colcon-defaults
Extension for colcon to read defaults from a config file.
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
Yes, if you use colcon regularly and find yourself repeating the same command-line flags. The plugin is lightweight, actively maintained, and has no security vulnerabilities. Install it as part of your colcon ecosystem if you want to streamline repetitive build commands; skip it if you rarely use colcon or prefer explicit command lines.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- Requires colcon-core to be installed; this is a plugin extension, not a standalone tool.
- Low friction install with only two runtime dependencies (colcon-core and PyYAML).
- Active maintenance with a recent commit in May 2026, though the repository has minimal stars.
License · maintenance · safety
Apache License, Version 2.0 (permissive) — Apache License 2.0 is permissive, allowing use in commercial and private projects with minimal restrictions.
last release 2024-12-18 (604 days) · last repo commit 2026-05-08 · 2 stars
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 183,027 downloads/mo, #10,076 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
pip install colcon-defaults
# Create ~/.colcon/defaults.yaml with your default arguments
# Then use colcon normally; defaults are applied automatically
colcon build- Whether the defaults.yaml format and location are documented sufficiently for new users.
- Performance impact of loading defaults on each colcon invocation.
- Compatibility with all colcon subcommands or specific limitations.
What it is and what it does
colcon-defaults is a plugin for the colcon build system that reads default values for command-line arguments from a YAML configuration file. Instead of typing the same flags every time you run colcon build or other colcon commands, you define your defaults once in a configuration file and the plugin applies them automatically on each invocation.
The package depends on colcon-core (the plugin framework) and PyYAML (for parsing the configuration file). It targets developers working with colcon-based build systems who want to reduce repetitive typing and standardize build parameters across a team or project. The plugin integrates transparently into the colcon command pipeline.
Use it for
- Set default build profiles, parallelism levels, or output directories once in a config file instead of repeating them on every colcon build invocation.
- Standardize build flags across a development team by committing a shared defaults.yaml to version control.
- Reduce command-line clutter in CI/CD pipelines by moving common arguments to a persistent configuration.
- Override default colcon behavior for specific workspaces without modifying shell aliases or wrapper scripts.
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
Yes, if you use colcon regularly and find yourself repeating the same command-line flags.
The plugin is lightweight, actively maintained, and has no security vulnerabilities. Install it as part of your colcon ecosystem if you want to streamline repetitive build commands; skip it if you rarely use colcon or prefer explicit command lines.
Install
colcon-defaults on PyPI
Before you install
Low friction install with only two runtime dependencies (colcon-core and PyYAML). Active maintenance with a recent commit in May 2026, though the repository has minimal stars.
Requires colcon-core to be installed; this is a plugin extension, not a standalone tool.
License in practice
Apache License 2.0 is permissive, allowing use in commercial and private projects with minimal restrictions.
Quickstart
pip install colcon-defaults
# Create ~/.colcon/defaults.yaml with your default arguments
# Then use colcon normally; defaults are applied automatically
colcon buildVerify before relying
- Whether the defaults.yaml format and location are documented sufficiently for new users.
- Performance impact of loading defaults on each colcon invocation.
- Compatibility with all colcon subcommands or specific limitations.
Package facts
| License | Apache License, Version 2.0 permissive |
| Python support | Supports the current Python release >=3.6 |
| Install friction | Low. Pure-Python wheel |
| Runtime dependencies | 2 packagescolcon-corePyYAML |
| Maintenance | Actively maintained 604 days since the last release |
| Last repo commit | |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 183,027 / month, #10,076 on PyPI 30-day window, as of 2026-08-14 |
| Known vulnerabilities | None known OSV.dev, checked 2026-08-14 |
| Classifiers | Development Status :: 3 - AlphaEnvironment :: PluginsIntended Audience :: DevelopersLicense :: OSI Approved :: Apache Software LicenseOperating System :: MacOSOperating System :: Microsoft :: WindowsOperating System :: POSIXProgramming Language :: PythonTopic :: Software Development :: Build Tools |
Evidence: colcon_defaults-0.2.9-py3-none-any.whl
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See also colcon-output · colcon-core · colcon-devtools · colcon-pkg-config · colcon-powershell · colcon-library-path · colcon-cd · colcon-package-information · colcon-test-result · colcon-ros