cron-descriptor
A Python library that converts cron expressions into human readable strings.
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
Yes. The package is actively maintained, has no known vulnerabilities, carries a permissive MIT license, and installs with minimal friction. It solves a real problem—making cron expressions readable—with broad language support and stable Python version coverage. Install it if you need to display or explain cron schedules to users or in logs.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- Requires Python 3.9 or later.
- Low install friction with a single lightweight runtime dependency (typing_extensions).
- Actively maintained with recent releases; last commit 2026-07-21 and production-stable status across Python 3.9–3.14.
License · maintenance · safety
MIT (permissive) — MIT license permits unrestricted use, modification, and distribution in both open-source and proprietary projects with minimal obligations.
last release 2026-06-02 (73 days) · last repo commit 2026-07-21 · 186 stars
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 25,017,791 downloads/mo, #909 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
pip install cron-descriptor
from cron_descriptor import get_description
print(get_description("* 2 3 * *"))- Whether all 31 languages listed in the description are fully translated and maintained in the current release.
- Performance characteristics when parsing very large batches of cron expressions.
What it is and what it does
Cron Descriptor is a Python library that parses cron expressions and outputs them as plain-language descriptions. It handles the full range of cron syntax—including special characters like *, /, ,, -, ?, L, W, and #—and supports 5, 6, or 7-part expressions (with optional seconds and year fields). The library is a Python port of the original .NET cron-expression-descriptor and provides localization across approximately 31 languages.
You use it by passing a cron expression string to either the get_description() function or the ExpressionDescriptor class, optionally specifying casing style (Sentence, Title, Lower, etc.) and time format (12-hour or 24-hour). It runs on Python 3.9 through 3.14 and depends only on typing_extensions, making it lightweight and straightforward to integrate into scheduling tools, documentation generators, or user-facing applications that need to explain cron schedules in human terms.
Use it for
- Display human-readable schedule descriptions in a job scheduler UI or admin panel.
- Generate documentation or help text that explains what a cron job does without requiring users to parse the expression.
- Validate and translate cron expressions for localized applications serving users in different languages.
- Build a cron expression builder tool that shows real-time English descriptions as users modify the schedule.
- Log or audit cron job configurations in a human-friendly format for compliance or troubleshooting.
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
Yes.
The package is actively maintained, has no known vulnerabilities, carries a permissive MIT license, and installs with minimal friction. It solves a real problem—making cron expressions readable—with broad language support and stable Python version coverage. Install it if you need to display or explain cron schedules to users or in logs.
Install
cron-descriptor on PyPI
Before you install
Low install friction with a single lightweight runtime dependency (typing_extensions). Actively maintained with recent releases; last commit 2026-07-21 and production-stable status across Python 3.9–3.14.
Requires Python 3.9 or later.
License in practice
MIT license permits unrestricted use, modification, and distribution in both open-source and proprietary projects with minimal obligations.
Quickstart
pip install cron-descriptor
from cron_descriptor import get_description
print(get_description("* 2 3 * *"))Verify before relying
- Whether all 31 languages listed in the description are fully translated and maintained in the current release.
- Performance characteristics when parsing very large batches of cron expressions.
Package facts
| License | MIT permissive |
| Python support | Supports the current Python release >=3.9 |
| Install friction | Low. Pure-Python wheel |
| Runtime dependencies | 1 packagetyping_extensions |
| Maintenance | Actively maintained 73 days since the last release |
| Last repo commit | |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 25,017,791 / month, #909 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/StableEnvironment :: ConsoleEnvironment :: Web EnvironmentIntended Audience :: DevelopersOperating System :: OS IndependentProgramming Language :: PythonProgramming Language :: Python :: 3.10Programming Language :: Python :: 3.11Programming Language :: Python :: 3.12Programming Language :: Python :: 3.13Programming Language :: Python :: 3.14Programming Language :: Python :: 3.9Programming Language :: Python :: Implementation :: CPythonProgramming Language :: Python :: Implementation :: PyPyTopic :: Software Development |
Evidence: cron_descriptor-2.1.0-py3-none-any.whl
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See also tzcron · cron-converter · cron-validator · crontab · aws-cron-expression-validator · ago · pycron · cronsim · schedule · ctparse