---
id: debtcollector
version: "3.1.0"
license: Apache-2.0
license_treatment: permissive
maintenance: active
---

# debtcollector — A collection of Python deprecation patterns and strategies that help you collect your technical debt in a non-destructive manner.

License: permissive · Maintenance: active · Downloads: 1.5M/mo

## What it is and what it does

Debtcollector is a library for managing technical debt through Python deprecation patterns. It wraps the standard warnings module to emit DeprecationWarning, PendingDeprecationWarning, and similar signals to library users about upcoming API changes, allowing you to retire old code paths gradually without breaking existing code.

The library is designed for library and framework maintainers who need to signal breaking changes to their users over time. It depends only on wrapt and has been maintained since 2015 as part of the OpenStack project. It supports modern Python versions and carries no known security vulnerabilities.

Use it for:

- Signal upcoming removal of a function or class parameter to library users over multiple releases.
- Warn developers when they use an old API that will be replaced with a new one in a future version.
- Gradually retire internal APIs in a large codebase while giving dependent teams time to migrate.
- Document and enforce deprecation timelines for breaking changes in a framework or SDK.

## Worth the install?

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

Debtcollector provides Python deprecation patterns and strategies that emit warnings to developers about future API changes without breaking existing code.

Yes, if you maintain a library or framework and need to deprecate APIs gradually. The low friction, permissive license, and active maintenance make it a straightforward choice. Not needed for applications that don't expose public APIs or for one-off scripts.

## Install

pip install debtcollector
uv add debtcollector
poetry add debtcollector

## Installing debtcollector

Before you install: Low install friction with a single lightweight dependency (wrapt). Active maintenance with a recent release; supports current Python versions (3.10–3.13).

License in practice: Apache-2.0 permissive license allows use in commercial and open-source projects with minimal restrictions.

Quickstart:

pip install debtcollector

import debtcollector.deprecation

# Use deprecation decorators or helpers to emit warnings
# when deprecated functions or classes are called

Requires Python 3.10 or later.

Verify before relying:

- Specific deprecation patterns and decorator/helper API surface not detailed in the excerpt.
- Whether the library is actively used in production OpenStack projects or primarily for internal use.

## Package facts

- License: Apache-2.0 (permissive)
- Python support: supports_current
- Install friction: low
- Maintenance: active
- Downloads: 1.5M/month (top 5,000 on PyPI)
- Known vulnerabilities: none known

## Tags

deprecation warnings library, manage technical debt python, deprecation patterns, warn about api changes, non-destructive deprecation, python warnings module helper, deprecation, api-lifecycle, openstack

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