backports.shutil_get_terminal_size
A backport of the get_terminal_size function from Python 3.3's shutil.
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
No, unless you are maintaining legacy Python 2 code that requires terminal size detection and cannot upgrade to Python 3. For any modern codebase, use shutil.get_terminal_size() directly from the standard library. The package is abandoned and offers no advantages over the native implementation.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- Low install friction with no runtime dependencies.
- However, the package is abandoned—last commit was 2016-11-03 and no releases since 2014-08-19.
License · maintenance · safety
MIT (permissive) — MIT license is permissive and poses no restrictions on use, modification, or distribution in commercial or private projects.
last release 2014-08-19 (4378 days) · last repo commit 2016-11-03 · 8 stars
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 435,391 downloads/mo, #6,681 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
from backports.shutil_get_terminal_size import get_terminal_size
size = get_terminal_size()
print(size.columns, size.lines)- Whether the pure-Python implementation handles all edge cases that the native C version covers
- Current compatibility with Python 2.6 and 2.7 environments still in active use
What it is and what it does
This package backports Python 3.3's shutil.get_terminal_size() function to earlier Python versions that lack it. It returns a named tuple containing the terminal's column count and line count, useful for terminal-aware applications that need to adapt output width and height.
The implementation is written in pure Python rather than C. The package has been abandoned since 2016 with no releases after 2014-08-19, and is primarily relevant for legacy Python 2 codebases; modern Python 3 versions include this function in the standard library.
Use it for
- Detect terminal dimensions in Python 2.6 or 2.7 applications that format output for the current terminal width
- Build terminal-based CLI tools that need to wrap text or position output based on available columns and lines
- Support older Python versions in a codebase that must run across multiple Python generations
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
No, unless you are maintaining legacy Python 2 code that requires terminal size detection and cannot upgrade to Python 3.
For any modern codebase, use shutil.get_terminal_size() directly from the standard library. The package is abandoned and offers no advantages over the native implementation.
Install
backports-shutil-get-terminal-size on PyPI
Before you install
Low install friction with no runtime dependencies. However, the package is abandoned—last commit was 2016-11-03 and no releases since 2014-08-19.
License in practice
MIT license is permissive and poses no restrictions on use, modification, or distribution in commercial or private projects.
Quickstart
from backports.shutil_get_terminal_size import get_terminal_size
size = get_terminal_size()
print(size.columns, size.lines)Verify before relying
- Whether the pure-Python implementation handles all edge cases that the native C version covers
- Current compatibility with Python 2.6 and 2.7 environments still in active use
Package facts
| License | MIT permissive |
| Python support | Not specified |
| Install friction | Low. Pure-Python wheel |
| Runtime dependencies | None |
| Maintenance | Abandoned 4,378 days since the last release |
| Last repo commit | |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 435,391 / month, #6,681 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/StableLicense :: OSI Approved :: MIT LicenseProgramming Language :: Python :: 2.6Programming Language :: Python :: 2.7Programming Language :: Python :: 3.2 |
Evidence: backports.shutil_get_terminal_size-1.0.0-py2.py3-none-any.whl
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See also pathlib3x · backports.ssl · textwrap3 · backports.zstd · linecache2 · traceback2 · terminaltables · backports.functools-lru-cache · zipfile36