shutils

What it is and what it does

shutils is a utility library for Python development that was last updated on 2020-05-01 and is no longer actively maintained. The package summary describes it as providing 'tools for python development,' but the fact sheet contains no detail on what those tools are or what problems they solve. With zero runtime dependencies and minimal documentation, it appears to be a lightweight helper library, though its exact purpose and functionality remain unclear from the available metadata.

The package carries high install friction due to being distributed only as a source archive. More critically, it has been abandoned for many years with no updates, no issue responses, and minimal adoption (4 repository stars). Without active maintenance, there is no assurance of compatibility with modern Python versions or any response to security or compatibility issues that may arise.

Use it for:

• Legacy projects that already depend on shutils and require it to remain installed for backward compatibility.
• Educational or archival purposes to study an older Python utility package design.
• Development environments where the specific utilities provided happen to solve a narrow, well-understood problem and no alternative is available.

Worth the install?

AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying

Provides utility tools for Python development, though the package is no longer maintained and offers minimal documentation on its specific functionality.

No. The package is abandoned, offers no clear documentation of what it provides, has high install friction, and has not been updated since 2020-05-01. Even though it carries no known vulnerabilities and uses a permissive license, the lack of maintenance, unclear functionality, and minimal adoption make it a poor choice for new projects. Only consider it if you are maintaining legacy code that already depends on it.

Install

shutils on PyPI

pip install shutils

uv add shutils

poetry add shutils

Installing shutils

Before you install

High install friction and abandoned maintenance status since 2020-05-01. The package has not been updated in many years and receives minimal community attention (4 repository stars). Installation from source archive only.

License in practice

Licensed under MIT (permissive), so no legal restriction on use, modification, or distribution—but the lack of active maintenance means no one is addressing potential issues or security concerns.

Quickstart

pip install shutils
import shutils

Package is abandoned; no Python version specification provided and no active maintenance to address compatibility issues with modern Python releases.

Verify before relying

• What specific utilities or functions does the package actually provide—the description gives no detail beyond 'tools for python development'.
• Whether the package is compatible with Python versions released after 2020-05-01.
• Whether any of the utilities have been superseded by standard library or widely-maintained alternatives.

Package facts

Evidence: shutils-0.1.0.tar.gz

Tags

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