backports-tempfile

1.0 · maintenance · verified Sat Apr 11

This package provides backports of new features found in Python's standard `tempfile` module, primarily `tempfile.TemporaryDirectory` (introduced in Python 3.4), allowing its use in older Python environments, including Python 2.7, 3.4, 3.5, and 3.6. It is currently at version 1.0, with its last release in October 2017, indicating a very slow or ceased release cadence given its backport nature and the progression of Python versions.

Warnings

gotcha This package primarily backports `TemporaryDirectory` which became standard in Python 3.4. If you are targeting Python 3.4 or newer, this backport is generally not needed, and you should use the native `tempfile` module directly.
Fix: For Python 3.4 and later, simply use `from tempfile import TemporaryDirectory`.
gotcha The package has not been updated since October 2017. This means it only backports features up to Python 3.6's `tempfile` module. Newer features introduced in the standard `tempfile` module (e.g., `delete_on_close` for `NamedTemporaryFile` in Python 3.12, or `errors` parameter for `TemporaryFile` in 3.8) are not included.
Fix: If you need newer `tempfile` features, you must use a Python version where those features are natively available or seek alternative backports if they exist.
gotcha As with any backport, using `backports.tempfile` in an environment where the native `tempfile` module is already sufficient can introduce unnecessary dependencies and potential confusion, especially if subtle behavioral differences exist or if code paths are not explicitly managed for different Python versions.
Fix: Ensure conditional imports or clear version requirements are in place if using backports in a codebase targeting multiple Python versions. Only install and use if genuinely targeting older Python versions that lack the desired `tempfile` functionality.

Install

pip install backports-tempfile Install stable release

Imports

TemporaryDirectory
```
from backports import tempfile
# Then use tempfile.TemporaryDirectory
```
The original 'tempfile' module on older Python versions (before 3.4) does not have TemporaryDirectory. Using 'from backports.tempfile import TemporaryDirectory' directly might also work but 'from backports import tempfile' is the documented pattern.

Quickstart

Demonstrates how to use `TemporaryDirectory` from the `backports.tempfile` package as a context manager to create and automatically clean up a temporary directory.

from backports import tempfile
import os

# Create a temporary directory using the backported feature
with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory() as temp_dir:
    print(f"Created temporary directory: {temp_dir}")
    # Example: create a file inside the temporary directory
    file_path = os.path.join(temp_dir, "my_temp_file.txt")
    with open(file_path, "w") as f:
        f.write("Hello from tempfile backport!")
    print(f"File created at: {file_path}")
    print(f"Contents of {file_path}: {open(file_path).read()}")

# At this point, temp_dir and its contents should be automatically removed

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