Like dir(), but filters out __*__ attributes, standard library packages, and built-ins, to give a better idea of the object's custom attributes.

minimal_dir.py

# explicitly define the interface
__all__ = ["minimal_dir"]

from functools import cache

@cache
def get_stdlib_packages():
    """ Get list that should include all stdlib package/module names.

    Not perfect. Has false positives.
    """
    import os

    result = []
    stdlib_dir = os.path.dirname(os.__file__)
    for file in os.listdir(stdlib_dir):
        # first, add all directories in stdlib_dir, except for 'site-packages'
        if os.path.isdir(os.path.join(stdlib_dir, file)) and file != "site-packages":
            result.append(file)
        # then, add all .py files in stdlib_dir, but without the extension
        if file.endswith(".py"):
            result.append(file[:-3])

    return result

def minimal_dir(*args):
    """ Like dir(), but minimal. 

    Filters out:
        - __*__ attributes,
        - stdlib packages,
        - builtins.

    Example: 
    >>> dir() # this module
    [
        '__all__',
        '__builtins__',
        ... # ten more attributes
    ]
    >>> minimal_dir() # now cleaner output
    ['get_stdlib_packages', 'minimal_dir']
    """
    import re
    import builtins
    
    # If no arguments, we need to eval "dir()" on the previous stack to
    # simulate running it there.
    if len(args) == 0:
        from inspect import currentframe
        frame = currentframe().f_back
        value = eval("dir()", frame.f_globals, frame.f_locals)
    else:
        value = dir(*args)

    result = []
    stdlib_packages = get_stdlib_packages()
    for attr in value:
        # ignore dunder attributes
        if re.match("__.*__", attr):
            continue
        # ignore stdlib packages
        if attr in stdlib_packages:
            continue
        # ignore builtins
        if attr in dir(builtins):
            continue

        result.append(attr)

    return result