mac-alias

Generate/parse macOS Alias records from Python

mac-alias v2.2.3 180.8K downloads/30d#10,141 on PyPI★ 26

Permissive license MIT Active released 2025-12-04

What it is and what it does

mac_alias is a pure-Python library for generating and parsing binary Alias and Bookmark records, which are macOS file reference formats. It lets you read metadata about file references and create new alias records programmatically from Python code. The package is macOS-specific; while written in pure Python, it relies on OS X-specific code paths to generate proper Alias or Bookmark records for files, making it unsuitable for cross-platform use.

The library has no runtime dependencies and installs cleanly as a wheel. It supports modern Python versions and is actively maintained, with recent repository activity. It is useful for tools that need to interact with macOS file aliases or bookmarks at the binary level, such as disk image builders or file management utilities.

Use it for:

Build macOS disk images that include file aliases pointing to specific locations
Parse existing Alias or Bookmark records to extract file reference metadata
Programmatically create file shortcuts for macOS applications
Integrate file alias handling into macOS-specific automation or installer scripts

Worth the install?

AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying

mac_alias generates and reads binary Alias and Bookmark records for macOS files from Python code.

Yes, if you are working on macOS and need to generate or parse Alias or Bookmark records. The package is stable, has no dependencies, installs easily, carries a permissive MIT license, and is actively maintained. It is not useful on non-macOS platforms.

Install

mac-alias on PyPI

pip

pip install mac-alias

uv

uv add mac-alias

poetry

poetry add mac-alias

Installing mac-alias

Before you install

Low install friction with no runtime dependencies. Actively maintained with recent commits and support for current Python versions.

License in practice

MIT license permits unrestricted use, modification, and distribution with minimal legal friction.

Quickstart

pip install mac-alias

import mac_alias
# Generate or read binary Alias and Bookmark records

macOS only; not portable to other platforms

Verify before relying

Whether the package works on non-macOS systems despite documentation stating it is not portable to other platforms
Performance characteristics when working with large numbers of alias or bookmark records

Package facts

License	MIT (permissive)
Python support	supports the current Python release (>=3.10)
Install friction	low — pure-Python wheel
Runtime dependencies	none
Maintenance	actively maintained — 253 days since the last release
Last repo commit	2026-08-02
First released	2014-02-13
Downloads	180,789/month — #10,141 on PyPI (30-day window, as of 2026-08-14)
Known vulnerabilities	none known (OSV.dev, checked 2026-08-14)

Evidence: mac_alias-2.2.3-py3-none-any.whl

Keywords: mac_alias

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