# Deprecating sunpy.database

**URL:** <https://community.openastronomy.org/t/deprecating-sunpy-database/495>\
**Category:** SunPy\
**Tags:** sunpy\
**Created:** [October 26, 2022, 4:22pm UTC](https://community.openastronomy.org/t/deprecating-sunpy-database/495 "2022-10-26T16:22:04Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![dstansby](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/community.openastronomy.org/dstansby/32/328_2.png) [@dstansby](https://community.openastronomy.org/u/dstansby)\
**Post date:** [October 26, 2022, 4:22pm UTC](https://community.openastronomy.org/t/deprecating-sunpy-database/495/1 "2022-10-26T16:22:05Z")

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The `sunpy.database` module was initially developed in 2013 to provide a local database of files downloaded using `sunpy` . Since then the functionality offered by `sunpy.net` has changed to no longer download files that have already been previously downloaded, removing a large part of the unique use case for `sunpy.database` .

In addition, `sunpy.database` is no longer actively maintained by anyone, the tests are all currently skipped, and there are a large number of outstanding issues that have not been fixed.

This means that the SunPy developers would like to formally deprecate `sunpy.database` in version 5.0, and remove it entirely in 6.0. Before doing this we would like input from the community. If you:

- Currently use `sunpy.database` and find it useful for your research
- Would be interested in moving `sunpy.database` into a new sponsored package with the help of the SunPy developers
- Would be interested in developing a replacement package yourself

**please let us know in this thread!**

This is a place for community discussion to make sure we are doing the right thing in deprecating and removing `sunpy.database` from the `sunpy` core package.

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**Author:** ![samaloney](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/community.openastronomy.org/samaloney/32/45_2.png) [@samaloney](https://community.openastronomy.org/u/samaloney)\
**Post date:** [October 27, 2022, 1:22pm UTC](https://community.openastronomy.org/t/deprecating-sunpy-database/495/2 "2022-10-27T13:22:08Z")

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I’d certainly be interesting in the moving the current version to new package or the development of a replacement package