redbaron
Abstraction on top of baron, a FST for python to make writing refactoring code a realistic task
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
Yes, if you need lossless code transformation and can tolerate alpha-stage software. The core concept is sound and the library has been stable for years, but the lack of maintenance means Python 3.7+ compatibility is uncertain and bugs may not be fixed. Suitable for internal tools or one-off scripts; risky for production systems or new projects requiring long-term support.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- The package supports Python 2 and up to Python 3.7 grammar; compatibility beyond 3.7 is not documented.
- Installation is straightforward with no runtime dependencies.
- However, the package is in alpha status and has been abandoned since its last release on 2019-03-17, so stability and compatibility with recent Python versions are concerns.
License · maintenance · safety
lgplv3+ (copyleft) — RedBaron is licensed under LGPLv3 (copyleft), which requires that derivative works and modifications remain under the same license. This is permissive for use but restrictive if you plan to redistribute modified versions.
last release 2019-03-17 (2707 days) · last repo commit 2022-01-29 · 725 stars
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 412,795 downloads/mo, #6,845 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
pip install redbaron
from redbaron import RedBaron
code = "def hello(): pass"
red = RedBaron(code)
functions = red.find_all("def")- Whether the package works correctly with Python versions beyond 3.7 despite being abandoned
- Current state of Baron dependency and whether it has received updates since RedBaron's last release
- Real-world stability and edge cases in production use given alpha status and lack of recent maintenance
What it is and what it does
RedBaron wraps Baron, a lossless abstract syntax tree (FST) for Python, to let you write code that modifies code. It guarantees that parsing and unparsing preserves the original source exactly, so you only change what you explicitly ask it to change. The API is inspired by BeautifulSoup, using intuitive navigation and query methods to find and transform nodes in the syntax tree.
You can use it to write custom refactoring tools, generic refactoring scripts, or interactively modify code in IPython without the limitations of text-based editors. The core is stable but the project is in alpha and has not been actively maintained since 2019, so it is not battle-tested for modern Python versions or edge cases.
Use it for
- Write automated refactoring scripts that safely transform Python source code while preserving formatting and comments.
- Build IDE plugins or code analysis tools that need to understand and modify Python syntax trees programmatically.
- Interactively explore and modify code in IPython using a higher-level abstraction than text manipulation.
- Implement code generation or template-based code transformation that must preserve original structure.
- Create linting or code quality tools that need to rewrite code based on syntax analysis.
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
Yes, if you need lossless code transformation and can tolerate alpha-stage software.
The core concept is sound and the library has been stable for years, but the lack of maintenance means Python 3.7+ compatibility is uncertain and bugs may not be fixed. Suitable for internal tools or one-off scripts; risky for production systems or new projects requiring long-term support.
Install
redbaron on PyPI
Before you install
Installation is straightforward with no runtime dependencies. However, the package is in alpha status and has been abandoned since its last release on 2019-03-17, so stability and compatibility with recent Python versions are concerns.
The package supports Python 2 and up to Python 3.7 grammar; compatibility beyond 3.7 is not documented.
License in practice
RedBaron is licensed under LGPLv3 (copyleft), which requires that derivative works and modifications remain under the same license. This is permissive for use but restrictive if you plan to redistribute modified versions.
Quickstart
pip install redbaron
from redbaron import RedBaron
code = "def hello(): pass"
red = RedBaron(code)
functions = red.find_all("def")Verify before relying
- Whether the package works correctly with Python versions beyond 3.7 despite being abandoned
- Current state of Baron dependency and whether it has received updates since RedBaron's last release
- Real-world stability and edge cases in production use given alpha status and lack of recent maintenance
Package facts
| License | lgplv3+ copyleft |
| Python support | Not specified |
| Install friction | Low. Pure-Python wheel |
| Runtime dependencies | None |
| Maintenance | Abandoned 2,707 days since the last release |
| Last repo commit | |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 412,795 / month, #6,845 on PyPI 30-day window, as of 2026-08-14 |
| Known vulnerabilities | None known OSV.dev, checked 2026-08-14 |
| Classifiers | Development Status :: 3 - AlphaIntended Audience :: DevelopersLicense :: OSI Approved :: GNU Lesser General Public License v3 (LGPLv3)Programming Language :: Python :: 2Programming Language :: Python :: 2.7Programming Language :: Python :: 3Programming Language :: Python :: 3.3Programming Language :: Python :: 3.4Topic :: Software DevelopmentTopic :: Software Development :: Code GeneratorsTopic :: Software Development :: Libraries |
Evidence: redbaron-0.9.2-py2.py3-none-any.whl
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See also baron · asttokens · bpython · google-pasta · rope · astor · tokenize-rt · jedi · openrewrite · untokenize