---
id: envparse
version: "0.2.0"
license: MIT
license_treatment: permissive
maintenance: abandoned
---

# envparse — Simple environment variable parsing

License: permissive · Maintenance: abandoned · Downloads: 259.8K/mo

## What it is and what it does

envparse is a lightweight wrapper around environment variable parsing that eliminates repetitive code for reading and casting configuration from os.environ. It supports type casting (bool, int, list, dict, JSON, URL), nested types with subtypes, default values, and variable proxying. It also reads from .env files and allows pre- and post-processing of values through callables.

The package is designed for applications following the 12 Factor App methodology, particularly those deployed on platforms like Heroku where environment-based configuration is standard. It has no runtime dependencies, making it lightweight to add to a project. However, it has been abandoned since 2015 and is no longer maintained, which creates risk for compatibility with modern Python versions.

Use it for:

- Reading and type-casting environment variables in a 12 Factor App without writing custom parsing logic.
- Loading configuration from a .env file during development while keeping production config in actual environment variables.
- Defining a schema once to validate and cast multiple environment variables consistently across an application.
- Proxying between environment variable names provided by a platform (e.g., Heroku) and names your app expects.

## Worth the install?

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

Parses environment variables with optional type casting, defaults, and schema validation, reducing boilerplate code for configuration management.

No, unless you are maintaining legacy code already using it. The package is abandoned (last release 2015, last commit 2022) and compatibility with Python 3.10+ is unverified. Modern alternatives like python-dotenv or pydantic-settings are actively maintained and offer equivalent or superior functionality. If you must use it, pin the version and test thoroughly on your target Python version.

## Install

pip install envparse
uv add envparse
poetry add envparse

## Installing envparse

Before you install: High install friction: the package is abandoned (last release 2015-12-19, last commit 2022-11-28) with no runtime dependencies, but the source distribution format suggests potential build or compatibility issues with modern Python versions.

License in practice: MIT license is permissive and poses no restrictions on use, modification, or distribution in commercial or private projects.

Quickstart:

pip install envparse

from envparse import env

mail_enabled = env.bool('MAIL_ENABLED')
max_rows = env.int('MAX_ROWS', default=100)

Package is abandoned; compatibility with Python 3.10+ is unverified and likely problematic.

Verify before relying:

- Whether the package works reliably on Python 3.9 and later without modification.
- Whether the source distribution builds without errors on modern systems.
- Active maintenance or community forks that address Python 3.10+ compatibility.

## Package facts

- License: MIT (permissive)
- Python support: unspecified
- Install friction: high
- Maintenance: abandoned
- Downloads: 259.8K/month (top 15,000 on PyPI)
- Known vulnerabilities: none known

## Tags

environment variable parsing, env config management, type casting environment vars, dotenv configuration, 12-factor app config, environment schema validation, read .env files, config-management, legacy-unmaintained

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