---
id: xdrlib3
version: "0.1.1"
license: unclear
license_treatment: permissive
maintenance: abandoned
---

# xdrlib3 — A forked version of `xdrlib`, a module for encoding and decoding XDR (External Data Representation) data in Python.

License: permissive · Maintenance: abandoned · Downloads: 172.7K/mo

## What it is and what it does

xdrlib3 is a fork of Python's deprecated xdrlib module, which handles encoding and decoding of XDR (External Data Representation) binary data. The standard library version is scheduled for removal in Python 3.13, making this fork necessary for projects that rely on XDR serialization and need to upgrade to newer Python versions. It provides Packer and Unpacker classes for converting Python objects to and from XDR binary format, with type hints added for better IDE support and code clarity.

The package has no runtime dependencies and installs cleanly on Python 3.7 through 3.11. However, the repository has been inactive since its release on 2023-05-06, meaning it is not receiving updates or bug fixes. It is suitable for projects that need a drop-in replacement for xdrlib but should not be relied upon for ongoing maintenance or support.

Use it for:

- Migrate legacy code using xdrlib to Python 3.13+ without rewriting serialization logic
- Serialize structured data for network protocols or file formats that use XDR encoding
- Decode XDR-encoded data received from external systems or APIs
- Add type hints to existing xdrlib-based projects for better static analysis

## Worth the install?

AI-flagged interpretation of the facts above — verify before relying.

Encodes and decodes XDR (External Data Representation) data in Python, providing a maintained replacement for the standard library's xdrlib module which is deprecated in Python 3.13+.

Yes, if you need XDR support in Python 3.13+. The package is a direct replacement for the deprecated standard library module with no dependencies and permissive licensing. However, be aware it is abandoned and receives no updates—use it only as a compatibility shim for existing XDR code, not as a foundation for new projects. No known vulnerabilities.

## Install

pip install xdrlib3
uv add xdrlib3
poetry add xdrlib3

## Installing xdrlib3

Before you install: Low friction install with no runtime dependencies. Maintenance is abandoned; last commit was 2023-05-07, though the package is marked Production/Stable and supports Python 3.7 through 3.11.

License in practice: Permissive license treatment. The package combines Apache-licensed code from CPython's original xdrlib with MIT-licensed additions, allowing use in most commercial and open-source contexts.

Quickstart:

pip install xdrlib3

import xdrlib3
packer = xdrlib3.Packer()
packer.pack_int(16)
packed_data = packer.get_buffer()
unpacker = xdrlib3.Unpacker(packed_data)
unpacked_data = unpacker.unpack_int()

Verify before relying:

- Whether type hints cover all Packer and Unpacker methods or only a subset
- Compatibility status with Python 3.12 and later versions beyond what classifiers declare
- Whether this fork is actively maintained or if an alternative fork is now preferred

## Package facts

- License: not declared (permissive)
- Python support: supports_current
- Install friction: low
- Maintenance: abandoned
- Downloads: 172.7K/month (top 15,000 on PyPI)
- Known vulnerabilities: none known

## Tags

xdr encoding decoding, external data representation python, xdrlib replacement, binary data serialization, xdr packer unpacker, python xdr library, data format conversion, serialization, deprecated-stdlib-replacement, abandoned

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