pyhocon
HOCON parser for Python
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
Yes, if you need to parse HOCON configuration files in Python. The package is actively maintained, has no known vulnerabilities, and covers the HOCON spec well. Install friction is moderate due to source-only distribution, but this is a one-time setup cost. The permissive Apache 2.0 license poses no restrictions for most use cases.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- Installation from source; a C compiler or build tools may be required depending on your system.
- High install friction due to source distribution only (no wheels).
- The package is actively maintained with a recent release and no known vulnerabilities, but installation may require a C compiler or build tools on some systems.
License · maintenance · safety
Apache License 2.0 (permissive) — Licensed under Apache License 2.0 (permissive), allowing use in commercial and proprietary projects with minimal restrictions beyond attribution and liability disclaimers.
last release 2026-03-20 (147 days) · last repo commit 2026-03-20 · 533 stars
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 4,899,029 downloads/mo, #2,207 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
pip install pyhocon
from pyhocon import ConfigFactory
conf = ConfigFactory.parse_file('config.conf')
host = conf.get_string('databases.mysql.host')
port = conf['databases.mysql.port']- Whether pyparsing version constraints exist or if any version of pyparsing works
- Performance characteristics when parsing large or deeply nested HOCON files
- Completeness of HOCON spec coverage beyond the documented differences (nanoseconds, months/years, m suffix)
What it is and what it does
pyhocon is a Python parser for HOCON, a configuration language that extends JSON with comments, variable substitution, includes, and a more human-friendly syntax. It reads HOCON files and returns them as nested Python dictionaries where values are automatically typed (strings, integers, booleans, lists, etc.) and can be accessed via dot-notation paths, dictionary keys, or typed getter methods like `get_string()` and `get_int()`.
The package handles HOCON's key features: environment variable substitution (e.g., `${HOME}`), file and URL includes with merge semantics, duration/period parsing, and conversion to JSON, YAML, or .properties formats via a command-line tool. It depends only on pyparsing for its parsing logic and has been actively maintained since 2015, supporting Python 3.7 through 3.12.
Use it for
- Loading application configuration from HOCON files with automatic type inference and environment variable substitution
- Converting HOCON config files to JSON, YAML, or .properties formats for use in other tools or languages
- Building configuration hierarchies with includes and merging, where one config file can include and override settings from another
- Accessing nested configuration values using dot-notation paths without manually navigating nested dictionaries
- Parsing duration and period values from configuration files into Python timedelta objects
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
Yes, if you need to parse HOCON configuration files in Python.
The package is actively maintained, has no known vulnerabilities, and covers the HOCON spec well. Install friction is moderate due to source-only distribution, but this is a one-time setup cost. The permissive Apache 2.0 license poses no restrictions for most use cases.
Install
pyhocon on PyPI
Before you install
High install friction due to source distribution only (no wheels). The package is actively maintained with a recent release and no known vulnerabilities, but installation may require a C compiler or build tools on some systems.
Installation from source; a C compiler or build tools may be required depending on your system.
License in practice
Licensed under Apache License 2.0 (permissive), allowing use in commercial and proprietary projects with minimal restrictions beyond attribution and liability disclaimers.
Quickstart
pip install pyhocon
from pyhocon import ConfigFactory
conf = ConfigFactory.parse_file('config.conf')
host = conf.get_string('databases.mysql.host')
port = conf['databases.mysql.port']Verify before relying
- Whether pyparsing version constraints exist or if any version of pyparsing works
- Performance characteristics when parsing large or deeply nested HOCON files
- Completeness of HOCON spec coverage beyond the documented differences (nanoseconds, months/years, m suffix)
Package facts
| License | Apache License 2.0 permissive |
| Python support | Not specified |
| Install friction | High. Source build required |
| Runtime dependencies | 1 packagepyparsing |
| Maintenance | Actively maintained 147 days since the last release |
| Last repo commit | |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 4,899,029 / month, #2,207 on PyPI 30-day window, as of 2026-08-14 |
| Known vulnerabilities | None known OSV.dev, checked 2026-08-14 |
| Classifiers | License :: OSI Approved :: Apache Software LicenseProgramming Language :: PythonProgramming Language :: Python :: 3Programming Language :: Python :: 3.10Programming Language :: Python :: 3.11Programming Language :: Python :: 3.12Programming Language :: Python :: 3.7Programming Language :: Python :: 3.8Programming Language :: Python :: 3.9Topic :: Software Development :: Libraries :: Python Modules |
Evidence: pyhocon-0.3.63.tar.gz
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