inquirer
Collection of common interactive command line user interfaces, based on Inquirer.js
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
Yes, if you need interactive terminal prompts with validation. The library is stable, permissive-licensed, and has low install friction. However, maintenance is aging (last release 377 days ago), so check whether its three dependencies remain actively maintained. Windows users should test thoroughly before relying on it in production.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- Requires Python 3.9.2 or later.
- UNIX-based platforms (macOS, Linux) are fully supported; Windows has experimental support.
- Low friction: pure Python wheel with only three runtime dependencies (blessed, editor, readchar).
License · maintenance · safety
MIT (permissive) — MIT license is permissive; you can use, modify, and distribute this package freely in commercial and open-source projects with minimal restrictions.
last release 2025-08-02 (377 days) · last repo commit 2025-11-21 · 1,139 stars
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 4,907,025 downloads/mo, #2,202 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
pip install inquirer
import inquirer
questions = [inquirer.Text('name', message="What's your name?")]
answers = inquirer.prompt(questions)- Whether Windows support has improved since the 'experimental' designation in the description.
- Current state of the three runtime dependencies (blessed, editor, readchar) and their maintenance status.
What it is and what it does
Inquirer is a Python port of the JavaScript Inquirer.js library that simplifies building interactive terminal user interfaces. It handles the mechanics of asking questions, parsing answers, validating input, managing conditional/hierarchical prompts, and displaying error feedback—all without requiring you to manage raw terminal I/O. The package supports multiple question types: plain text input, multi-line editor-based answers, single-choice lists, multi-select checkboxes, and path validation, each with optional validation rules and conditional display logic.
Typically used in CLI tools, setup wizards, configuration scripts, and interactive installers where you need to collect structured user input at the terminal. It depends on blessed for terminal control, editor for launching external text editors, and readchar for capturing individual keystrokes. The library is stable (Production/Stable status) and widely downloaded, though recent maintenance activity is sparse.
Use it for
- Build interactive setup wizards or configuration scripts that guide users through a series of validated questions.
- Create CLI tools that let users select from lists or check multiple options without manual text entry.
- Collect long-form text input by opening the user's preferred editor (vim, emacs, nano) within a Python script.
- Validate user input (phone numbers, file paths, email addresses) before processing in a command-line application.
- Chain conditional prompts where later questions depend on earlier answers in an interactive survey or form.
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
Yes, if you need interactive terminal prompts with validation.
The library is stable, permissive-licensed, and has low install friction. However, maintenance is aging (last release 377 days ago), so check whether its three dependencies remain actively maintained. Windows users should test thoroughly before relying on it in production.
Install
inquirer on PyPI
Before you install
Low friction: pure Python wheel with only three runtime dependencies (blessed, editor, readchar). Maintenance status is aging—last release was 377 days ago—but the repository remains active with recent commits and no archived status.
Requires Python 3.9.2 or later. UNIX-based platforms (macOS, Linux) are fully supported; Windows has experimental support.
License in practice
MIT license is permissive; you can use, modify, and distribute this package freely in commercial and open-source projects with minimal restrictions.
Quickstart
pip install inquirer
import inquirer
questions = [inquirer.Text('name', message="What's your name?")]
answers = inquirer.prompt(questions)Verify before relying
- Whether Windows support has improved since the 'experimental' designation in the description.
- Current state of the three runtime dependencies (blessed, editor, readchar) and their maintenance status.
Package facts
| License | MIT permissive |
| Python support | Supports the current Python release >=3.9.2 |
| Install friction | Low. Pure-Python wheel |
| Runtime dependencies | 3 packagesblessededitorreadchar |
| Maintenance | Aging 377 days since the last release |
| Last repo commit | |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 4,907,025 / month, #2,202 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/StableEnvironment :: ConsoleIntended Audience :: DevelopersLicense :: OSI Approved :: MIT LicenseOperating System :: OS IndependentProgramming Language :: Python :: 3Programming Language :: Python :: 3.10Programming Language :: Python :: 3.11Programming Language :: Python :: 3.12Programming Language :: Python :: 3.13Programming Language :: Python :: 3.9Topic :: Software Development :: Libraries :: Application FrameworksTopic :: Software Development :: User Interfaces |
Evidence: inquirer-3.4.1-py3-none-any.whl
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See also inquirer3 · inquirerpy · questionary · bullet · cli-ui · click-prompt · beaupy · readchar · python-editor · pick