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standard-telnetlib

Standard library telnetlib redistribution. "dead battery".

standard-telnetlib v3.13.0 458.9K downloads/30d#6,545 on PyPI37
Permissive license PSF-2.0 DORMANT released

What it is and what it does

standard-telnetlib is a redistribution of Python's telnetlib module, which was removed from the standard library as part of PEP 594's "dead batteries" initiative. It provides a pure-Python implementation of the Telnet protocol client, allowing legacy code and projects that depend on telnetlib to continue working on modern Python versions where the module is no longer included.

The package is part of a broader archival effort to preserve removed standard library modules on PyPI. It requires no external runtime dependencies and installs with low friction. The project is intentionally dormant and minimal—it exists to maintain compatibility with existing code rather than to add features or actively develop the Telnet protocol support.

Use it for:

  • Restore telnetlib imports in legacy projects migrating to newer Python versions where the module was removed
  • Maintain backward compatibility in applications that use Telnet for remote device management or network diagnostics
  • Provide a fallback for code that conditionally imports telnetlib when the standard library version is unavailable

Worth the install?

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

Provides the telnetlib module removed from Python's standard library, allowing projects to maintain compatibility with code that depends on Telnet protocol client functionality.

Yes, if your project depends on telnetlib and targets Python versions where it has been removed from the standard library. The package is permissively licensed, has no external dependencies, and installs cleanly. Dormant maintenance is appropriate for an archival redistribution. Install only if you actually need Telnet protocol support; do not add it speculatively.

Install

standard-telnetlib on PyPI

pip

pip install standard-telnetlib

uv

uv add standard-telnetlib

poetry

poetry add standard-telnetlib

Installing standard-telnetlib

Before you install

Low friction installation with no runtime dependencies. Maintenance is dormant (653 days since last release), but the package is archived preservation work rather than active development, which is appropriate for a standard library redistribution.

License in practice

Licensed under PSF-2.0 (Python Software Foundation License), a permissive license that poses no restrictions on use or redistribution in most contexts.

Quickstart

pip install standard-telnetlib

import telnetlib
tn = telnetlib.Telnet('example.com')

Verify before relying

  • Whether the redistributed telnetlib maintains full API compatibility with the removed standard library version
  • Compatibility scope across Python versions beyond what the fact sheet specifies
  • Whether telnetlib functionality works as expected in practice on modern Python versions

Package facts

License PSF-2.0 (permissive)
Python support not specified
Install friction low — pure-Python wheel
Runtime dependencies none
Maintenance dormant — 653 days since the last release
Last repo commit
First released
Downloads 458,866/month — #6,545 on PyPI (30-day window, as of 2026-08-14)
Known vulnerabilities none known (OSV.dev, checked 2026-08-14)

Evidence: standard_telnetlib-3.13.0-py3-none-any.whl

Keywords: stdlib

License :: OSI Approved :: Python Software Foundation LicenseProgramming Language :: Python :: 3Topic :: Software Development :: Libraries

Tags

telnet client libraryremoved standard library modulepython dead batteriestelnetlib redistributionlegacy telnet support
stdlib-backporttelnet

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