pylint
python code static checker
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
Yes. Pylint is a mature, actively maintained static analyzer with no known vulnerabilities, low install friction, and broad Python version support. The copyleft license is standard for development tools and rarely problematic. Install it if you need thorough code analysis with inference-based bug detection; if speed is critical, consider pairing it with faster linters like ruff for complementary checks.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- Requires Python 3.10.0 or above.
- Low install friction with a pure-Python wheel distribution.
- Actively maintained with a release 5 days ago and ongoing commits.
License · maintenance · safety
GPL-2.0-or-later (copyleft) — Pylint is licensed under GPL-2.0-or-later (copyleft). This means any code that links to or distributes pylint must comply with GPL terms—typically acceptable for development tools but requires review if you plan to redistribute or embed it in proprietary software.
last release 2026-08-09 (5 days) · last repo commit 2026-08-13 · 5,712 stars
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 69,022,381 downloads/mo, #476 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
pip install pylint
pylint your_module.py- Performance characteristics and typical analysis time for large codebases.
- Whether the inference engine (astroid) significantly impacts runtime on typical projects.
- Availability and maturity of plugins for popular frameworks beyond those mentioned.
What it is and what it does
Pylint analyzes Python code statically—without running it—to identify errors, style violations, code smells, and refactoring opportunities. It uses an internal code representation (astroid) to infer actual values and detect issues that simpler linters might miss, such as recognizing that `import logging as argparse` makes `argparse.error()` actually a logging call. This inference-based approach makes pylint more thorough but slower than some alternatives.
The tool is highly configurable and supports plugins for framework-specific and custom checks. It ships with pyreverse (for generating package and class diagrams) and symilar (a duplicate code finder). Pylint is mature, actively maintained, and widely used in production; it supports Python 3.10 and above, with both CPython and PyPy implementations.
Use it for
- Enforce consistent coding standards across a team or legacy project by starting with --errors-only and progressively enabling additional checks.
- Detect subtle bugs in untyped or partially typed Python code through astroid's value inference.
- Generate package and class diagrams using the included pyreverse tool.
- Find duplicate code blocks in a codebase using the integrated symilar tool.
- Integrate code quality checks into CI/CD pipelines to catch issues before merge.
- Extend linting rules for internal libraries or frameworks via custom plugins.
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
Yes.
Pylint is a mature, actively maintained static analyzer with no known vulnerabilities, low install friction, and broad Python version support. The copyleft license is standard for development tools and rarely problematic. Install it if you need thorough code analysis with inference-based bug detection; if speed is critical, consider pairing it with faster linters like ruff for complementary checks.
Install
pylint on PyPI
Before you install
Low install friction with a pure-Python wheel distribution. Actively maintained with a release 5 days ago and ongoing commits. Nine runtime dependencies are all well-established Python packages, posing minimal compatibility risk.
Requires Python 3.10.0 or above.
License in practice
Pylint is licensed under GPL-2.0-or-later (copyleft). This means any code that links to or distributes pylint must comply with GPL terms—typically acceptable for development tools but requires review if you plan to redistribute or embed it in proprietary software.
Quickstart
pip install pylint
pylint your_module.pyVerify before relying
- Performance characteristics and typical analysis time for large codebases.
- Whether the inference engine (astroid) significantly impacts runtime on typical projects.
- Availability and maturity of plugins for popular frameworks beyond those mentioned.
Package facts
| License | GPL-2.0-or-later copyleft |
| Python support | Supports the current Python release >=3.10.0 |
| Install friction | Low. Pure-Python wheel |
| Runtime dependencies | 9 packagesastroidcoloramadillisortmccabeplatformdirstomlitomlkittyping-extensions |
| Maintenance | Actively maintained 5 days since the last release |
| Last repo commit | |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 69,022,381 / month, #476 on PyPI 30-day window, as of 2026-08-14 |
| Known vulnerabilities | None known OSV.dev, checked 2026-08-14 |
| Classifiers | Development Status :: 6 - MatureEnvironment :: ConsoleIntended Audience :: DevelopersOperating System :: OS IndependentProgramming Language :: PythonProgramming Language :: Python :: 3 :: OnlyProgramming Language :: Python :: 3.10Programming Language :: Python :: 3.11Programming Language :: Python :: 3.12Programming Language :: Python :: 3.13Programming Language :: Python :: 3.14Programming Language :: Python :: Implementation :: CPythonProgramming Language :: Python :: Implementation :: PyPyTopic :: Software Development :: DebuggersTopic :: Software Development :: Quality AssuranceTopic :: Software Development :: TestingTyping :: Typed |
Evidence: pylint-4.0.7-py3-none-any.whl
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See also pylint-django · pylint-flask · pylint-plugin-utils · pylibyear · astroid · pylint-pydantic · prospector · pyre-check · basedpyright