What is the difference between python-xlib, python3-xlib, pyxlib and xlib in Python3?

Question

I individually installed (and posterior uninstalled):

• python-xlib
• python3-xlib
• pyxlib
• xlib

via pip (un)install and could execute

from Xlib import X, display, Xutil
from Xlib.ext import randr
d = display.Display()

with all of them with Python 3.8.10. – What is the difference between them? Pip definitively downloads and installs different packages with different sizes.

Answer 1

Use only

• python-xlib

The other three

• python3-xlib
• pyxlib
• xlib

are (seemingly) from two individuals (one holds pyxlib and xlib the other holds python3-xlib) with either broken homepage links or pointing to python-xlib. Nothing in python-xlib points to pyxlib or python3-xlib.

In the best case these are just outdated snapshots of python-xlib with questionable changes turned into packages.

Answer 2

Here's what I've found after a little digging around.

Short answer:
Use python-xlib as it's currently maintained (at the time of writing) whereas the others appear to be abandoned projects.

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A bit of context:

• python-xlib: Appears to be the legitimate project. The Python X Library is intended to be a fully functional X client library for Python programs. It is written entirely in Python, in contrast to earlier X libraries for Python (the ancient X extension and the newer plxlib) which were interfaces to the C Xlib. Ref

• xlib: Dubious (non-maintained) fork, potentially malicious. Xlib (also known as libX11) is an X Window System protocol client library written in the C programming language, Ref. However, the Python version appears to be no longer maintained.

• pyxlib: Dubious (non-maintained) fork, potentially malicious. Appears to be no longer maintained.

• python3-xlib: Appears to be no longer maintained. GitHub repository now missing.

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Edits:

• 2024-05-29: Incorporated helpful comments from @mitchmcmabers