python-language-server

What it is and what it does

Python Language Server is an implementation of the Language Server Protocol for Python, designed to integrate with editors and IDEs to provide real-time code intelligence. It uses Jedi as its core engine to deliver completions, definitions, hover information, references, signature help, and symbol navigation. The package also supports optional linting and formatting providers that can be installed as extras to extend functionality.

The server is configured through standard Python tool configuration files and allows per-workspace overrides. It is primarily intended for use by LSP clients (such as VS Code extensions or other editors) rather than as a standalone tool. The package has 7 core runtime dependencies and supports a plugin architecture for third-party extensions.

Use it for:

• Integrate Python code intelligence into VS Code or other LSP-compatible editors via the Language Server Protocol
• Provide code completion and navigation for Python projects in custom editor implementations or language-agnostic IDEs
• Enable linting and style checking across a team by centralizing Python analysis through a single server instance
• Add Python code formatting and refactoring capabilities to editors that support LSP
• Extend editor functionality with optional providers via third-party plugins

Worth the install?

AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying

Implements the Language Server Protocol for Python, providing code completion, linting, formatting, and navigation features for editor integration.

Yes, if you are building or configuring an LSP-compatible editor or IDE and need Python language support. The package is actively maintained, has low install friction, and integrates cleanly with standard Python tooling. However, verify current Python version compatibility before use, as the latest release is from 2020-12-11 and Python 2 support is obsolete. Not suitable for direct command-line use—it requires an LSP client.

Install

python-language-server on PyPI

pip install python-language-server

uv add python-language-server

poetry add python-language-server

Installing python-language-server

Before you install

Low friction installation with a pure-Python wheel distribution. Actively maintained with recent commits; 7 runtime dependencies are all lightweight and widely available. Optional providers can be installed via extras syntax.

License in practice

License treatment is unclear in the metadata, though the description states the project is made available under the MIT License. Verify the actual license terms before use in proprietary or restricted contexts.

Quickstart

pip install python-language-server

import jedi

# Jedi provides completions, definitions, hover, references, signature help, and symbols

Intended for integration with an LSP client (editor or IDE), not standalone use.

Verify before relying

• Current Python version compatibility beyond the stated 2.7 and 3.5+ (Python 2 is EOL; actual modern support unclear)
• Whether the package is actively maintained for new Python versions given the latest release was 2020-12-11
• Performance characteristics with large codebases or complex projects
• How optional providers (Rope, Pyflakes, McCabe, pycodestyle, pydocstyle, autopep8, YAPF) affect functionality when not installed

Package facts

Evidence: python_language_server-0.36.2-py2.py3-none-any.whl

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