whichcraft
This package provides cross-platform cross-python shutil.which functionality.
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
Yes, if you need cross-platform which functionality for Python 2.7 or older Python 3 versions. However, modern Python 3.3+ includes shutil.which natively, so this package is most useful for legacy codebases or environments where Python 2.7 support is still required. The package is abandoned since 2019-09-06, so consider whether you can rely on unmaintained code for your use case.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- Installation is straightforward with no runtime dependencies.
- The package is abandoned, with the latest release on 2019-09-06 and no updates since then.
License · maintenance · safety
BSD (permissive) — BSD license is permissive, allowing commercial and private use with minimal restrictions.
last release 2019-09-06 (2534 days) · last repo commit 2023-08-16 · 71 stars
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 363,070 downloads/mo, #7,227 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
pip install whichcraft
from whichcraft import which
result = which('date')
print(result) # '/bin/date' or None if not found- Whether the package functions correctly on Python versions beyond 3.7, given its abandoned status.
- Current compatibility with Windows built-in functions like 'date' that behave differently than on Unix systems.
What it is and what it does
whichcraft is a lightweight shim around Python's shutil.which function designed to work consistently across Windows, macOS, and Linux, and across Python 2.7 and Python 3.x versions. It locates executables in the system PATH and returns their full path as a string, or None if the command is not found.
The package was originally extracted from the Cookiecutter project to reduce code duplication. It handles cross-platform differences in how the which functionality behaves—for example, some built-in commands like 'date' exist natively on Unix systems but are built-in functions on Windows, which affects the return value. With no runtime dependencies and a simple API, it is useful for scripts and tools that need to find system commands portably.
Use it for
- Locate system executables in build scripts or deployment tools that run on multiple operating systems.
- Check whether a required command-line tool is installed before attempting to invoke it.
- Write Python 2.7 compatible code that needs shutil.which functionality without conditional imports.
- Verify the full path to a command in cross-platform CLI applications or wrappers.
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
Yes, if you need cross-platform which functionality for Python 2.7 or older Python 3 versions.
However, modern Python 3.3+ includes shutil.which natively, so this package is most useful for legacy codebases or environments where Python 2.7 support is still required. The package is abandoned since 2019-09-06, so consider whether you can rely on unmaintained code for your use case.
Install
whichcraft on PyPI
Before you install
Installation is straightforward with no runtime dependencies. The package is abandoned, with the latest release on 2019-09-06 and no updates since then.
License in practice
BSD license is permissive, allowing commercial and private use with minimal restrictions.
Quickstart
pip install whichcraft
from whichcraft import which
result = which('date')
print(result) # '/bin/date' or None if not foundVerify before relying
- Whether the package functions correctly on Python versions beyond 3.7, given its abandoned status.
- Current compatibility with Windows built-in functions like 'date' that behave differently than on Unix systems.
Package facts
| License | BSD permissive |
| Python support | Not specified |
| Install friction | Low. Pure-Python wheel |
| Runtime dependencies | None |
| Maintenance | Abandoned 2,534 days since the last release |
| Last repo commit | |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 363,070 / month, #7,227 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 :: BSD LicenseNatural Language :: EnglishProgramming Language :: Python :: 2Programming Language :: Python :: 2.7Programming Language :: Python :: 3Programming Language :: Python :: 3.6Programming Language :: Python :: 3.7 |
Evidence: whichcraft-0.6.1-py2.py3-none-any.whl
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