littlefs-python

library0.19.0pypypi✓ verified 23d ago

littlefs-python is a Python wrapper for the littlefs filesystem, a high-integrity embedded filesystem designed for microcontrollers. It provides both a high-level Pythonic interface and a low-level C-style API, enabling the creation, inspection, and modification of littlefs binary images. Currently at version 0.17.1, the library is actively maintained with a regular release cadence.

database serialization

pip install littlefs-python

github ↗package ↗

INSTALL

IMPORT

SIG · LITTLEFS-PYTHON

littlefs-python

databasepythonv0.19.0

Install

1.8s avg

Import

152ms

Disk

19MB

Pass rate

10/ 10

Env Coverage10 / 10

glibc

3.9–3.13

musl

3.9–3.13

Install & Compatibility

Where this runs

tested against v0.19.0 · pip install

no network on importno background threads

Install × environment matrix

Each cell = how many times install + import succeeded across repeated harness runs. Partial = flaky.
glibc = Debian/Ubuntu slim · musl = Alpine Linux

musl

py 3.10–3.95 runs

installs and imports cleanly · install 0.0s · import 0.150s · 20.2MB

glibc

py 3.10–3.95 runs

installs and imports cleanly · install 1.8s · import 0.154s · 22MB

19MB installed

● package 19MB

Code

Verified usage

Verified import paths — ran on the pinned version, not inferred.

LittleFS

✓ from littlefs import LittleFS

For the high-level, Pythonic API.

lfs

✓ from littlefs import lfs

For the low-level, C-style API, providing direct access to littlefs functions.

LittleFSError

✓ from littlefs import LittleFSError

For catching littlefs-specific exceptions.

This example demonstrates creating a new littlefs image, writing files and directories using the high-level Pythonic API, listing contents, and finally dumping the filesystem to a binary file.

from littlefs import LittleFS # Initialize the File System according to your specifications # block_size and block_count must match the embedded system's flash parameters. fs = LittleFS(block_size=512, block_count=256) # Open a file and write some content with fs.open('first-file.txt', 'w') as fh: fh.write('Hello, LittleFS from Python!\n') # Create a directory fs.mkdir('configs') # Write another file in the new directory with fs.open('configs/settings.txt', 'w') as fh: fh.write('setting_key=value\n') # List contents of the root directory print("Root directory contents:", fs.listdir('/')) # Read content back with fs.open('first-file.txt', 'r') as fh: content = fh.read() print("Content of first-file.txt:", content) # Dump the filesystem content to a file (e.g., for flashing to a device) with open('FlashMemory.bin', 'wb') as fh: fh.write(fs.context.buffer) print("Filesystem image 'FlashMemory.bin' created.")

Debug

Known issues

breakingSupport for Python 3.7 was dropped starting with version 0.15.0. Users on Python 3.7 will need to upgrade their Python interpreter or pin to an older `littlefs-python` version.

fix

Upgrade to Python 3.8 or newer.

affects: >=0.15.0

breakingThe command-line interface's `list` command was updated in v0.13.2 to require the `--block-size` argument. Scripts or manual commands using `littlefs-python list` without this argument will fail.

fix

Add the `--block-size <SIZE>` argument to the `littlefs-python list` command.

affects: >=0.13.2

gotchaThe `block_size` and `block_count` parameters passed to `LittleFS` or `lfs.LFSConfig` are critical and must precisely match the flash memory characteristics of the target embedded system to ensure proper filesystem operation and integrity.

fix

Carefully verify `block_size` and `block_count` against your embedded hardware's flash specifications.

affects: All versions

gotchaThe library frequently updates its bundled `littlefs` C core. While efforts are made for backward compatibility, new core versions might introduce subtle behavioral changes or new features that could affect existing filesystem images or operations if not carefully managed.

fix

Refer to the release notes for `littlefs-python` and the upstream `littlefs` project (littlefs-project/littlefs on GitHub) when updating to understand any potential implications of core library changes.

affects: All versions

Errors

Common errors & fixes

ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'littlefs'

The `littlefs-python` package or its internal `littlefs` module is not installed or accessible within the Python environment, often due to virtual environment issues or conflicts with other tools like PlatformIO/ESPHome.

fix

Ensure `littlefs-python` is installed in the active Python environment using `pip install littlefs-python`. If using with tools like ESPHome, ensure it's installed within their specific virtual environment (e.g., `cd /path/to/esphome/venv/bin && ./python3 -m pip install littlefs-python`).

littlefs-python: error: unrecognized arguments: --image=

The command-line interface (CLI) for `littlefs-python` has changed its argument structure. The `--image` argument was removed or replaced in newer versions (e.g., around 0.12.0).

fix

Update the command to use the current CLI syntax. For creating an image, use `littlefs-python create <source_directory> <destination_image_file>`. Consult `littlefs-python --help` for the latest arguments.

OSError: 84

This `OSError` with code 84 corresponds to `LFS_ERR_CORRUPT` from the underlying littlefs library, indicating a corrupted filesystem image or an incorrect configuration (e.g., `block_size`, `block_count`, `read_size`, `prog_size`) preventing a successful mount or format.

fix

Verify the integrity of the filesystem image. Ensure that the `LFSConfig` parameters (like `block_size`, `block_count`) used during mounting or formatting exactly match the parameters the image was created with. If data is not critical, try reformatting the filesystem using `fs.format()` or `lfs.format(fs_obj, cfg)`.

ImportError: cannot import name 'lfs' from partially initialized module 'littlefs'

This error often occurs due to a circular import issue or an incomplete/corrupted installation of the `littlefs-python` package, especially in complex environments like PlatformIO.

fix

Try reinstalling `littlefs-python` within the specific Python environment that is experiencing the issue. If it's related to a build system (like PlatformIO), ensure its virtual environment has `littlefs-python` properly installed or recreated. `pip install --force-reinstall littlefs-python` can sometimes resolve this.

error: Microsoft Visual C++ 14.0 or greater is required. Get it with "Build Tools for Visual Studio": https://visualstudio.microsoft.com/downloads/

The `littlefs-python` library is a C extension and requires a C/C++ compiler to be installed on Windows systems for `pip` to build it from source.

fix

Install 'Build Tools for Visual Studio' from Microsoft's website, ensuring to select the 'Desktop development with C++' workload.

Upgrade

Version history

0.19.0latest on PyPI · released Aug 17, 2026

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Dependencies

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Resources

githubhttps://github.com/jrast/littlefs-python ↗

packagehttps://pypi.org/project/littlefs-python/ ↗