---
id: python-lsp-server
version: "1.15.0"
license: MIT
license_treatment: permissive
maintenance: active
---

# python-lsp-server — Python Language Server for the Language Server Protocol

License: permissive · Maintenance: active · Downloads: 1.5M/mo

## What it is and what it does

Python LSP Server is a Language Server Protocol implementation that bridges Python development tools and editors. It exposes a `pylsp` command-line server that listens for LSP requests from editors and IDEs, providing code intelligence features like completion, definition lookup, hover information, linting, and formatting. The server requires Jedi as its core dependency for semantic analysis and can optionally integrate with tools like flake8, pylint, black, yapf, and others when installed.

The package is designed for editor integration rather than direct use by end developers. It runs as a background process that your editor connects to, translating between the editor's requests and Python analysis tools. Configuration flows from the editor client, workspace settings, and user home directory in a layered override pattern. It supports both stdio and WebSocket communication modes, making it flexible for different editor architectures and remote development scenarios.

Use it for:

- Enable code completion and symbol navigation in editors that support LSP but lack native Python support
- Provide unified linting and formatting across multiple Python tools (flake8, pylint, black) through a single server interface
- Support remote Python development by running the server on a remote machine and connecting via WebSocket
- Integrate Python code analysis into custom development tools or build systems that speak the LSP protocol
- Detect and report code style issues and complexity metrics in real-time as developers write code

## Worth the install?

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

Implements the Language Server Protocol for Python, providing code completion, linting, formatting, and navigation features to editors and IDEs through a standardized server interface.

Yes. This is a mature, actively maintained implementation of a standard protocol with low install friction and no security vulnerabilities. Install it if you need LSP-based Python tooling integration in an editor or IDE, or if you are building a tool that needs to speak LSP for Python analysis. The permissive MIT license and broad optional provider support make it suitable for both open-source and commercial use.

## Install

pip install python-lsp-server
uv add python-lsp-server
poetry add python-lsp-server

## Installing python-lsp-server

Before you install: Low friction install via wheel distribution. Actively maintained with recent releases; 2592 repository stars and active development signal. Requires Python 3.9+. Seven runtime dependencies are all well-established packages; optional providers (flake8, pylint, yapf, black, etc.) can be added via extras syntax.

License in practice: MIT license permits commercial and private use with minimal restrictions. No copyleft obligations or proprietary constraints.

Quickstart:

pip install python-lsp-server
pylsp --help

# In your editor/IDE, configure LSP client to connect to pylsp server
# Basic usage: pylsp listens on stdio or network socket for LSP requests

Requires Python 3.9 or later. Jedi is a required runtime dependency for core completion and navigation features.

Verify before relying:

- Performance characteristics when handling large Python projects or workspaces
- Compatibility matrix with specific editor/IDE LSP client implementations
- Memory footprint and resource usage under typical development workloads

## Package facts

- License: MIT (permissive)
- Python support: supports_current
- Install friction: low
- Maintenance: active
- Downloads: 1.5M/month (top 5,000 on PyPI)
- Known vulnerabilities: none known

## Tags

language server protocol python, lsp server python editor, python code completion server, python linting server, pylsp language server, python ide integration, code navigation python server, language-server-protocol, editor-integration, code-analysis

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