dict-recursive-update
A Python module who does recursive update work on 2 dicts.
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
Yes, if you need simple recursive dict merging and are working on a project locked to Python 2.6–3.6. No, if you require ongoing maintenance or compatibility with modern Python versions. The package is stable for its narrow use case but abandoned, so evaluate whether you can accept no future support.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- Package is abandoned and untested on Python versions beyond 3.6; verify compatibility with your target Python version before relying on it in production.
- No runtime dependencies and a pure-Python wheel distribution make installation straightforward.
- However, the package has been abandoned since its last release on 2018-01-23 with no maintenance activity, so it will not receive bug fixes or compatibility updates.
License · maintenance · safety
MIT (permissive) — MIT license permits free use, modification, and distribution with minimal restrictions—suitable for most projects, commercial or otherwise.
last release 2018-01-23 (3125 days) · last repo commit 2018-06-06 · 17 stars
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 197,789 downloads/mo, #9,747 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
pip install dict-recursive-update
from dict_recursive_update import recursive_update
result = recursive_update({'a': {'b': 2}}, {'a': {'b': 3, 'd': 4}, 'e': 5})
print(result) # {'a': {'b': 3, 'd': 4}, 'e': 5}- Whether the package works reliably on Python versions beyond 3.6, given the last release was in 2018.
- Whether there are edge cases or performance issues with deeply nested structures or very large dictionaries.
- How the package handles concurrent access or thread safety in multi-threaded environments.
What it is and what it does
dict-recursive-update is a lightweight utility that performs deep merging of two dictionaries, updating nested keys while leaving unmodified branches intact. When you call recursive_update(base_dict, update_dict), it traverses both dictionaries and applies values from the second into the first, recursing through nested dictionaries. Non-dict values like lists are replaced wholesale rather than merged.
The package was originally designed for environment-specific configuration management—loading a base configuration and overlaying environment-specific overrides without losing unmodified settings. It has no external dependencies and installs as a pure Python wheel, making it simple to add to any project. However, development stopped after 2018-01-23 and the repository is now archived, so it will not receive updates for newer Python versions or bug fixes.
Use it for
- Merge base application configuration with environment-specific overrides without losing unspecified defaults.
- Combine default settings with user-provided configuration files.
- Layer multiple configuration sources into a single dictionary.
- Update nested configuration structures while preserving branches not mentioned in the update.
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
Yes, if you need simple recursive dict merging and are working on a project locked to Python 2.6–3.6.
No, if you require ongoing maintenance or compatibility with modern Python versions. The package is stable for its narrow use case but abandoned, so evaluate whether you can accept no future support.
Install
dict-recursive-update on PyPI
Before you install
No runtime dependencies and a pure-Python wheel distribution make installation straightforward. However, the package has been abandoned since its last release on 2018-01-23 with no maintenance activity, so it will not receive bug fixes or compatibility updates.
Package is abandoned and untested on Python versions beyond 3.6; verify compatibility with your target Python version before relying on it in production.
License in practice
MIT license permits free use, modification, and distribution with minimal restrictions—suitable for most projects, commercial or otherwise.
Quickstart
pip install dict-recursive-update
from dict_recursive_update import recursive_update
result = recursive_update({'a': {'b': 2}}, {'a': {'b': 3, 'd': 4}, 'e': 5})
print(result) # {'a': {'b': 3, 'd': 4}, 'e': 5}Verify before relying
- Whether the package works reliably on Python versions beyond 3.6, given the last release was in 2018.
- Whether there are edge cases or performance issues with deeply nested structures or very large dictionaries.
- How the package handles concurrent access or thread safety in multi-threaded environments.
Package facts
| License | MIT permissive |
| Python support | Not specified |
| Install friction | Low. Pure-Python wheel |
| Runtime dependencies | None |
| Maintenance | Abandoned 3,125 days since the last release |
| Last repo commit | |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 197,789 / month, #9,747 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/StableIntended Audience :: DevelopersLicense :: OSI Approved :: MIT LicenseProgramming Language :: Python :: 2.6Programming Language :: Python :: 2.7Programming Language :: Python :: 3.3Programming Language :: Python :: 3.4Programming Language :: Python :: 3.5Programming Language :: Python :: 3.6Topic :: Software Development :: Libraries :: Python Modules |
Evidence: dict_recursive_update-1.0.1-py2.py3-none-any.whl
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