---
id: pipe
version: "2.2"
license: MIT License
license_treatment: permissive
maintenance: aging
---

# pipe — Module enabling a sh like infix syntax (using pipes)

License: permissive · Maintenance: aging · Downloads: 111.2K/mo

## What it is and what it does

Pipe is a Python library that brings shell-like infix syntax to iterable operations by overloading the `|` operator. Instead of nested function calls, you write transformations in a left-to-right pipeline: `data | filter_fn | map_fn | take(n)`. Each pipe operation is lazy-evaluated, meaning computation happens only when needed, and pipes can be aliased and partially initialized for reuse.

The library provides a collection of composable operations—select (map), where (filter), take, skip, groupby, dedup, transpose, traverse, and many others—that work on any iterable. It's useful for data processing tasks where readability and functional composition matter more than raw performance, and it integrates naturally with Python's itertools and generator patterns.

Use it for:

- Process sequences of data with readable, left-to-right transformations instead of nested function calls or list comprehensions.
- Solve algorithmic problems (like Project Euler) by chaining filters and transformations on infinite generators.
- Debug multi-stage data pipelines by inserting the `tee` pipe to inspect intermediate values without breaking the chain.
- Build reusable, aliased pipes for common filtering or transformation patterns in data processing workflows.
- Flatten or traverse nested iterables recursively using the `traverse` pipe for complex data structures.

## Worth the install?

AI-flagged interpretation of the facts above — verify before relying.

Pipe enables shell-like infix syntax for chaining operations on iterables using the `|` operator, providing lazy-evaluated transformations like filtering, mapping, grouping, and slicing.

Yes, if you value readable, functional-style data pipelines and work frequently with iterables. The library is stable, has no dependencies, and installs easily. However, maintenance is aging (last release April 2024, no recent commits), so consider it for stable use cases rather than as a foundation for mission-critical infrastructure. Not worth installing if you prefer standard Python idioms (list comprehensions, itertools) or need active development support.

## Install

pip install pipe
uv add pipe
poetry add pipe

## Installing pipe

Before you install: Low install friction; pure Python wheel with no runtime dependencies. Maintenance status is aging—last release was 2024-04-04 and the repository shows no recent activity, though it remains archived=false and the package is marked Production/Stable.

License in practice: MIT License (permissive) means you can use, modify, and distribute this package freely in commercial and private projects with minimal restrictions.

Quickstart:

from pipe import where, take_while
from itertools import count

result = sum(count() | where(lambda x: x % 2 == 0) | take_while(lambda x: x < 100))

Requires Python 3.8 or later.

Verify before relying:

- Whether the package is actively maintained or in maintenance-only mode (last commit 2025-03-23 but no recent releases).
- Performance characteristics when chaining many pipes or working with very large iterables.
- Compatibility with third-party libraries that may override or conflict with the `|` operator.

## Package facts

- License: MIT License (permissive)
- Python support: supports_current
- Install friction: low
- Maintenance: aging
- Downloads: 111.2K/month (top 15,000 on PyPI)
- Known vulnerabilities: none known

## Tags

infix operator chaining iterables, lazy evaluation pipeline syntax, functional composition with pipes, shell-like data transformation, iterable stream processing, filter map chain operations, python pipe operator syntax, functional-programming, data-pipeline, lazy-evaluation

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