pybtex-docutils
A docutils backend for pybtex.
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
Yes, if you need BibTeX citations in pure docutils workflows. Install friction is low and the license is permissive. However, maintenance is aging (last release 1088 days ago); verify compatibility with your docutils version before relying on it in production.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- You must write a custom command script to register the directive; docutils does not provide a built-in extension mechanism.
- Low install friction with two straightforward dependencies.
- Maintenance is aging—last release was 1088 days ago, though the repository remains active with a recent commit and not archived.
License · maintenance · safety
MIT (permissive) — MIT license permits unrestricted use, modification, and distribution with minimal legal constraints.
last release 2023-08-22 (1088 days) · last repo commit 2026-02-02 · 1 stars
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 884,450 downloads/mo, #4,814 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
pip install pybtex-docutils
from docutils.parsers.rst import directives
from docutils.core import publish_cmdline
from pybtex_docutils import SimpleBibliography
directives.register_directive("simplebibliography", SimpleBibliography)
publish_cmdline(writer_name='html5')- Whether the package works reliably with docutils versions released after August 2023
- Performance characteristics with large bibliography files or complex citation schemes
What it is and what it does
pybtex-docutils is a docutils backend that allows BibTeX bibliography files to be processed and rendered as citations within reStructuredText documents. It exposes a simplebibliography directive that generates formatted citations for every entry in a specified .bib file, placing them at the document location you choose. The package is designed for straightforward single-document workflows that do not require Sphinx; for Sphinx projects, the documentation recommends using sphinxcontrib-bibtex instead.
The package depends on docutils and pybtex, and requires you to write a custom command script to register the directive with docutils. Citation keys from your .bib file become the labels in your document, with the constraint that keys cannot contain colons to remain valid docutils citation labels.
Use it for
- Generate bibliographies in standalone reStructuredText documents without Sphinx infrastructure
- Render BibTeX citations in simple documentation projects that use docutils directly
- Convert academic papers or technical reports written in reStructuredText with BibTeX references to HTML
- Add citation support to custom docutils-based documentation pipelines
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
Yes, if you need BibTeX citations in pure docutils workflows.
Install friction is low and the license is permissive. However, maintenance is aging (last release 1088 days ago); verify compatibility with your docutils version before relying on it in production.
Install
pybtex-docutils on PyPI
Before you install
Low install friction with two straightforward dependencies. Maintenance is aging—last release was 1088 days ago, though the repository remains active with a recent commit and not archived.
You must write a custom command script to register the directive; docutils does not provide a built-in extension mechanism.
License in practice
MIT license permits unrestricted use, modification, and distribution with minimal legal constraints.
Quickstart
pip install pybtex-docutils
from docutils.parsers.rst import directives
from docutils.core import publish_cmdline
from pybtex_docutils import SimpleBibliography
directives.register_directive("simplebibliography", SimpleBibliography)
publish_cmdline(writer_name='html5')Verify before relying
- Whether the package works reliably with docutils versions released after August 2023
- Performance characteristics with large bibliography files or complex citation schemes
Package facts
| License | MIT permissive |
| Python support | Supports the current Python release >=3.7 |
| Install friction | Low. Pure-Python wheel |
| Runtime dependencies | 2 packagesdocutilspybtex |
| Maintenance | Aging 1,088 days since the last release |
| Last repo commit | |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 884,450 / month, #4,814 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 :: PythonProgramming Language :: Python :: 3Programming Language :: Python :: 3.10Programming Language :: Python :: 3.11Programming Language :: Python :: 3.7Programming Language :: Python :: 3.8Programming Language :: Python :: 3.9Topic :: Text Editors :: Text ProcessingTopic :: Text Processing :: Markup :: XML |
Evidence: pybtex_docutils-1.0.3-py3-none-any.whl
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