osfclient
An OSF command-line library
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
Yes, if you actively use OSF and need command-line or programmatic file access. The low install friction and permissive license make it a safe choice. However, be aware the project is dormant—no active maintenance since 2021, so compatibility with Python versions beyond 3.9 and recent dependency updates is unverified. Suitable for established workflows; risky for new projects expecting ongoing support.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- Requires OSF project ID and optional authentication (username/password or Personal Access Token via environment variables or .osfcli.config file).
- Installation is straightforward with low friction.
- The package is dormant as of 2023 (last commit October 2023, latest release February 2021), so expect no active maintenance or updates to address new Python versions or dependency issues.
License · maintenance · safety
BSD3 (permissive) — BSD3 (permissive) license means you can use, modify, and distribute osfclient freely in commercial and private projects with minimal restrictions.
last release 2021-02-05 (2016 days) · last repo commit 2023-10-17 · 145 stars
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 75,715 downloads/mo, #14,685 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
pip install osfclient
from osfclient.api import OSFProject
# Command-line usage:
# osf init # setup local folder for existing project
# osf ls # list files
# osf clone # fetch all files- Whether the package works reliably with Python versions beyond 3.9 despite being dormant since 2021.
- Current state of compatibility with modern versions of requests, tqdm, and six dependencies.
- Whether the OSF API itself has changed in ways that break the client since the last release.
What it is and what it does
osfclient bridges your local filesystem and the Open Science Framework, a web platform for collaborative research. It provides both a Python library for programmatic access and a command-line interface for managing files in OSF projects—uploading datasets, downloading research outputs, and syncing project files without leaving the terminal.
The package depends on requests for HTTP communication, tqdm for progress bars during transfers, and six for Python 2/3 compatibility. It is classified as Alpha (Development Status 3) and has been dormant since early 2021, with the last commit in October 2023. The codebase supports Python 2.7 through 3.9 according to its classifiers, though no active maintenance means newer Python versions are untested.
Use it for
- Download large research datasets associated with published papers directly from OSF projects via the command line.
- Automate file uploads to OSF projects as part of a research workflow or data management pipeline.
- Clone an entire OSF project's file tree locally to keep a synchronized copy of collaborative research outputs.
- Retrieve individual files or directories from OSF without using the web interface, useful in headless or scripted environments.
- Set up a local project folder linked to an OSF project for team collaboration on shared research data.
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
Yes, if you actively use OSF and need command-line or programmatic file access.
The low install friction and permissive license make it a safe choice. However, be aware the project is dormant—no active maintenance since 2021, so compatibility with Python versions beyond 3.9 and recent dependency updates is unverified. Suitable for established workflows; risky for new projects expecting ongoing support.
Install
osfclient on PyPI
Before you install
Installation is straightforward with low friction. The package is dormant as of 2023 (last commit October 2023, latest release February 2021), so expect no active maintenance or updates to address new Python versions or dependency issues.
Requires OSF project ID and optional authentication (username/password or Personal Access Token via environment variables or .osfcli.config file).
License in practice
BSD3 (permissive) license means you can use, modify, and distribute osfclient freely in commercial and private projects with minimal restrictions.
Quickstart
pip install osfclient
from osfclient.api import OSFProject
# Command-line usage:
# osf init # setup local folder for existing project
# osf ls # list files
# osf clone # fetch all filesVerify before relying
- Whether the package works reliably with Python versions beyond 3.9 despite being dormant since 2021.
- Current state of compatibility with modern versions of requests, tqdm, and six dependencies.
- Whether the OSF API itself has changed in ways that break the client since the last release.
Package facts
| License | BSD3 permissive |
| Python support | Not specified |
| Install friction | Low. Pure-Python wheel |
| Runtime dependencies | 3 packagesrequeststqdmsix |
| Maintenance | Dormant 2,016 days since the last release |
| Last repo commit | |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 75,715 / month, #14,685 on PyPI 30-day window, as of 2026-08-14 |
| Known vulnerabilities | None known OSV.dev, checked 2026-08-14 |
| Classifiers | Development Status :: 3 - AlphaEnvironment :: ConsoleIntended Audience :: DevelopersIntended Audience :: Science/ResearchLicense :: OSI Approved :: BSD LicenseProgramming Language :: Python :: 2.7Programming Language :: Python :: 3Programming Language :: Python :: 3.5Programming Language :: Python :: 3.6Programming Language :: Python :: 3.7Programming Language :: Python :: 3.8Programming Language :: Python :: 3.9Topic :: Utilities |
Evidence: osfclient-0.0.5-py2.py3-none-any.whl
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