looseversion
Version numbering for anarchists and software realists
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
Yes, if you need to compare non-PEP-440 version strings and want to avoid the deprecated distutils module. It has no dependencies, is actively maintained, and carries a permissive license. Skip it if you're only comparing Python package versions—use packaging.version.Version instead.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- Installs with no dependencies and has been actively maintained since its initial release.
- The repository shows recent activity, making it a low-friction choice for projects that need LooseVersion functionality.
License · maintenance · safety
permissive license (permissive) — Licensed under the Python Software Foundation License, a permissive license that allows reproduction, modification, and distribution with minimal restrictions—suitable for most commercial and open-source projects.
last release 2023-07-05 (1136 days) · last repo commit 2026-08-01 · 20 stars
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 1,772,690 downloads/mo, #3,571 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
pip install looseversion
from looseversion import LooseVersion
LooseVersion("1.0.0") < LooseVersion("2.0.0") # Returns True- Whether this package is maintained as a long-term replacement or a temporary bridge during distutils deprecation
- Performance characteristics when comparing very large numbers of version strings
What it is and what it does
looseversion is a standalone implementation of the version comparison logic from Python's deprecated `distutils.version.LooseVersion`. It handles version strings that don't conform to PEP-440, such as those with arbitrary separators, mixed alphanumeric components, or non-standard ordering schemes. The package is designed as a drop-in replacement, maintaining identical comparison semantics and even allowing direct comparison between looseversion and distutils LooseVersion instances, so tools don't need to coordinate migrations across their dependency tree.
You would use this when you need to parse and compare version numbers from external systems, legacy software, or heterogeneous sources that predate or ignore PEP-440. It's explicitly not recommended for comparing Python package versions—the description points to `packaging.version.Version` for that use case—but it's the right tool when you're working with version schemes outside your control.
Use it for
- Compare versions from external APIs or systems that use non-standard version numbering schemes
- Migrate away from distutils.version.LooseVersion without rewriting version comparison logic
- Handle version strings from legacy software or heterogeneous sources in a single codebase
- Maintain compatibility across dependencies that may still use the original distutils LooseVersion
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
Yes, if you need to compare non-PEP-440 version strings and want to avoid the deprecated distutils module.
It has no dependencies, is actively maintained, and carries a permissive license. Skip it if you're only comparing Python package versions—use packaging.version.Version instead.
Install
looseversion on PyPI
Before you install
Installs with no dependencies and has been actively maintained since its initial release. The repository shows recent activity, making it a low-friction choice for projects that need LooseVersion functionality.
License in practice
Licensed under the Python Software Foundation License, a permissive license that allows reproduction, modification, and distribution with minimal restrictions—suitable for most commercial and open-source projects.
Quickstart
pip install looseversion
from looseversion import LooseVersion
LooseVersion("1.0.0") < LooseVersion("2.0.0") # Returns TrueVerify before relying
- Whether this package is maintained as a long-term replacement or a temporary bridge during distutils deprecation
- Performance characteristics when comparing very large numbers of version strings
Package facts
| License | permissive license permissive |
| Python support | Not specified |
| Install friction | Low. Pure-Python wheel |
| Runtime dependencies | None |
| Maintenance | Actively maintained 1,136 days since the last release |
| Last repo commit | |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 1,772,690 / month, #3,571 on PyPI 30-day window, as of 2026-08-14 |
| Known vulnerabilities | None known OSV.dev, checked 2026-08-14 |
| Classifiers | Development Status :: 6 - MatureLicense :: OSI Approved :: Python Software Foundation LicenseProgramming Language :: Python :: 3 |
Evidence: looseversion-1.3.0-py2.py3-none-any.whl
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See also verlib2 · setuptools-git-versioning · distribute · verspec · dep-logic · packaging · bumpver · parver · spacy-legacy · bump-my-version