---
id: pylink
version: "0.3.3"
license: BSD
license_treatment: permissive
maintenance: abandoned
---

# PyLink — Universal communication interface using File-Like API

License: permissive · Maintenance: abandoned · Downloads: 99.0K/mo

## What it is and what it does

PyLink is a thin abstraction layer that wraps TCP, UDP, serial, and GSM communication behind a common file-like interface (read/write methods). It lets you write communication code once and swap transport mechanisms—for instance, switching from local serial to remote TCP—without rewriting the core logic. The package is particularly aimed at projects that need to support multiple communication paths, such as embedded systems that can talk over IP or direct serial links.

The library was last updated in 2017-11-29 and is now abandoned. It targets Python 2.6 through 3.2, and while the changelog mentions Python 3 compatibility fixes, there is no evidence of maintenance for modern Python versions. The GSM support relies on AT commands over a serial or network link, making it useful for older modem-based systems but potentially obsolete for contemporary hardware.

Use it for:

- Embedded systems that communicate via both local serial ports and remote TCP connections, needing a single abstraction.
- Legacy GSM modem integration where AT commands must be sent over serial or network links.
- Test harnesses or simulation frameworks that swap between live hardware and mock services.
- IoT projects with fallback communication paths across multiple transport types.

## Worth the install?

AI-flagged interpretation of the facts above — verify before relying.

PyLink provides a unified file-like interface for TCP, UDP, serial, and GSM communication, allowing code to switch between different transport mechanisms without changing the core read/write logic.

No. The package is abandoned (last release 2017-11-29, no commits since), targets obsolete Python versions (2.6–3.2), and offers no maintenance or security updates. Unless you are maintaining legacy code already using PyLink, modern projects should use transport-specific libraries or a maintained abstraction layer. The high install friction and lack of support make it unsuitable for new development.

## Install

pip install pylink
uv add pylink
poetry add pylink

## Installing PyLink

Before you install: High install friction: the package is abandoned (last release 2017-11-29, 3180 days ago) with no runtime dependencies but a source-only distribution. Expect compatibility issues with modern Python versions and no maintenance support.

License in practice: BSD license is permissive and poses no restrictions on use, modification, or distribution in proprietary or open-source projects.

Quickstart:

pip install pylink
from pylink import TCPLink
link = TCPLink('localhost', 7)
link.write('Hello')
result = link.read()

Package targets Python 2.6–3.2; compatibility with modern Python versions is uncertain.

Verify before relying:

- Whether the package actually works on Python 3.8+ despite classifiers only listing up to 3.2
- Whether GSM modem support still functions with current serial hardware and drivers
- Whether TCP/UDP optimizations from version 0.2 remain adequate for modern workloads

## Package facts

- License: BSD (permissive)
- Python support: unspecified
- Install friction: high
- Maintenance: abandoned
- Downloads: 99.0K/month (top 15,000 on PyPI)
- Known vulnerabilities: none known

## Tags

unified communication interface, tcp udp serial abstraction, file-like network api, gsm modem communication, transport-agnostic link layer, abandoned, legacy-hardware

[View on SkillFed](https://skillfed.io/packages/pylink) · [View on PyPI](https://pypi.org/project/pylink/)