PyPI has unveiled a new “Project Archival” system to allow developers to mark their projects as archived. This system notifies users with a warning banner that no further updates or maintenance will occur. The initiative is aimed at improving security in open-source projects by reducing risks associated with hijacking and malicious updates. It also helps users make more informed decisions by offering greater transparency about the state of the projects they depend on.
The new system offers project maintainers the ability to clearly signal the end of a project’s lifecycle. This is done through an easy-to-use option in PyPI’s settings, which updates the project’s status automatically. While maintainers can mark their projects as archived, they also have the flexibility to unarchive them if they decide to resume development.
The project archival status helps combat issues like “Revival Hijack” attacks, where abandoned packages are targeted by attackers who inject malicious code. By giving developers the ability to archive projects instead of removing them, PyPI hopes to mitigate the risk of such attacks. Users are now encouraged to seek actively maintained alternatives for archived projects, reducing the likelihood of exposure to outdated or insecure code.
In addition to the “archived” status, PyPI plans to introduce other lifecycle statuses, such as “deprecated,” “feature-complete,” and “unmaintained.” These statuses will further clarify the condition of open-source projects, helping developers and users alike make better decisions. The initiative aims to improve overall transparency and security within the open-source ecosystem, benefiting both project maintainers and users.
