lazy-imports
Tool to support lazy imports
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
Yes, if you need to defer module loading to reduce startup time or memory use. The package is stable (Production/Stable status) with no known vulnerabilities and low install friction. Maintenance is aging (229 days since last release) but the repository remains active. Best suited for projects with heavy dependencies or optional features; requires Python 3.10 or later and careful use in well-structured code.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- Requires Python 3.10 or later.
- Low install friction with no runtime dependencies.
- Last release 229 days ago; repository is active and not archived, though maintenance status is aging.
License · maintenance · safety
Apache-2.0 (permissive) — Apache-2.0 permissive license allows commercial and private use with minimal restrictions.
last release 2025-12-28 (229 days) · last repo commit 2026-01-20 · 15 stars
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 2,093,769 downloads/mo, #3,300 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
pip install lazy-imports
from lazy_imports import LazyModule, as_package, load, module_source
load(
LazyModule(
*as_package(__file__),
module_source("._exports", __name__),
name=__name__,
)
)- Whether lazy modules work correctly with all type checkers (mypy, pyright, etc.) beyond TYPE_CHECKING patterns shown.
- Performance gains and memory reduction in real-world applications—fact sheet provides no benchmarks.
- Compatibility with dynamic import tools or frameworks that introspect module structure.
What it is and what it does
lazy-imports is a utility for deferring module attribute loading until they are actually accessed, along with a context manager for optional imports that delay exceptions until use. It wraps Python's import system to avoid loading submodules and their dependencies upfront, which can reduce startup time and memory footprint in large projects.
The package provides three main tools: LazyModule for defining lazy attributes in a module's __init__.py (with support for type checking via TYPE_CHECKING), try_import for wrapping optional package imports so exceptions are raised only when the package is actually used, and LazyImporter (a legacy API) for simpler lazy import structures. The fact sheet emphasizes that Python's import system has complex side effects, so lazy imports require careful use in well-structured projects, but the package handles the low-level details so you don't have to.
Use it for
- Reduce startup time in CLI tools or services by deferring heavy dependencies until needed.
- Support optional features that depend on packages users may not have installed.
- Defer import exceptions for optional dependencies to the point where they're actually called.
- Minimize memory footprint in large monolithic packages by loading submodules on demand.
- Structure package exports with type-checking support while keeping runtime imports lazy.
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
Yes, if you need to defer module loading to reduce startup time or memory use.
The package is stable (Production/Stable status) with no known vulnerabilities and low install friction. Maintenance is aging (229 days since last release) but the repository remains active. Best suited for projects with heavy dependencies or optional features; requires Python 3.10 or later and careful use in well-structured code.
Install
lazy-imports on PyPI
Before you install
Low install friction with no runtime dependencies. Last release 229 days ago; repository is active and not archived, though maintenance status is aging.
Requires Python 3.10 or later.
License in practice
Apache-2.0 permissive license allows commercial and private use with minimal restrictions.
Quickstart
pip install lazy-imports
from lazy_imports import LazyModule, as_package, load, module_source
load(
LazyModule(
*as_package(__file__),
module_source("._exports", __name__),
name=__name__,
)
)Verify before relying
- Whether lazy modules work correctly with all type checkers (mypy, pyright, etc.) beyond TYPE_CHECKING patterns shown.
- Performance gains and memory reduction in real-world applications—fact sheet provides no benchmarks.
- Compatibility with dynamic import tools or frameworks that introspect module structure.
Package facts
| License | Apache-2.0 permissive |
| Python support | Supports the current Python release >=3.10 |
| Install friction | Low. Pure-Python wheel |
| Runtime dependencies | None |
| Maintenance | Aging 229 days since the last release |
| Last repo commit | |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 2,093,769 / month, #3,300 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/StableIntended Audience :: DevelopersOperating System :: OS IndependentProgramming Language :: Python :: 3Programming Language :: Python :: 3 :: OnlyProgramming Language :: Python :: 3.10Programming Language :: Python :: 3.11Programming Language :: Python :: 3.12Programming Language :: Python :: 3.13Programming Language :: Python :: 3.14Topic :: Software DevelopmentTopic :: Software Development :: LibrariesTopic :: Software Development :: Libraries :: Python Modules |
Evidence: lazy_imports-1.2.0-py3-none-any.whl
Tags
Let your AI agent find packages like this
Example. Real query, live index.
You found this page by searching. An agent finds it by wishing: SkillFed indexes 14,416 PyPI packages by what they can do, searchable in plain language.
wish › “reduce import time”
- lazy-importsDefers loading of module attributes and their dependencies until…
- lazy-loaderLazy-loader defers the import of subpackages and external libraries…
- apipkgapipkg lets you define a package's exported namespace declaratively…
Give your agent the search over MCP, or paste the wish link into any chat.
More Software Development packages
Provides backported and experimental type hints for Python 3.9+, allowing use of newer typing features on older Python versions and enabling early experimentation with type system PEPs before they enter the standard library.
NumPy provides an N-dimensional array object and a comprehensive suite of mathematical, linear algebra, Fourier transform, and random number functions for scientific computing in Python.
FastAPI is a Python web framework for building REST APIs using type hints, with automatic request validation, serialization, and interactive API documentation.
Provides a way to document function parameters, class attributes, return types, and variables inline using Python's `Annotated` type hint syntax instead of traditional docstrings.
Typer builds command-line applications from Python functions using type hints, automatically generating help text, argument parsing, and shell completion.
Install it if you are building CLIs in Python.
Distlib provides low-level packaging utilities for building, distributing, and managing Python software—including metadata handling, version specifiers, wheel support, script installation, and dependency resolution.
See also apipkg · extras · lazy-loader · lazyasd · lazy-import · proxy_tools · lazy · zope.deferredimport · Lazify · lazy-object-proxy