pathlib3x
backport of pathlib 3.10 to python 3.6, 3.7, 3.8, 3.9 with a few extensions
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
Yes. Low install friction, permissive license, no known vulnerabilities, and active maintenance make it a safe choice. Install if you need modern pathlib on Python 3.8–3.10 or want shutil operations as Path methods; skip if you target only Python 3.11+.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- Requires Python 3.8.0 or newer; package is a backport and does not add features to Python 3.11+.
- Low install friction with only two runtime dependencies (click, cli-exit-tools).
- Actively maintained as of 2026-07-21 with production-stable status.
License · maintenance · safety
MIT (permissive) — MIT license (permissive) places no restrictions on use, modification, or distribution in proprietary or open-source projects.
last release 2023-07-20 (1121 days) · last repo commit 2026-07-21 · 14 stars
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 105,129 downloads/mo, #12,719 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
pip install pathlib3x
import pathlib3x as pathlib
my_file = pathlib.Path('/etc/hosts')
my_file.unlink(missing_ok=True) # works on Python 3.8+
to_file = pathlib.Path('/tmp/backup')
my_file.copy(to_file)- Whether the package's own extensions (append_suffix, replace_parts, shutil wrappers) are tested to the same coverage standard as the backported pathlib methods.
- Performance characteristics compared to standard pathlib on Python 3.11+ where both are available.
What it is and what it does
pathlib3x is a backport of Python 3.11's pathlib module to Python 3.8, 3.9, and 3.10, allowing you to use newer pathlib features (like the missing_ok parameter on unlink) on older Python versions without try-except boilerplate. It also adds convenience wrappers around shutil functions (copy, copy2, copyfile, rmtree, copytree) as methods on Path objects, and introduces new methods like append_suffix and replace_parts for path manipulation.
The package is fully typed (PEP 561) and actively maintained. It depends on click and cli-exit-tools at runtime. Use it when you need to support older Python versions but want to write modern pathlib code, or when you want shutil operations available as Path methods for cleaner syntax.
Use it for
- Use modern pathlib features (missing_ok, etc.) in codebases that must support Python 3.8–3.10.
- Copy or move files using Path.copy() and Path.copy2() instead of importing shutil separately.
- Manipulate path strings with append_suffix() to add extensions without replacing existing ones.
- Replace path components with replace_parts() when copying directory trees to new locations.
- Check if an object is a Path instance across mixed pathlib and pathlib3x code using is_path_instance().
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
Yes.
Low install friction, permissive license, no known vulnerabilities, and active maintenance make it a safe choice. Install if you need modern pathlib on Python 3.8–3.10 or want shutil operations as Path methods; skip if you target only Python 3.11+.
Install
pathlib3x on PyPI
Before you install
Low install friction with only two runtime dependencies (click, cli-exit-tools). Actively maintained as of 2026-07-21 with production-stable status.
Requires Python 3.8.0 or newer; package is a backport and does not add features to Python 3.11+.
License in practice
MIT license (permissive) places no restrictions on use, modification, or distribution in proprietary or open-source projects.
Quickstart
pip install pathlib3x
import pathlib3x as pathlib
my_file = pathlib.Path('/etc/hosts')
my_file.unlink(missing_ok=True) # works on Python 3.8+
to_file = pathlib.Path('/tmp/backup')
my_file.copy(to_file)Verify before relying
- Whether the package's own extensions (append_suffix, replace_parts, shutil wrappers) are tested to the same coverage standard as the backported pathlib methods.
- Performance characteristics compared to standard pathlib on Python 3.11+ where both are available.
Package facts
| License | MIT permissive |
| Python support | Supports the current Python release >=3.8.0 |
| Install friction | Low. Pure-Python wheel |
| Runtime dependencies | 2 packagesclickcli-exit-tools |
| Maintenance | Actively maintained 1,121 days since the last release |
| Last repo commit | |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 105,129 / month, #12,719 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/StableIntended Audience :: DevelopersLicense :: OSI Approved :: MIT LicenseNatural Language :: EnglishOperating System :: OS IndependentProgramming Language :: PythonTopic :: Software Development :: Libraries :: Python Modules |
Evidence: pathlib3x-2.0.3-py3-none-any.whl
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See also backports.shutil_get_terminal_size · pathlib-mate · pathlib2 · pathlib-abc · pathlib · traceback2 · zipp · eval-type-backport · pkgutil_resolve_name · path.py