---
id: cov-core
version: "1.15.0"
license: MIT License
license_treatment: permissive
maintenance: abandoned
---

# cov-core — plugin core for use by pytest-cov, nose-cov and nose2-cov

License: permissive · Maintenance: abandoned · Downloads: 81.8K/mo

## What it is and what it does

cov-core is a library that provides the shared plugin infrastructure for coverage measurement across multiple test frameworks. It was designed to be used by pytest-cov, nose-cov, and nose2-cov rather than directly by end users. The package has been abandoned since 2014 and its repository is archived; it targets Python 2.4 through 3.1, versions that are no longer supported.

If you are installing cov-core, it is almost certainly as a transitive dependency of one of the coverage plugins listed above. Direct installation or use is not recommended. The package has no runtime dependencies, but its age and obsolete Python version support mean it is unlikely to work correctly on modern Python environments without significant compatibility issues.

Use it for:

- As a transitive dependency when installing pytest-cov for coverage measurement in pytest test suites.
- As a transitive dependency when installing nose-cov for coverage measurement in nose test runners.
- As a transitive dependency when installing nose2-cov for coverage measurement in nose2 test runners.

## Worth the install?

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

cov-core provides the internal plugin infrastructure for coverage measurement in test frameworks like pytest, nose, and nose2.

No. Do not install cov-core directly. The package is abandoned, its last release was in 2014-11-22, and it targets obsolete Python versions (2.4–3.1). Install it only if a modern coverage plugin explicitly requires it as a dependency. Even then, verify that the plugin itself is actively maintained and compatible with your Python version.

## Install

pip install cov-core
uv add cov-core
poetry add cov-core

## Installing cov-core

Before you install: High install friction: the package is abandoned (last commit 2018-07-03, archived repository) and has not been released since 2014-11-22. It targets Python 2.4–3.1, which are long obsolete. Direct use is discouraged; it exists only as a dependency of active coverage plugins.

License in practice: MIT License (permissive) imposes no restrictions on use or redistribution, but the abandoned status and obsolete Python support make compliance a secondary concern.

Quickstart:

pip install cov-core==1.15.0

# Typically installed as a transitive dependency; direct import is not recommended.

Package is abandoned and targets Python 2.4–3.1; compatibility with modern Python versions is not guaranteed.

Verify before relying:

- Whether this package still functions on modern Python versions despite classifiers declaring only Python 2.4–3.1 support.
- Whether pytest-cov, nose-cov, or nose2-cov still depend on cov-core or have migrated to alternative backends.

## Package facts

- License: MIT License (permissive)
- Python support: unspecified
- Install friction: high
- Maintenance: abandoned
- Downloads: 81.8K/month (top 15,000 on PyPI)
- Known vulnerabilities: none known

## Tags

coverage plugin core, pytest-cov backend, nose coverage plugin, test coverage infrastructure, coverage measurement plugin, abandoned, legacy-python

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