skillfed

Flask-API

Browsable web APIs for Flask.

flask-api v3.1 86.9K downloads/30d#13,830 on PyPI
Permissive license BSD Abandoned released

What it is and what it does

Flask-API is a Flask extension that wraps your application to provide browsable web interfaces for your API endpoints, similar to Django REST Framework's browsable API feature. It handles content negotiation automatically, allowing clients to request JSON, HTML, or other formats through standard HTTP headers or URL parameters, and renders a human-friendly HTML interface in the browser for GET requests.

The package has been in production-stable status since its early releases, but it is now abandoned—the last release was June 2023 and there have been no commits since then. It depends only on Flask itself, making installation frictionless, but you should expect no maintenance, bug fixes, or compatibility updates for newer Flask or Python versions.

Use it for:

  • Quickly prototype and debug REST APIs by viewing responses in a browser without needing a separate API client tool.
  • Provide a human-readable interface for API consumers to explore endpoints and test requests interactively.
  • Add content negotiation to Flask apps so clients can request JSON or HTML formats without code changes.
  • Build internal admin or monitoring dashboards that expose API data through a browsable interface.

Worth the install?

AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying

Flask-API adds browsable web interfaces and content negotiation to Flask applications, making it easier to build and test REST APIs directly in the browser.

No, unless you are maintaining legacy code already using Flask-API. The package is abandoned with no updates since June 2023, and there is no indication the repository is maintained. For new projects, use modern alternatives like Flask-RESTX or FastAPI that receive active maintenance and support current Python and framework versions.

Install

flask-api on PyPI

pip

pip install flask-api

uv

uv add flask-api

poetry

poetry add flask-api

Installing Flask-API

Before you install

Installation is straightforward with a single dependency on Flask, but the package is abandoned—no commits or maintenance since June 2023, over 1166 days ago. Use only if you accept that no updates or security patches will be forthcoming.

License in practice

BSD license is permissive; you can use, modify, and distribute Flask-API freely in commercial and private projects with minimal restrictions.

Quickstart

pip install Flask-API

from flask import Flask
from flask_api import FlaskAPI

app = FlaskAPI(__name__)

@app.route('/api/hello')
def hello():
    return {'message': 'Hello, World!'}

if __name__ == '__main__':
    app.run()

Verify before relying

  • Whether Flask-API remains compatible with Flask versions released after June 2023.
  • Whether the browsable interface works correctly with modern browser security policies and CORS requirements.
  • Current state of the project repository and whether it is truly archived or simply quiet.

Package facts

License BSD (permissive)
Python support not specified
Install friction low — pure-Python wheel
Runtime dependencies 1 — Flask
Maintenance abandoned — 1,166 days since the last release
First released
Downloads 86,876/month — #13,830 on PyPI (30-day window, as of 2026-08-14)
Known vulnerabilities none known (OSV.dev, checked 2026-08-14)

Evidence: Flask_API-3.1-py3-none-any.whl

Development Status :: 5 - Production/StableEnvironment :: Web EnvironmentFramework :: FlaskIntended Audience :: DevelopersLicense :: OSI Approved :: BSD LicenseNatural Language :: EnglishOperating System :: OS IndependentProgramming Language :: PythonProgramming Language :: Python :: 3Programming Language :: Python :: 3.6Programming Language :: Python :: 3.7Programming Language :: Python :: 3.8Programming Language :: Python :: 3.9Topic :: Internet :: WWW/HTTP

Tags

browsable api flaskflask rest api browserflask content negotiationflask api debugging interfaceflask web api explorer
abandonedlegacy

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