pystow
Easily pick a place to store data for your Python code
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
Yes. PyStow solves a common problem with minimal dependencies and active maintenance. It is well-suited for any Python application needing straightforward data persistence and file caching. The MIT license and zero known vulnerabilities make it a low-risk addition. Install it if your application downloads or caches files, or needs a standard place to store application data.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- Low install friction with only three runtime dependencies (tqdm, typing-extensions, backports-zstd).
- Active maintenance with a release 4 days ago and ongoing repository activity.
License · maintenance · safety
MIT (permissive) — MIT license permits unrestricted use, modification, and distribution in both open and closed-source projects.
last release 2026-08-10 (4 days) · last repo commit 2026-08-12 · 43 stars
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 392,830 downloads/mo, #7,004 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
import pystow
# Get a directory for your app
app_dir = pystow.join("myapp")
# Download and cache a file
url = "https://example.com/data.txt"
path = pystow.ensure("myapp", "data", url=url)- Whether ensure_csv, ensure_rdf, ensure_excel and other format-specific methods work without optional dependencies installed
- Performance characteristics when managing large numbers of cached files or deep directory hierarchies
What it is and what it does
PyStow abstracts away the decision of where to store application data by providing a consistent interface for managing directories and files in a user's home directory (typically ~/.data). It handles directory creation automatically and provides convenience methods to download, cache, and load remote files in various formats.
The package is designed for Python applications that need to persist data between runs—such as downloaded datasets, cached API responses, or application state. It supports optional integration with XDG Base Directory specifications and allows configuration via environment variables (PYSTOW_HOME, PYSTOW_NAME, PYSTOW_USE_APPDIRS). Optional dependencies enable loading data as pandas DataFrames, RDF graphs, or other structured formats.
Use it for
- Store and retrieve cached datasets for machine learning or data analysis workflows
- Download and manage remote files (CSV, RDF, archives) with automatic caching to avoid re-downloading
- Provide a consistent data directory for Python applications that need persistent storage across sessions
- Organize application-specific configuration and state files in a standard location
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
Yes.
PyStow solves a common problem with minimal dependencies and active maintenance. It is well-suited for any Python application needing straightforward data persistence and file caching. The MIT license and zero known vulnerabilities make it a low-risk addition. Install it if your application downloads or caches files, or needs a standard place to store application data.
Install
pystow on PyPI
Before you install
Low install friction with only three runtime dependencies (tqdm, typing-extensions, backports-zstd). Active maintenance with a release 4 days ago and ongoing repository activity.
License in practice
MIT license permits unrestricted use, modification, and distribution in both open and closed-source projects.
Quickstart
import pystow
# Get a directory for your app
app_dir = pystow.join("myapp")
# Download and cache a file
url = "https://example.com/data.txt"
path = pystow.ensure("myapp", "data", url=url)Verify before relying
- Whether ensure_csv, ensure_rdf, ensure_excel and other format-specific methods work without optional dependencies installed
- Performance characteristics when managing large numbers of cached files or deep directory hierarchies
Package facts
| License | MIT permissive |
| Python support | Supports the current Python release >=3.11 |
| Install friction | Low. Pure-Python wheel |
| Runtime dependencies | 3 packagestqdmtyping-extensionsbackports-zstd |
| Maintenance | Actively maintained 4 days since the last release |
| Last repo commit | |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 392,830 / month, #7,004 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 :: ConsoleFramework :: PytestFramework :: SphinxFramework :: toxIntended Audience :: DevelopersNatural Language :: EnglishOperating System :: OS IndependentProgramming Language :: PythonProgramming Language :: Python :: 3 :: OnlyProgramming Language :: Python :: 3.11Programming Language :: Python :: 3.12Programming Language :: Python :: 3.13Programming Language :: Python :: 3.14Typing :: Typed |
Evidence: pystow-0.9.0-py3-none-any.whl
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See also appdirs · platformdirs · xdg-base-dirs · pickley · types-appdirs · flexcache · aws-secretsmanager-caching · xdg · pytest-cache · pytest-regressions