---
id: colcon-parallel-executor
version: "0.4.0"
license: Apache License, Version 2.0
license_treatment: permissive
maintenance: active
---

# colcon-parallel-executor — Extension for colcon to process packages in parallel.

License: permissive · Maintenance: active · Downloads: 183.0K/mo

## What it is and what it does

colcon-parallel-executor is a plugin for the colcon build system that replaces the default sequential package processor with a parallel one. Instead of building and testing packages one after another, it processes multiple packages concurrently, reducing total build time in multi-package workspaces. The package depends only on colcon-core and integrates transparently into colcon's command-line interface.

It is designed for developers working with ROS 2 or other colcon-based projects that contain many interdependent packages. By invoking colcon with the `--executor parallel` flag, users can take advantage of multi-core systems without changing their workflow. The package supports macOS, Windows, and POSIX systems and requires Python 3.6 or later.

Use it for:

- Speed up CI/CD pipelines that build large ROS 2 workspaces by parallelizing package compilation.
- Reduce local development iteration time when working on multi-package projects with independent build dependencies.
- Distribute build load across multiple CPU cores on development machines to shorten feedback loops.

## Worth the install?

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

Extends colcon-core to execute package builds and tests in parallel rather than sequentially, speeding up multi-package workspace processing.

Yes, if you use colcon and have multi-package workspaces. Install friction is minimal, maintenance is active, and the Apache license is unrestrictive. The Alpha classification warrants checking release notes for known issues, but the package has been in use since 2018 and carries no known vulnerabilities.

## Install

pip install colcon-parallel-executor
uv add colcon-parallel-executor
poetry add colcon-parallel-executor

## Installing colcon-parallel-executor

Before you install: Low install friction with a single pure-Python dependency (colcon-core). Actively maintained with a recent commit as of 2026-06-23, though the package is classified as Alpha and last released 366 days ago.

License in practice: Apache License 2.0 is permissive and poses no restrictions on commercial or private use; you may use, modify, and distribute this package freely.

Quickstart:

pip install colcon-parallel-executor

colcon build --executor parallel

Requires colcon-core to be installed and a colcon workspace to exist; the parallel executor is invoked via colcon's command-line interface, not directly in Python code.

Verify before relying:

- Whether the Alpha status reflects known limitations or incomplete features that affect production use.
- Performance characteristics and scalability limits when parallelizing large workspaces.

## Package facts

- License: Apache License, Version 2.0 (permissive)
- Python support: supports_current
- Install friction: low
- Maintenance: active
- Downloads: 183.0K/month (top 15,000 on PyPI)
- Known vulnerabilities: none known

## Tags

colcon parallel execution, parallel package build, colcon executor plugin, concurrent build processing, colcon workspace parallelization, colcon-plugin, build-acceleration

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