---
id: pytest-astropy
version: "0.12.0"
license: BSD
license_treatment: permissive
maintenance: active
---

# pytest-astropy — Meta-package containing dependencies for testing

License: permissive · Maintenance: active · Downloads: 303.7K/mo

## What it is and what it does

pytest-astropy is a meta-package that installs a curated collection of pytest plugins and testing libraries in one go. Rather than managing individual pytest extensions separately, you install pytest-astropy and get pytest itself, plus plugins for remote data handling, advanced doctesting, array comparison, test filtering, coverage measurement, mocking, slow test marking, and the hypothesis property-based testing library.

It's designed primarily for Astropy and its affiliated packages but works for any Python project. The package is actively maintained, supports Python 3.8 through 3.12, and carries no known security vulnerabilities. Installation is straightforward via pip with low friction.

Use it for:

- Set up a complete testing environment for an Astropy-affiliated package without manually specifying each pytest plugin.
- Add property-based testing via hypothesis to an existing pytest suite alongside standard unit tests.
- Enable remote data file testing and docstring example verification in scientific Python projects.
- Measure test coverage and filter tests by subpackage in a single unified configuration.
- Standardize testing practices across multiple related Python packages by using the same plugin bundle.

## Worth the install?

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

A meta-package that bundles pytest plugins and testing libraries used by Astropy and affiliated packages, providing a unified testing toolkit for Python projects.

Yes. This is a low-friction, actively maintained meta-package with no security issues and broad Python version support. Install it if you're working with Astropy, affiliated packages, or any project that would benefit from the bundled testing plugins. The only caveat is verifying that all 10 bundled dependencies align with your project's needs—if you only need a subset, installing individual plugins may be lighter.

## Install

pip install pytest-astropy
uv add pytest-astropy
poetry add pytest-astropy

## Installing pytest-astropy

Before you install: Low friction install with a wheel distribution. Actively maintained with a recent release 11 days ago and an active repository.

License in practice: Licensed under BSD (permissive), allowing use in most projects without significant restrictions.

Quickstart:

pip install pytest-astropy

Then in your test file:
import pytest
# Your tests automatically gain access to all bundled pytest plugins

Requires Python 3.8 or later.

Verify before relying:

- Whether the bundled plugins work well together in all use cases or if conflicts can arise between them.
- Performance impact of loading all 10 runtime dependencies for projects that only need a subset.

## Package facts

- License: BSD (permissive)
- Python support: supports_current
- Install friction: low
- Maintenance: active
- Downloads: 303.7K/month (top 15,000 on PyPI)
- Known vulnerabilities: none known

## Tags

pytest plugins bundle, astropy testing setup, pytest testing framework collection, property-based testing with hypothesis, remote data testing pytest, doctest advanced testing, test coverage and mocking, pytest-plugins, testing-toolkit, astropy-ecosystem

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