheel |
| Runtime dependencies | 1 packagemac_alias |
| Maintenance | Actively maintained 52 days since the last release |
| Last repo commit | |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 211,115 / month, #9,484 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/StableProgramming 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 :: 3.15Topic :: Desktop EnvironmentTopic :: Software Development :: Libraries :: Python Modules |
Evidence: ds_store-1.3.3-py3-none-any.whl
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See also mac-alias · pyobjc-framework-FinderSync · pyobjc-framework-Accounts · pyobjc-framework-DeviceDiscoveryExtension · pyobjc-framework-CoreMIDI · clipboard · pyobjc-framework-FSKit · pyobjc-framework-GameSave · pyobjc-framework-BackgroundAssets · dmgbuild