argparse
Python command-line parsing library
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
No. For any Python version currently in use (2.7+, 3.2+), argparse is built into the standard library and requires no installation. This package is abandoned, unmaintained since 2015, and serves only legacy Python versions that are themselves out of support. Do not install unless you are maintaining code on Python < 2.7 or < 3.2, which is extremely rare.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- This package is a backport for Python < 2.7 and < 3.2; modern Python versions include argparse in the standard library, making this package redundant.
- Installation is frictionless—a single wheel with no runtime dependencies.
- However, the package is abandoned (last commit 2021-05-13) and unmaintained; argparse has been part of Python's standard library since 2.7 and 3.2, making this backport package unnecessary for any currently supported Python version.
License · maintenance · safety
permissive license (permissive) — Licensed under the Python Software Foundation License (permissive), imposing no restrictions on use or redistribution in proprietary or open-source projects.
last release 2015-09-12 (3989 days) · last repo commit 2021-05-13 · 57 stars · archived
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 22,424,127 downloads/mo, #971 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
pip install argparse
import argparse
parser = argparse.ArgumentParser()
parser.add_argument('--name')
args = parser.parse_args()- Whether any known bugs in older Python versions (e.g., 3.2.3) that this package claims to fix remain relevant or are documented.
What it is and what it does
argparse is a command-line argument parsing library that simplifies building user-friendly CLI interfaces. It parses command-line arguments from sys.argv, automatically generates help and usage messages, and validates input against defined argument specifications. The package originated as a backport for Python versions before 2.7 and 3.2, when argparse was not yet part of the standard library.
Today, argparse is maintained within Python's standard library for all supported versions. This PyPI package exists only for legacy support of Python < 2.7 and < 3.2. The package is abandoned (last updated 2015-09-12, repository archived as of 2021-05-13) and receives no active maintenance. For any modern Python project, you should use the standard library's argparse module directly rather than installing this package.
Use it for
- Building CLI tools for Python 2.3–2.6 or Python 3.0–3.1 that need argument parsing.
- Fixing bugs in argparse on Python 3.2.x releases that were patched in later 3.2.x versions.
- Legacy codebases locked to pre-2.7 or pre-3.2 Python that cannot upgrade but need CLI argument handling.
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
No.
For any Python version currently in use (2.7+, 3.2+), argparse is built into the standard library and requires no installation. This package is abandoned, unmaintained since 2015, and serves only legacy Python versions that are themselves out of support. Do not install unless you are maintaining code on Python < 2.7 or < 3.2, which is extremely rare.
Install
argparse on PyPI
Before you install
Installation is frictionless—a single wheel with no runtime dependencies. However, the package is abandoned (last commit 2021-05-13) and unmaintained; argparse has been part of Python's standard library since 2.7 and 3.2, making this backport package unnecessary for any currently supported Python version.
This package is a backport for Python < 2.7 and < 3.2; modern Python versions include argparse in the standard library, making this package redundant.
License in practice
Licensed under the Python Software Foundation License (permissive), imposing no restrictions on use or redistribution in proprietary or open-source projects.
Quickstart
pip install argparse
import argparse
parser = argparse.ArgumentParser()
parser.add_argument('--name')
args = parser.parse_args()Verify before relying
- Whether any known bugs in older Python versions (e.g., 3.2.3) that this package claims to fix remain relevant or are documented.
Package facts
| License | permissive license permissive |
| Python support | Not specified |
| Install friction | Low. Pure-Python wheel |
| Runtime dependencies | None |
| Maintenance | Abandoned 3,989 days since the last release |
| Last repo commit | repository archived |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 22,424,127 / month, #971 on PyPI 30-day window, as of 2026-08-14 |
| Known vulnerabilities | None known OSV.dev, checked 2026-08-14 |
| Classifiers | Development Status :: 5 - Production/StableEnvironment :: ConsoleIntended Audience :: DevelopersLicense :: OSI Approved :: Python Software Foundation LicenseOperating System :: OS IndependentProgramming Language :: PythonProgramming Language :: Python :: 2Programming Language :: Python :: 2.3Programming Language :: Python :: 2.4Programming Language :: Python :: 2.5Programming Language :: Python :: 2.6Programming Language :: Python :: 2.7Programming Language :: Python :: 3Programming Language :: Python :: 3.0Programming Language :: Python :: 3.1Programming Language :: Python :: 3.2Programming Language :: Python :: 3.3Programming Language :: Python :: 3.4Topic :: Software Development |
Evidence: argparse-1.4.0-py2.py3-none-any.whl
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