Mako

A super-fast templating language that borrows the best ideas from the existing templating languages.

mako Permissive license MIT Active ★ 450 v1.4.1 released 2026-08-05

Install

mako on PyPI

pip

pip install mako

uv

uv add mako

poetry

poetry add mako

Package facts

License	MIT (permissive)
Python support	supports the current Python release (>=3.10)
Install friction	low — pure-Python wheel
Runtime dependencies	1 — MarkupSafe
Maintenance	actively maintained — 8 days since the last release
Last repo commit	2026-08-11
First released	2006-12-31
Popularity	one of the top 1,000 most-downloaded packages on PyPI (30-day window, as of 2026-08-13)
Known vulnerabilities	none known (OSV.dev, checked 2026-08-13)

Evidence: mako-1.4.1-py3-none-any.whl

Development Status :: 5 - Production/StableEnvironment :: Web EnvironmentIntended Audience :: DevelopersProgramming Language :: PythonProgramming Language :: Python :: 3Programming Language :: Python :: 3.10Programming Language :: Python :: 3.11Programming Language :: Python :: 3.12Programming Language :: Python :: 3.13Programming Language :: Python :: 3.14Programming Language :: Python :: 3.15Programming Language :: Python :: Implementation :: CPythonProgramming Language :: Python :: Implementation :: PyPyTopic :: Internet :: WWW/HTTP :: Dynamic Content

About Mako

from the package's own PyPI description — quoted content, verbatim

========================= Mako Templates for Python =========================

Mako is a template library written in Python. It provides a familiar, non-XML syntax which compiles into Python modules for maximum performance. Mako's syntax and API borrows from the best ideas of many others, including Django templates, Cheetah, Myghty, and Genshi. Conceptually, Mako is an embedded Python (i.e. Python Server Page) language, which refines the familiar ideas of componentized layout and inheritance to produce one of the most straightforward and flexible models available, while also maintaining close ties to Python calling and scoping semantics.

Nutshell

&lt;%inherit file="base.html"/&gt;
&lt;%
    rows = [[v for v in range(0,10)] for row in range(0,10)]
%&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
    % for row in rows:
        ${makerow(row)}
    % endfor
&lt;/table&gt;

&lt;%def name="makerow(row)"&gt;
    &lt;tr&gt;
    % for name in row:
        &lt;td&gt;${name}&lt;/td&gt;\
    % endfor
    &lt;/tr&gt;
&lt;/%def&gt;

Philosophy

Python is a great scripting language. Don't reinvent the wheel...your templates can handle it !

Documentation

See...

Read as markdown · JSON record · Source repository · Homepage · Docs

AI interpretation — verify before relying

AI-generated interpretation of the package facts above; every digit, version, license, or vulnerability id it cites is grounded in the facts already shown on this page

Mako is a Python templating engine that compiles templates into Python modules for high-performance rendering, supporting inheritance, embedded Python code, and a familiar non-XML syntax.

Low friction installation with a single pure-Python wheel dependency on MarkupSafe. Active maintenance with a release 8 days ago and ongoing commits; Production/Stable status across Python 3.10–3.15.

MIT-licensed under permissive terms, allowing both non-commercial and commercial use without restriction.

Usage

pip install mako
from mako.template import Template
template = Template('Hello ${name}!')
print(template.render(name='World'))

Requires Python 3.10 or later.

Verdict: Mako is a mature, actively maintained templating library with low install friction, permissive licensing, and no known vulnerabilities. It is well-suited for projects needing high-performance template rendering with embedded Python logic.

Needs verification

Whether MarkupSafe's version constraints introduce any practical compatibility friction in real-world deployments.
Performance characteristics relative to other templating engines in the same category.

python template enginehtml templating libraryembedded python templatestemplate inheritanceserver page templatesfast template compilationdynamic content rendering