Pooch: A friend to fetch your data files

Pooch is a Python library designed to simplify the management and fetching of data files. It automatically downloads files from remote servers (supporting HTTP, FTP, Zenodo, and Figshare) only when they are needed, stores them in a local cache, and ensures data integrity through SHA256 hash checks. This makes it ideal for Python libraries distributing sample datasets or for scientists managing research data. The current version is 1.9.0, with a release cadence that typically spans several months to a year between minor versions, reflecting ongoing development and stability.