---
id: colcon-devtools
version: "0.3.0"
license: Apache License, Version 2.0
license_treatment: permissive
maintenance: aging
---

# colcon-devtools — Extension for colcon to provide information about all extension points and extensions

License: permissive · Maintenance: aging · Downloads: 182.8K/mo

## What it is and what it does

colcon-devtools is a plugin extension for the colcon build system that provides introspection into colcon's plugin architecture. It depends on colcon-core and packaging, and exposes information about available extension points and registered extensions within a colcon environment.

The package is classified as alpha-stage software and is intended for developers working with colcon's plugin ecosystem. It runs on macOS, Windows, and POSIX systems with Python 3.6 or later. Maintenance is aging, with the last release 884 days ago, though the repository remains non-archived with recent activity.

Use it for:

- Inspect available colcon extension points to understand the plugin system architecture.
- Discover registered extensions and their capabilities within a colcon installation.
- Debug colcon plugin loading and resolution issues during development.
- Document or audit the plugin ecosystem in a colcon-based build environment.

## Worth the install?

AI-flagged interpretation of the facts above — verify before relying.

Extends colcon-core to expose information about the plugin system, including available extension points and registered extensions.

Yes, if you are actively developing colcon plugins or need to introspect the colcon plugin system. The low install friction and permissive license make it a safe addition. However, the aging maintenance status suggests the package may be stable but no longer under active development—verify that its plugin introspection features meet your current colcon version's needs before relying on it in production.

## Install

pip install colcon-devtools
uv add colcon-devtools
poetry add colcon-devtools

## Installing colcon-devtools

Before you install: Low install friction; pure Python wheel. Maintenance is aging—last release was 884 days ago, though the repository remains active with a recent commit.

License in practice: Apache License, Version 2.0 (permissive) allows commercial and private use with minimal restrictions, requiring only license and copyright notice retention.

Quickstart:

pip install colcon-devtools

from colcon_devtools import ...
# Use as a colcon extension; typically invoked via colcon CLI commands

Requires colcon-core to be installed and functional; intended as a colcon plugin extension, not a standalone library.

Verify before relying:

- Whether the package's plugin introspection features are complete or if there are known gaps in extension point discovery.
- Whether aging status reflects stable maturity or indicates the package is no longer actively developed.
- Compatibility with current colcon-core versions and whether the package works with modern Python releases.

## Package facts

- License: Apache License, Version 2.0 (permissive)
- Python support: supports_current
- Install friction: low
- Maintenance: aging
- Downloads: 182.8K/month (top 15,000 on PyPI)
- Known vulnerabilities: none known

## Tags

colcon plugin information, colcon extension points, colcon plugin discovery, colcon development tools, colcon plugin system introspection, colcon-plugin, build-system-introspection

[View on SkillFed](https://skillfed.io/packages/colcon-devtools) · [View on PyPI](https://pypi.org/project/colcon-devtools/)