pycodestyle
Python style guide checker
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
Yes. pycodestyle is a stable, lightweight PEP 8 checker with no dependencies, permissive licensing, and broad Python support. Aging maintenance (420 days since release) is not a blocker for a mature style-checking tool with no known vulnerabilities. Install if you need straightforward PEP 8 compliance checking; consider alternatives if you want a more feature-rich linter or active development.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- Requires Python 3.9 or later.
- Low install friction with no runtime dependencies.
- Maintenance status is aging (420 days since last release), though the package is marked Production/Stable and supports current Python versions (>=3.9).
License · maintenance · safety
MIT (permissive) — MIT license is permissive, allowing use in commercial and open-source projects with minimal restrictions.
last release 2025-06-20 (420 days)
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 89,218,710 downloads/mo, #379 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
$ pip install pycodestyle
$ pycodestyle myfile.py
myfile.py:69:11: E401 multiple imports on one line- Whether the aging maintenance status (420 days since release) reflects active maintenance or dormancy in a stable, mature tool.
What it is and what it does
pycodestyle is a command-line tool that scans Python source files and reports violations of PEP 8 style conventions. It was formerly called pep8 but was renamed to reduce confusion. The tool works as a standalone checker with no external dependencies beyond the Python standard library, making it lightweight and easy to integrate into development workflows.
The package provides parseable output that identifies style issues by file, line, and column, enabling direct navigation to errors in editors. It includes a plugin architecture for adding custom checks and comes with a comprehensive test suite. Common use cases include linting individual files, scanning entire codebases for statistics, and integrating style checking into CI/CD pipelines or pre-commit hooks.
Use it for
- Lint individual Python files to catch PEP 8 violations before committing code.
- Scan entire project directories and generate statistics on the most common style violations.
- Integrate into CI/CD pipelines to enforce style consistency across a team's codebase.
- Use as a pre-commit hook to automatically check staged files for style compliance.
- Display source code and PEP 8 guidance alongside errors for developer education.
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
Yes.
pycodestyle is a stable, lightweight PEP 8 checker with no dependencies, permissive licensing, and broad Python support. Aging maintenance (420 days since release) is not a blocker for a mature style-checking tool with no known vulnerabilities. Install if you need straightforward PEP 8 compliance checking; consider alternatives if you want a more feature-rich linter or active development.
Install
pycodestyle on PyPI
Before you install
Low install friction with no runtime dependencies. Maintenance status is aging (420 days since last release), though the package is marked Production/Stable and supports current Python versions (>=3.9).
Requires Python 3.9 or later.
License in practice
MIT license is permissive, allowing use in commercial and open-source projects with minimal restrictions.
Quickstart
$ pip install pycodestyle
$ pycodestyle myfile.py
myfile.py:69:11: E401 multiple imports on one lineVerify before relying
- Whether the aging maintenance status (420 days since release) reflects active maintenance or dormancy in a stable, mature tool.
Package facts
| License | MIT permissive |
| Python support | Supports the current Python release >=3.9 |
| Install friction | Low. Pure-Python wheel |
| Runtime dependencies | None |
| Maintenance | Aging 420 days since the last release |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 89,218,710 / month, #379 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 :: DevelopersOperating System :: OS IndependentProgramming Language :: PythonProgramming Language :: Python :: 3Programming Language :: Python :: 3 :: OnlyProgramming Language :: Python :: Implementation :: CPythonProgramming Language :: Python :: Implementation :: PyPyTopic :: Software Development :: Libraries :: Python Modules |
Evidence: pycodestyle-2.14.0-py2.py3-none-any.whl
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See also autopep8 · bashate · pep8 · pytest-pep8 · flake8 · pydocstyle · black · reuters-style · pep8-naming · pylama