---
id: pytest-sugar
version: "1.1.1"
license: BSD
license_treatment: permissive
maintenance: aging
---

# pytest-sugar — pytest-sugar is a plugin for pytest that changes the default look and feel of pytest (e.g. progressbar, show tests that fail instantly).

License: permissive · Maintenance: aging · Downloads: 8.2M/mo

## What it is and what it does

pytest-sugar is a pytest plugin that replaces the default test output with a more visually appealing and informative display. It adds a progress bar, shows test failures and errors instantly rather than waiting for the full run to complete, and uses colored output to make results easier to scan. The plugin activates automatically once installed and requires only pytest and termcolor as dependencies.

It's designed for developers who run tests frequently and want faster feedback during development. The plugin supports command-line options to customize behavior—such as forcing output in non-interactive environments (CI systems) and integrating with Playwright trace files—and can be disabled on a per-run basis if needed. It works across Windows, macOS, and POSIX systems.

Use it for:

- Local test development: run pytest normally and get instant visual feedback on failures as they occur
- CI/CD pipelines: use --force-sugar to ensure colored progress output in non-interactive environments
- Debugging test suites: see which tests fail immediately rather than waiting for the full suite to complete
- Playwright integration: automatically detect and display Playwright trace files stored in test-results or a custom directory
- Verbose test reporting: use pytest --verbose with pytest-sugar for one-test-per-line output with better formatting

## Worth the install?

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

A pytest plugin that improves test output with a progress bar, instant failure display, and better formatting of results.

Yes, if you run pytest frequently and want better visual feedback. The plugin is low-friction to install, has no notable security issues, and uses a permissive license. However, the 356-day gap since the last release suggests the project is aging; verify that it remains compatible with your pytest and Python versions before relying on it in production CI systems.

## Install

pip install pytest-sugar
uv add pytest-sugar
poetry add pytest-sugar

## Installing pytest-sugar

Before you install: Low friction: pure Python wheel with only pytest and termcolor as runtime dependencies. Maintenance shows aging status—last release 356 days ago—but the repository remains active and the project has been stable since its 2013 inception.

License in practice: BSD license is permissive; you can use, modify, and distribute this package freely in commercial and private projects with minimal restrictions.

Quickstart:

pip install pytest-sugar
pytest
# Plugin activates automatically; use 'pytest -p no:sugar' to disable

Verify before relying:

- Whether the 356-day gap since last release indicates active maintenance or dormancy relative to pytest's release cadence
- Compatibility with pytest versions newer than 6.2 and Python 3.13+ in practice

## Package facts

- License: BSD (permissive)
- Python support: unspecified
- Install friction: low
- Maintenance: aging
- Downloads: 8.2M/month (top 5,000 on PyPI)
- Known vulnerabilities: none known

## Tags

pytest output formatting, test progress bar, pytest plugin visual, better pytest output, test failure display, pytest colored output, test result formatting, pytest-plugin, test-output, cli-enhancement

[View on SkillFed](https://skillfed.io/packages/pytest-sugar) · [View on PyPI](https://pypi.org/project/pytest-sugar/)