---
id: flake8-executable
version: "2.1.3"
license: LGPL v3+
license_treatment: copyleft
maintenance: active
---

# flake8-executable — A Flake8 plugin for checking executable permissions and shebangs.

License: copyleft · Maintenance: active · Downloads: 238.0K/mo

## What it is and what it does

flake8-executable is a Flake8 plugin that enforces correct executable permissions and shebang lines in Python files. It runs automatically whenever you invoke flake8 and reports five specific error codes: EXE001 (shebang present but file not executable), EXE002 (file executable but no shebang), EXE003 (shebang missing "python"), EXE004 (whitespace before shebang), and EXE005 (blank or comment lines before shebang).

The plugin integrates directly into your existing Flake8 workflow with no additional configuration needed beyond installation. It depends only on flake8 itself and supports Python 3.7 through 3.11. The package is actively maintained, has no known security vulnerabilities, and is used by thousands of developers monthly.

Use it for:

- Enforce consistent shebang and executable-bit conventions in a team's Python codebase during CI/CD linting.
- Catch accidentally executable Python files or missing shebangs in command-line scripts before they cause runtime issues.
- Validate that all Python entry points have correct shebangs and permissions in a package distribution.
- Detect malformed shebangs (e.g., missing 'python' keyword) that could prevent scripts from running correctly.

## Worth the install?

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

A Flake8 plugin that detects and reports mismatches between Python file executable permissions and shebang lines, catching five specific permission and shebang errors.

Yes, if you use Flake8 and want to enforce executable-permission and shebang correctness. The plugin is lightweight, has no security vulnerabilities, and integrates seamlessly into your existing linting workflow. The copyleft license is not a barrier for most development use. Install it if your team or project cares about consistent script permissions; skip it if you don't distribute or run Python files as executables.

## Install

pip install flake8-executable
uv add flake8-executable
poetry add flake8-executable

## Installing flake8-executable

Before you install: Low install friction; depends only on flake8. Actively maintained with recent commits; last release was over a year ago but the repository remains active and the package supports current Python versions.

License in practice: Licensed under LGPL v3+, a copyleft license. You may use and modify the package freely, but any derivative work must also be distributed under LGPL v3+ or a compatible license.

Quickstart:

pip install flake8-executable

flake8 your_script.py
# Reports EXE001–EXE005 errors inline with other flake8 checks

Verify before relying:

- Whether the plugin integrates transparently with existing flake8 configurations or requires explicit setup.
- Whether the five error codes (EXE001–EXE005) cover all common executable/shebang mismatches or if edge cases exist.

## Package facts

- License: LGPL v3+ (copyleft)
- Python support: supports_current
- Install friction: low
- Maintenance: active
- Downloads: 238.0K/month (top 15,000 on PyPI)
- Known vulnerabilities: none known

## Tags

flake8 executable permissions, shebang linter, python file permissions checker, executable bit validation, shebang syntax checker, flake8-plugin, linting

[View on SkillFed](https://skillfed.io/packages/flake8-executable) · [View on PyPI](https://pypi.org/project/flake8-executable/)