patchwork
Deployment/sysadmin operations, powered by Fabric
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
No. While Patchwork offers a useful lightweight alternative to full configuration management frameworks, it has been abandoned since 2018 with no maintenance. The package is unlikely to work reliably on modern Python versions or current system environments. For new projects, consider actively maintained alternatives.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- Requires Fabric; designed for remote execution over SSH, typically called with a remote context object rather than local execution.
- Low friction installation.
- However, the package has been abandoned since 2018 with no recent maintenance, so it may not work reliably with modern Python or system environments.
License · maintenance · safety
BSD (permissive) — BSD license is permissive, allowing commercial and private use with minimal restrictions, making it suitable for most deployment contexts.
last release 2018-06-20 (2977 days)
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 89,424 downloads/mo, #13,660 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
pip install patchwork
from patchwork.files import exists
if exists(ctx, '/etc/hosts'):
print('File exists')- Whether Patchwork's Fabric dependency still installs and functions on modern Python versions given the package's abandonment since 2018.
- Compatibility with current SSH implementations and modern Unix/Linux distributions.
- Whether the idempotency guarantees hold across different system configurations and package managers.
What it is and what it does
Patchwork is a mid-level library of system administration primitives designed to run over SSH via Fabric. It provides functions like package installation and user account creation that are built to be idempotent—safe to call repeatedly without accumulating unwanted side effects. Unlike larger configuration management frameworks, Patchwork is just an API with no concept of recipes or roles; it leaves organizational structure to the user or wrapping libraries. Functions expect a context object and can run either locally or remotely depending on the context supplied.
The library is implemented through shell calls, typically sent over SSH from a local workstation. It sits between raw shell scripting and full configuration management systems, offering a lightweight alternative for teams that want programmatic control over deployment operations without the overhead of a complete framework.
Use it for
- Automating package installation and system configuration on remote servers via SSH from a Python script.
- Building custom deployment workflows that need idempotent operations without adopting a full configuration management framework.
- Writing ad-hoc system administration tasks that can be safely re-run without causing errors or duplicate changes.
- Wrapping Patchwork primitives in higher-level deployment or provisioning tools tailored to specific organizational needs.
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
No.
While Patchwork offers a useful lightweight alternative to full configuration management frameworks, it has been abandoned since 2018 with no maintenance. The package is unlikely to work reliably on modern Python versions or current system environments. For new projects, consider actively maintained alternatives.
Install
patchwork on PyPI
Before you install
Low friction installation. However, the package has been abandoned since 2018 with no recent maintenance, so it may not work reliably with modern Python or system environments.
Requires Fabric; designed for remote execution over SSH, typically called with a remote context object rather than local execution.
License in practice
BSD license is permissive, allowing commercial and private use with minimal restrictions, making it suitable for most deployment contexts.
Quickstart
pip install patchwork
from patchwork.files import exists
if exists(ctx, '/etc/hosts'):
print('File exists')Verify before relying
- Whether Patchwork's Fabric dependency still installs and functions on modern Python versions given the package's abandonment since 2018.
- Compatibility with current SSH implementations and modern Unix/Linux distributions.
- Whether the idempotency guarantees hold across different system configurations and package managers.
Package facts
| License | BSD permissive |
| Python support | Not specified |
| Install friction | Low. Pure-Python wheel |
| Runtime dependencies | 1 packagefabric |
| Maintenance | Abandoned 2,977 days since the last release |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 89,424 / month, #13,660 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/StableEnvironment :: ConsoleIntended Audience :: DevelopersIntended Audience :: System AdministratorsLicense :: OSI Approved :: BSD LicenseOperating System :: MacOS :: MacOS XOperating System :: Microsoft :: WindowsOperating System :: POSIXOperating System :: UnixProgramming Language :: PythonProgramming Language :: Python :: 2Programming Language :: Python :: 2.7Programming Language :: Python :: 3Programming Language :: Python :: 3.4Programming Language :: Python :: 3.5Programming Language :: Python :: 3.6Topic :: Software DevelopmentTopic :: Software Development :: Build ToolsTopic :: Software Development :: LibrariesTopic :: Software Development :: Libraries :: Python ModulesTopic :: System :: Software DistributionTopic :: System :: Systems Administration |
Evidence: patchwork-1.0.1-py2.py3-none-any.whl
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