recordtype
Similar to namedtuple, but instances are mutable.
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
No, unless you are maintaining legacy Python 2 code or a codebase already using recordtype. For new projects on Python 3.7+, use dataclasses; for more advanced use cases, use attrs or namedlist. The package is abandoned and its author recommends against it.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- Low install friction with a single pure-Python dependency (six).
- However, the package is abandoned as of 1422 days since its last release; the author explicitly recommends Python 3.7+ users switch to dataclasses, and points to namedlist and attrs as better-maintained alternatives.
License · maintenance · safety
Apache License Version 2.0 (permissive) — Licensed under Apache License Version 2.0 (permissive). You can use, modify, and distribute recordtype freely in commercial and private projects with minimal restrictions.
last release 2022-09-22 (1422 days)
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 93,010 downloads/mo, #13,407 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
from recordtype import recordtype
Point = recordtype('Point', [('x', 0), ('y', 0)])
p = Point()
p.x = 5
print(p.x, p.y) # 5 0- Whether the package works reliably on Python 3.10+ despite the last update being in 2022.
- Performance characteristics compared to dataclasses or attrs in modern Python versions.
- Whether the mutable-default-value warning mentioned in the changelog is still active.
What it is and what it does
recordtype is a factory function that generates mutable record classes—similar to collections.namedtuple but with write support and flexible default-value handling. Unlike namedtuple, instances are fully mutable, and you can specify per-field defaults, a global default for all unspecified fields, or both. It depends only on six and generates pure Python classes with introspection members like _fields, _asdict(), and _source.
The package is production-stable but abandoned; its author explicitly recommends that Python 3.7+ users use dataclasses instead, and points to namedlist and attrs as better-maintained alternatives. It remains useful for legacy codebases or Python 2 compatibility, but new projects should consider those alternatives.
Use it for
- Migrating from namedtuple to a mutable variant when you need to modify field values after instantiation.
- Creating lightweight data containers with sensible field defaults to reduce boilerplate initialization code.
- Supporting Python 2.6+ codebases that predate dataclasses and need a simple mutable record type.
- Building configuration or state objects where fields have meaningful defaults and occasional mutation is expected.
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
No, unless you are maintaining legacy Python 2 code or a codebase already using recordtype.
For new projects on Python 3.7+, use dataclasses; for more advanced use cases, use attrs or namedlist. The package is abandoned and its author recommends against it.
Install
recordtype on PyPI
Before you install
Low install friction with a single pure-Python dependency (six). However, the package is abandoned as of 1422 days since its last release; the author explicitly recommends Python 3.7+ users switch to dataclasses, and points to namedlist and attrs as better-maintained alternatives.
License in practice
Licensed under Apache License Version 2.0 (permissive). You can use, modify, and distribute recordtype freely in commercial and private projects with minimal restrictions.
Quickstart
from recordtype import recordtype
Point = recordtype('Point', [('x', 0), ('y', 0)])
p = Point()
p.x = 5
print(p.x, p.y) # 5 0Verify before relying
- Whether the package works reliably on Python 3.10+ despite the last update being in 2022.
- Performance characteristics compared to dataclasses or attrs in modern Python versions.
- Whether the mutable-default-value warning mentioned in the changelog is still active.
Package facts
| License | Apache License Version 2.0 permissive |
| Python support | Not specified |
| Install friction | Low. Pure-Python wheel |
| Runtime dependencies | 1 packagesix |
| Maintenance | Abandoned 1,422 days since the last release |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 93,010 / month, #13,407 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 :: Apache Software LicenseProgramming Language :: Python :: 2.6Programming Language :: Python :: 2.7Programming Language :: Python :: 3Topic :: Software Development :: Libraries :: Python Modules |
Evidence: recordtype-1.4-py2.py3-none-any.whl
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See also namedlist · recordclass · historydict · constantdict · tinsel · aenum · typedload · ordered-set · fields · pygtrie