pystack

library1.6.0pypypi✓ verified 87d ago

pystack is a command-line tool developed by Bloomberg for analyzing the stack of remote Python processes. It attaches to a running Python process (supporting Python >=3.7) and dumps the Python stack frames, including local variables and source references, without requiring debug symbols or ptrace. The current version is 1.6.0, with a stable maintenance release cadence.

devops observability

pip install pystack

github ↗package ↗

INSTALL

IMPORT

SIG · PYSTACK

pystack

devopspythonv1.6.0

Install

1.8s avg

Import

115ms

Disk

40MB

Pass rate

10/ 10

Env Coverage10 / 10

glibc

3.9–3.13

musl

3.9–3.13

Install & Compatibility

Where this runs

tested against v1.6.0 · 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 0.118s · 40.7MB

glibc

py 3.10–3.95 runs

installs and imports cleanly · install 1.8s · import 0.112s · 43MB

40MB installed

● package 40MB

Code

Verified usage

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

pystack

✓ import pystack

pystack is a command-line tool; the Python module is typically used via subprocess or CLI. Importing is valid but uncommon.

Run pystack via CLI from Python. The tool must be installed and the process must be a Python process >=3.7.

import subprocess import os # Attach to a Python process by PID (replace 1234) result = subprocess.run(['pystack', '1234'], capture_output=True, text=True) print(result.stdout)

pystack --version

Debug

Known issues

breakingpystack requires the target Python process to have a compatible version (>=3.7). Attaching to an older Python version will fail.

fix

Ensure target process uses Python >=3.7. Use `pystack --version` to check compatible versions.

affects: <=1.6.0

gotchaRunning pystack on a process that is not a Python process or on a non-Linux platform will produce confusing errors.

fix

Verify target is a Python process and OS is Linux (official support). Use `file /proc/<pid>/exe` to check.

affects: all

gotchapystack requires permissions to attach to a remote process (e.g., same user or ptrace scope). Without them, it fails silently or with 'No such process'.

fix

Run as root or adjust ptrace settings: `echo 0 | sudo tee /proc/sys/kernel/yama/ptrace_scope`

affects: all

Errors

Common errors & fixes

pystack: error: argument PID: invalid integer value: 'abc'

Non-numeric PID argument passed to pystack CLI.

fix

Provide a valid integer process ID. Example: `pystack 1234`

pystack: Process 1234 not found

The target PID does not exist or pystack cannot access it.

fix

Verify the process exists: `ps aux | grep 1234`. Check permissions and ptrace settings.

OSError: [Errno 1] Operation not permitted

Insufficient permissions to attach to the process (e.g., ptrace restrictions).

fix

Run as root or temporarily disable ptrace_scope: `echo 0 | sudo tee /proc/sys/kernel/yama/ptrace_scope`

Upgrade

Version history

1.6.0latest on PyPI · released Jan 25, 2026

Audit

Dependencies

No dependency data recorded yet.

Agent activity

27 hits · last 30 days

node

OpenAI (training)

Resources

githubhttps://github.com/bloomberg/pystack ↗

packagehttps://pypi.org/project/pystack/ ↗