fastdownload
A general purpose data downloading library.
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
No. While the package has low install friction and permissive licensing, it is abandoned (last commit July 2022, 1499+ days ago) with no active maintenance. The classifiers indicate support only through Python 3.8, and there is no assurance it will work with current Python versions. For new projects, use an actively maintained alternative; for existing projects already using it, consider migration.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- Requires Python >= 3.6.
- Package is abandoned and may not work with modern Python versions beyond 3.8.
- Low install friction with only two runtime dependencies (fastprogress, fastcore).
License · maintenance · safety
Apache Software License 2.0 (permissive) — Licensed under Apache Software License 2.0 (permissive). You can use, modify, and distribute this package freely in commercial and private projects with minimal restrictions.
last release 2022-07-07 (1499 days) · last repo commit 2022-07-07 · 49 stars
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 330,311 downloads/mo, #7,539 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
from fastdownload import FastDownload
d = FastDownload()
path = d.get('https://example.com/archive.zip')
# path now contains the extracted files- Whether the package works reliably with Python versions beyond 3.8 (classifiers only list up to 3.8)
- Whether hash validation uses cryptographically secure algorithms
- Whether the two runtime dependencies (fastprogress, fastcore) are themselves maintained
What it is and what it does
fastdownload is a utility for downloading and extracting archives from URLs while ensuring data integrity and managing cached copies. It wraps the download process to automatically verify file size and hash, extract contents to a configurable directory structure, and reuse cached versions when appropriate. Users call a single method (get) with a URL and receive the path to extracted files; the library handles verification, extraction, and directory management automatically.
The package is designed for library authors who want to distribute datasets or archives to users with minimal friction. It generates a download_checks.py file containing size and hash metadata, allowing users to be notified when archives are updated and automatically download new versions. The fastai project uses it to provide dataset access. However, the package has been abandoned since July 2022 and receives no active maintenance.
Use it for
- Distribute datasets to users with automatic verification and caching to avoid re-downloading
- Build a library that fetches and extracts remote archives on first use with integrity checking
- Create a config-driven download system where archive metadata is stored in Python modules
- Manage multiple archive versions and notify users when updates are available via hash changes
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
No.
While the package has low install friction and permissive licensing, it is abandoned (last commit July 2022, 1499+ days ago) with no active maintenance. The classifiers indicate support only through Python 3.8, and there is no assurance it will work with current Python versions. For new projects, use an actively maintained alternative; for existing projects already using it, consider migration.
Install
fastdownload on PyPI
Before you install
Low install friction with only two runtime dependencies (fastprogress, fastcore). However, the package is abandoned—last commit was 2022-07-07, over 1499 days ago. No active maintenance or security updates.
Requires Python >= 3.6. Package is abandoned and may not work with modern Python versions beyond 3.8.
License in practice
Licensed under Apache Software License 2.0 (permissive). You can use, modify, and distribute this package freely in commercial and private projects with minimal restrictions.
Quickstart
from fastdownload import FastDownload
d = FastDownload()
path = d.get('https://example.com/archive.zip')
# path now contains the extracted filesVerify before relying
- Whether the package works reliably with Python versions beyond 3.8 (classifiers only list up to 3.8)
- Whether hash validation uses cryptographically secure algorithms
- Whether the two runtime dependencies (fastprogress, fastcore) are themselves maintained
Package facts
| License | Apache Software License 2.0 permissive |
| Python support | Supports the current Python release >=3.6 |
| Install friction | Low. Pure-Python wheel |
| Runtime dependencies | 2 packagesfastprogressfastcore |
| Maintenance | Abandoned 1,499 days since the last release |
| Last repo commit | |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 330,311 / month, #7,539 on PyPI 30-day window, as of 2026-08-14 |
| Known vulnerabilities | None known OSV.dev, checked 2026-08-14 |
| Classifiers | Development Status :: 3 - AlphaIntended Audience :: DevelopersLicense :: OSI Approved :: Apache Software LicenseNatural Language :: EnglishProgramming Language :: Python :: 3.6Programming Language :: Python :: 3.7Programming Language :: Python :: 3.8 |
Evidence: fastdownload-0.0.7-py3-none-any.whl
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