---
title: "Copier < 6.0.0b0 considered dangerous"
description: "Copier is a fantastic templating library written in python, but older versions have a dangerous bug if you are using it inside of existing directories."
date: 2022-04-30
published: true
tags:
  - copier
  - python
template: blog-post
---


Copier is a fantastic templating library written in python, but older versions
have a dangerous bug if you are using it inside of existing directories.

## !!UPDATE

As of May 15, 2022, the stable release of copier now includes these changes, if
you have not already make sure you update.

## This is a PSA

I Use copier several times per day and get fantastic benefit from this project,
this post is not intended to crap all over copier in any way, but is rather a
PSA for other users who do use copier like I do so that they know the dangers
of using copier inside an existing directory.

## The issue

## The fix

<https://github.com/copier-org/copier/pull/273>

As of the time of writing this version is still in beta, if you still want to
use copier with existing directtories, I'd strongly encourage you to install
the `--pre` release.

``` python
pipx install copier --pip-args='--pre'
```

## confirm

``` bash
copier --version
# copier 6.0.0b0
```

## My update commit

<https://github.com/WaylonWalker/devtainer/commit/a06e47462e2c6d26ad69fbdc2e7990a1a73ab4b7>