xlib
Python X Library
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
No, unless you are maintaining legacy code that already depends on it. The package is abandoned (last release 2018, no maintenance since), has no known security vulnerabilities but also no path to fixes, and is untested with Python versions beyond 3.6. For new X11 projects, consider alternatives or direct protocol libraries. If you must use it, treat it as a frozen dependency and test thoroughly in your target environment.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- Requires an X11 server to connect to; will not function on systems without X11 (e.g., headless servers, Windows without WSL/X11 forwarding, or macOS without XQuartz).
- Low friction to install, but the package is abandoned as of 2018 with no recent maintenance activity.
- The last commit was 2023-04-01, but the latest release remains from 2018-01-02.
License · maintenance · safety
LGPLv2+ (copyleft) — Licensed under LGPLv2+, a copyleft license. Any derivative work or modification must be released under compatible terms; static linking or bundling may trigger disclosure obligations depending on your distribution model.
last release 2018-01-02 (3146 days) · last repo commit 2023-04-01 · 462 stars
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 160,475 downloads/mo, #10,660 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
pip install xlib
import Xlib
from Xlib import display
display.Display()- Whether the package works reliably with Python versions beyond 3.6, given the last release was 2018 and classifiers only list up to 3.6.
- Current stability and compatibility with modern X11 server implementations, given the abandoned maintenance status.
- Whether the RECORD, SHAPE, Xinerama, Composite, RANDR, and XTEST extensions mentioned in the description are fully functional or partially implemented.
What it is and what it does
Xlib is a pure-Python implementation of an X11 client library, allowing Python programs to communicate directly with X servers via the X protocol over TCP/IP or Unix sockets. Unlike C-based X libraries, it requires no compiled extensions and runs on any system with Python installed. It provides both low-level protocol access and a high-level object-oriented interface for building GUI applications and window managers.
The library implements the complete X11R6 client-side protocol and includes support for several X extensions (RECORD, SHAPE, Xinerama, Composite, RANDR, XTEST). However, the package has been abandoned since 2018, with no releases or active maintenance for over six years, though the repository remains publicly available. It is stable enough to have powered real applications like the PLWM window manager, but users should expect no bug fixes or compatibility updates for modern Python or X11 environments.
Use it for
- Build custom window managers or X11 desktop tools that need direct protocol-level control over windows and events.
- Write GUI automation or testing tools that interact with X11 applications without relying on external C libraries.
- Develop X11-based system utilities or monitoring applications that need to query or manipulate window state.
- Create portable X client applications that run on any Unix-like system with Python and X11 installed.
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
No, unless you are maintaining legacy code that already depends on it.
The package is abandoned (last release 2018, no maintenance since), has no known security vulnerabilities but also no path to fixes, and is untested with Python versions beyond 3.6. For new X11 projects, consider alternatives or direct protocol libraries. If you must use it, treat it as a frozen dependency and test thoroughly in your target environment.
Install
xlib on PyPI
Before you install
Low friction to install, but the package is abandoned as of 2018 with no recent maintenance activity. The last commit was 2023-04-01, but the latest release remains from 2018-01-02. Only one runtime dependency (six) keeps installation simple.
Requires an X11 server to connect to; will not function on systems without X11 (e.g., headless servers, Windows without WSL/X11 forwarding, or macOS without XQuartz).
License in practice
Licensed under LGPLv2+, a copyleft license. Any derivative work or modification must be released under compatible terms; static linking or bundling may trigger disclosure obligations depending on your distribution model.
Quickstart
pip install xlib
import Xlib
from Xlib import display
display.Display()Verify before relying
- Whether the package works reliably with Python versions beyond 3.6, given the last release was 2018 and classifiers only list up to 3.6.
- Current stability and compatibility with modern X11 server implementations, given the abandoned maintenance status.
- Whether the RECORD, SHAPE, Xinerama, Composite, RANDR, and XTEST extensions mentioned in the description are fully functional or partially implemented.
Package facts
| License | LGPLv2+ copyleft |
| Python support | Not specified |
| Install friction | Low. Pure-Python wheel |
| Runtime dependencies | 1 packagesix |
| Maintenance | Abandoned 3,146 days since the last release |
| Last repo commit | |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 160,475 / month, #10,660 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/StableEnvironment :: X11 ApplicationsIntended Audience :: DevelopersLicense :: OSI Approved :: GNU Lesser General Public License v2 or later (LGPLv2+)Operating System :: OS IndependentProgramming Language :: Python :: 2.7Programming Language :: Python :: 3Programming Language :: Python :: 3.3Programming Language :: Python :: 3.4Programming Language :: Python :: 3.5Programming Language :: Python :: 3.6Programming Language :: Python :: Implementation :: CPythonTopic :: Software Development :: LibrariesTopic :: Software Development :: Libraries :: Python ModulesTopic :: Software Development :: User Interfaces |
Evidence: xlib-0.21-py2.py3-none-any.whl
Tags
Let your AI agent find packages like this
Example. Real query, live index.
You found this page by searching. An agent finds it by wishing: SkillFed indexes 14,416 PyPI packages by what they can do, searchable in plain language.
wish › “xlib python bindings”
- xlibProvides a pure-Python X11 client library for communicating with X…
- python-xlibA pure-Python X11 client library that implements the X protocol to…
- EWMHlibQuery and control window managers that implement Extended Window…
Give your agent the search over MCP, or paste the wish link into any chat.
More Libraries packages
urllib3 is an HTTP client library that provides thread-safe connection pooling, SSL/TLS verification, multipart file uploads, request retries, compression support, and proxy handling for Python applications.
Requests is a Python HTTP library that simplifies sending HTTP/1.1 requests with automatic handling of headers, authentication, cookies, and response parsing.
Pluggy provides a plugin system that lets you define hook specifications and register implementations to be called in sequence, enabling extensible Python applications without tight coupling.
Install it if you're building an extensible application or framework.
Provides parsing, arithmetic, and recurrence rule computation for dates and times, with timezone support and iCalendar RFC compliance.
Install it if you need to parse flexible date strings, compute relative dates, handle timezones, or work with recurrence rules—it's the de facto choice for these tasks.
Six provides utility functions to write Python code that runs on both Python 2.7 and Python 3.3+, smoothing over language differences between the two versions.
pytest is a testing framework that lets you write test functions using plain assert statements and automatically discovers and runs them, with detailed failure reporting.
See also EWMHlib · python-xlib · xvfbwrapper · wmctrl · PyVirtualDisplay · keysymdef · pyds9 · PyGetWindow · wxPython · jeepney