mda-xdrlib
Stand-alone XDRLIB module (from cpython 3.10.8)
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
Yes, if you use code that depends on xdrlib and you are running Python 3.11 or later. The package is a direct extraction of stable CPython code with no dependencies, permissive licensing, and no known vulnerabilities. Install it only if you actually need xdrlib; if you are still on Python 3.10 or earlier, the standard library version is sufficient.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- Installation is straightforward with no runtime dependencies.
- The package is aging (last release over a year ago) but the repository remains active, suggesting stable code that requires minimal ongoing work.
License · maintenance · safety
permissive license (permissive) — Released under the Python Software Foundation License Version 2, a permissive open-source license that allows modification and redistribution with attribution. The package includes a CHANGES file documenting modifications as required by the PSF license.
last release 2023-08-28 (1082 days) · last repo commit 2025-10-12 · 1 stars
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 309,541 downloads/mo, #7,753 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
pip install mda-xdrlib
import xdrlib
p = xdrlib.Packer()
p.pack_int(x)
data = p.get_buffer()- Whether the extracted xdrlib code maintains full API compatibility with CPython 3.10.8's xdrlib module
- Performance characteristics compared to the original CPython implementation
- Specific projects and versions that depend on this package beyond MDAnalysis
What it is and what it does
mda-xdrlib is a standalone extraction of CPython 3.10.8's xdrlib module, packaged to preserve functionality after xdrlib was deprecated in Python 3.11 and marked for removal in Python 3.13. The module provides classes and functions for encoding and decoding data in XDR (External Data Representation) format, a standard binary serialization protocol. It was created to support projects that rely on xdrlib for parsing GROMACS TPR and EDR molecular dynamics files, avoiding the need to vendor the code into multiple projects.
The package contains the original CPython implementation with minimal cosmetic changes, documented in a CHANGES file. It supports Python 3.7 through 3.11, has no external runtime dependencies, and installs as a simple wheel. The code is mature and stable, requiring little ongoing maintenance since it is a frozen snapshot of a well-tested standard library component.
Use it for
- Parse GROMACS TPR and EDR files in molecular dynamics analysis workflows
- Maintain compatibility with code that uses xdrlib after upgrading to Python 3.11 or later
- Serialize and deserialize binary data in XDR format for scientific computing applications
- Support legacy molecular dynamics analysis pipelines that depend on xdrlib functionality
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
Yes, if you use code that depends on xdrlib and you are running Python 3.11 or later.
The package is a direct extraction of stable CPython code with no dependencies, permissive licensing, and no known vulnerabilities. Install it only if you actually need xdrlib; if you are still on Python 3.10 or earlier, the standard library version is sufficient.
Install
mda-xdrlib on PyPI
Before you install
Installation is straightforward with no runtime dependencies. The package is aging (last release over a year ago) but the repository remains active, suggesting stable code that requires minimal ongoing work.
License in practice
Released under the Python Software Foundation License Version 2, a permissive open-source license that allows modification and redistribution with attribution. The package includes a CHANGES file documenting modifications as required by the PSF license.
Quickstart
pip install mda-xdrlib
import xdrlib
p = xdrlib.Packer()
p.pack_int(x)
data = p.get_buffer()Verify before relying
- Whether the extracted xdrlib code maintains full API compatibility with CPython 3.10.8's xdrlib module
- Performance characteristics compared to the original CPython implementation
- Specific projects and versions that depend on this package beyond MDAnalysis
Package facts
| License | permissive license permissive |
| Python support | Supports the current Python release >=3.7 |
| Install friction | Low. Pure-Python wheel |
| Runtime dependencies | None |
| Maintenance | Aging 1,082 days since the last release |
| Last repo commit | |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 309,541 / month, #7,753 on PyPI 30-day window, as of 2026-08-14 |
| Known vulnerabilities | None known OSV.dev, checked 2026-08-14 |
| Classifiers | Development Status :: 6 - MatureIntended Audience :: DevelopersLicense :: OSI Approved :: Python Software Foundation LicenseOperating System :: OS IndependentProgramming Language :: Python :: 3.10Programming Language :: Python :: 3.11Programming Language :: Python :: 3.7Programming Language :: Python :: 3.8Programming Language :: Python :: 3.9Topic :: Software Development :: Libraries :: Python ModulesTopic :: System :: Archiving |
Evidence: mda_xdrlib-0.2.0-py3-none-any.whl
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