inputimeout
Multi platform standard input with timeout
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
No. The package is abandoned (last release 2018-03-02) with no maintenance signal, and while it has no known vulnerabilities and low install friction, its age and lack of updates create significant risk for modern Python environments. For new projects, consider a maintained alternative or implement timeout logic using threading or asyncio instead.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- Installation is straightforward with no runtime dependencies, but the package has been abandoned since March 2018 with no active maintenance or updates.
License · maintenance · safety
MIT (permissive) — MIT license is permissive and places no restrictions on use, modification, or distribution in proprietary or open-source projects.
last release 2018-03-02 (3087 days)
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 16,909,239 downloads/mo, #1,135 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
pip install inputimeout
from inputimeout import inputimeout, TimeoutOccurred
try:
something = inputimeout(prompt='>>', timeout=5)
except TimeoutOccurred:
something = 'default_value'
print(something)- Whether the package works reliably on Python versions beyond 3.6, given its age and lack of maintenance.
- Whether there are known issues with specific terminal emulators or operating systems not covered by original testing.
- Whether the timeout mechanism remains accurate on modern systems with different process scheduling.
What it is and what it does
inputimeout wraps standard input to add a timeout mechanism across Windows, macOS, and Linux. When you call inputimeout() with a prompt and timeout duration, it waits for user input up to that many seconds; if no input arrives, it raises TimeoutOccurred, which you catch to provide a fallback value or handle the timeout case. The package has no external runtime dependencies, making it lightweight to add to a project.
The package is in Beta status and has not been updated since 2018-03-02. It requires Python >=3.4. Because it is abandoned and unmaintained, it may not work correctly on newer Python versions or modern terminal environments, and any bugs or compatibility issues will not be fixed.
Use it for
- Interactive CLI tools that need to proceed automatically if a user does not respond within a set time window.
- Automated testing scripts that prompt for optional input but should not hang indefinitely if stdin is not available.
- Batch processing workflows where a user confirmation prompt should time out and use a sensible default.
- Terminal applications that require responsive behavior even when input is slow or unavailable.
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
No.
The package is abandoned (last release 2018-03-02) with no maintenance signal, and while it has no known vulnerabilities and low install friction, its age and lack of updates create significant risk for modern Python environments. For new projects, consider a maintained alternative or implement timeout logic using threading or asyncio instead.
Install
inputimeout on PyPI
Before you install
Installation is straightforward with no runtime dependencies, but the package has been abandoned since March 2018 with no active maintenance or updates.
License in practice
MIT license is permissive and places no restrictions on use, modification, or distribution in proprietary or open-source projects.
Quickstart
pip install inputimeout
from inputimeout import inputimeout, TimeoutOccurred
try:
something = inputimeout(prompt='>>', timeout=5)
except TimeoutOccurred:
something = 'default_value'
print(something)Verify before relying
- Whether the package works reliably on Python versions beyond 3.6, given its age and lack of maintenance.
- Whether there are known issues with specific terminal emulators or operating systems not covered by original testing.
- Whether the timeout mechanism remains accurate on modern systems with different process scheduling.
Package facts
| License | MIT permissive |
| Python support | Supports the current Python release >=3.4 |
| Install friction | Low. Pure-Python wheel |
| Runtime dependencies | None |
| Maintenance | Abandoned 3,087 days since the last release |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 16,909,239 / month, #1,135 on PyPI 30-day window, as of 2026-08-14 |
| Known vulnerabilities | None known OSV.dev, checked 2026-08-14 |
| Classifiers | Development Status :: 4 - BetaEnvironment :: ConsoleIntended Audience :: DevelopersLicense :: OSI Approved :: MIT LicenseOperating System :: MacOS :: MacOS XOperating System :: Microsoft :: WindowsOperating System :: POSIX :: LinuxProgramming Language :: Python :: 3 :: OnlyProgramming Language :: Python :: 3.6 |
Evidence: inputimeout-1.0.4-py3-none-any.whl
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