Python Module xattr has no attribute list

Question

I wrote a script which sets extended attributes on some files, with the module xattr. I successfully tested it in Ubuntu in python3, but it won't work on my RasperryPi.

I had to change a dozens of little errors, mostly like xattr not knowing its methods.

For example the xattr.set(...) has to be changed to xattr.setattr(...). But I failed at listing them. So I tried the just the basics and get the error:

import xattr
xattr.list('files.py')
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "<stdin>", line 1, in <module>
AttributeError: module 'xattr' has no attribute 'list'

I had the idea that maybe python is using the wrong module (for python 2.7 instead of 3?). So I tried to uninstall the 2.7 module but got this:

...$ pip uninstall xattr
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "/usr/local/bin/pip", line 7, in <module>
from pip._internal import main
ImportError: No module named _internal

But I could successfully uninstall the python3 package. After that the "import xattr" still worked even in python3?

Answer 1

Its 3am, listening to the glitch mob and since I went down this rabbit hole due to my curiosity... I wanted to give you my example of code to use the python's built xattr module.

Create a file called xattr_example.py and put this code into it then run the file.

File:

#!/usr/bin/env python3
# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
# =============================================================================
"""The Following Is An Example for xattr."""
# =============================================================================

import xattr

print("{}".format(xattr.__file__))
# '/usr/local/lib/python3.7/site-packages/xattr/__init__.py'


def showww_me_the_meta(file_name):
    """Using Python's XATTR to list Key Meta Names for File."""
    print("Showing Initial Names & Values.")
    attrz = xattr.listxattr(file_name)
    result = ("A. Info Showcased Init: {}".format(attrz))
    print("{}".format(result))
    return result


def update_the_meta(file_name):
    """Using Python's XATTR to Update Key Meta Names for File."""
    xattr.setxattr(file_name, 'custom.comment',
                   'I tawt I taw a puddy tat!.'.encode('utf-8'))
    xattr.setxattr(file_name, 'Music.Artist',
                   'I did! '
                   'I did taw a puddy tat!'.encode('utf-8'))
    get_the_meta_values(file_name)
    return


def get_the_meta_values(file_name):
    """Example."""
    print("B. Listing Meta for: {}".format(file_name))
    attrz = xattr.listxattr(file_name)
    print("")
    for i in reversed(attrz):
        abc = xattr.getxattr(file_name, i)
        result = ("{} : {}".format(i, abc))
        print("   {}".format(result))
    print("")
    return


def remove_the_meta(file_name):
    """Example."""
    xattr.removexattr(file_name, 'custom.comment')
    xattr.removexattr(file_name, 'Music.Artist')
    attrz = xattr.listxattr(file_name)
    result = ("C. Info Removed Meta: {}".format(attrz))
    print("{}".format(result))
    return result


if __name__ == '__main__':
    showww_me_the_meta('xattr_example.py')
    update_the_meta('xattr_example.py')
    remove_the_meta('xattr_example.py')

Result of running the file is:

$ python3 xattr_example.py
/usr/local/lib/python3.7/site-packages/xattr/__init__.py
Showing Initial Names & Values.
A. Info Showcased Init: ()
B. Listing Meta for: xattr_example.py

   custom.comment : b'I tawt I taw a puddy tat!.'
   Music.Artist : b'I did! I did taw a puddy tat!'

C. Info Removed Meta: ()

Lastly

As far as "import xattr" still worked even in python3? Please note that python can be installed for both versions but have different paths.

python -V
# Python 2.7.16
which python
# /usr/local/bin/python

and

python3 -V
Python 3.7.4
which python3
/usr/local/bin/python3

You must use python or python3 respectively when calling python if you have more than one version listed. I am working on a Mac OSX so I have both, but this script is was written in python3.

References:

• Manual Pages
• Using the xattr functions to get extended attributes. <-- Found link from SO answer.
• Limitations
• Only usage examples that I could find.

Hope that helps! Have a great one!