datasette-ports 0.3

2026-04-15 · Source: Simon Willison's Weblog · Field: Technology & Digital — Software Development & Engineering, Data Science & Analytics · Depth: Intermediate, quick

Summary

Datasette-ports version 0.3, released on April 15, 2026, is a utility designed to identify and list all active Datasette instances running on a local machine. This update enhances its output by displaying the working directory associated with each process ID (PID) and the complete file path for each database. For example, it can show an instance running on `http://127.0.0.1:8007/` from `/Users/simon/dev/blog`, detailing its `simonwillisonblog.db` and installed plugins like `datasette-llm` and `datasette-secrets`. Another example shows an instance on `http://127.0.0.1:8001/` from `/Users/simon/dev/creatures` with `/tmp/creatures.db`.

Key takeaway

For developers managing multiple local Datasette instances, datasette-ports 0.3 provides crucial visibility. You can quickly ascertain which directory an instance is serving from, locate its database files, and see its active plugins. This update streamlines debugging and management by consolidating essential operational details into a single, clear output, helping you maintain an organized development environment.

Key insights

Datasette-ports 0.3 enhances local Datasette instance monitoring by detailing directories, database paths, and plugins.

Method

The tool identifies running Datasette instances, then extracts and displays their associated working directories, full database file paths, and active plugins.

In practice

• Monitor local Datasette instances.
• Identify database file locations.
• List plugins for each instance.

Topics

• datasette-ports
• Datasette Instances
• Port Discovery
• Database Paths
• Working Directories

Code references

• datasette/datasette-ports

Best for: Software Engineer, Data Engineer

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Editorial summary, takeaway, and curation by AIssential. Original article published by Simon Willison's Weblog.