remote-pdb
Remote vanilla PDB (over TCP sockets) *done right*: no extras, proper handling around connection failures and CI. Based on `pdbx <https://pypi.python.org/pypi/pdbx>`_.
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
Yes, if you need remote debugging and accept the maintenance risk. The package is stable, has no dependencies, and solves a specific problem well—but it has been abandoned since 2020 and will not be updated for new Python versions or security issues. Use it for development and testing, not production-critical workflows, and monitor your Python version compatibility yourself.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- Requires a way to connect to the listening socket (telnet, netcat, or socat).
- In containers, the port must be mapped and the host set to 0.0.0.0, not localhost.
- Installation is frictionless (pure Python wheel, no runtime dependencies), but the package is abandoned—last release was 2020-07-24 and last commit 2022-10-24.
License · maintenance · safety
BSD-2-Clause (permissive) — BSD-2-Clause is permissive and imposes minimal restrictions; you can use, modify, and distribute this package freely in commercial and private projects with only attribution and liability disclaimer required.
last release 2020-07-24 (2212 days) · last repo commit 2022-10-24 · 305 stars
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 823,776 downloads/mo, #4,965 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
pip install remote-pdb
from remote_pdb import set_trace
set_trace() # logs the port; connect via: telnet 127.0.0.1 <port>
# Or with explicit host/port:
from remote_pdb import RemotePdb
RemotePdb('127.0.0.1', 4444).set_trace()- Whether the package works reliably on Python versions beyond 3.8 (classifiers list up to 3.8, but requires_python allows current versions; actual compatibility untested).
- Whether readline issues on macOS (mentioned in docs) remain present or have been resolved in modern Python.
What it is and what it does
remote-pdb is a minimal wrapper around Python's standard pdb debugger that listens on a TCP socket, allowing you to attach a debugger session from a remote machine using telnet, netcat, or socat. You embed a call to set_trace() in your code or use the PYTHONBREAKPOINT environment variable to trigger it; the debugger then waits for an incoming connection on a specified host and port. It handles the socket plumbing and connection lifecycle so you don't have to.
The package has no runtime dependencies and installs as a pure Python wheel. It supports Python 2.7 through 3.8 (and PyPy) according to its classifiers, though the project is no longer maintained. It's useful for debugging applications running in containers, CI environments, or other contexts where you can't easily attach a local debugger, but you should be aware that you'll receive no updates for compatibility issues or security concerns.
Use it for
- Debug a Python application running inside a Docker container by mapping the debug port and connecting from your host machine.
- Troubleshoot a long-running background process or daemon without stopping it, by inserting set_trace() and connecting over the network.
- Diagnose failures in CI/CD pipelines where interactive debugging is normally impossible, by opening a remote session on demand.
- Attach a debugger to a production process (with caution) when local debugging tools are unavailable or impractical.
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
Yes, if you need remote debugging and accept the maintenance risk.
The package is stable, has no dependencies, and solves a specific problem well—but it has been abandoned since 2020 and will not be updated for new Python versions or security issues. Use it for development and testing, not production-critical workflows, and monitor your Python version compatibility yourself.
Install
remote-pdb on PyPI
Before you install
Installation is frictionless (pure Python wheel, no runtime dependencies), but the package is abandoned—last release was 2020-07-24 and last commit 2022-10-24. It remains stable for its narrow scope, but you'll receive no updates for new Python versions or security issues.
Requires a way to connect to the listening socket (telnet, netcat, or socat). In containers, the port must be mapped and the host set to 0.0.0.0, not localhost.
License in practice
BSD-2-Clause is permissive and imposes minimal restrictions; you can use, modify, and distribute this package freely in commercial and private projects with only attribution and liability disclaimer required.
Quickstart
pip install remote-pdb
from remote_pdb import set_trace
set_trace() # logs the port; connect via: telnet 127.0.0.1 <port>
# Or with explicit host/port:
from remote_pdb import RemotePdb
RemotePdb('127.0.0.1', 4444).set_trace()Verify before relying
- Whether the package works reliably on Python versions beyond 3.8 (classifiers list up to 3.8, but requires_python allows current versions; actual compatibility untested).
- Whether readline issues on macOS (mentioned in docs) remain present or have been resolved in modern Python.
Package facts
| License | BSD-2-Clause permissive |
| Python support | Supports the current Python release >=2.7, !=3.0.*, !=3.1.*, !=3.2.*, !=3.3.*, !=3.4.* |
| Install friction | Low. Pure-Python wheel |
| Runtime dependencies | None |
| Maintenance | Abandoned 2,212 days since the last release |
| Last repo commit | |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 823,776 / month, #4,965 on PyPI 30-day window, as of 2026-08-14 |
| Known vulnerabilities | None known OSV.dev, checked 2026-08-14 |
| Classifiers | Development Status :: 5 - Production/StableIntended Audience :: DevelopersLicense :: OSI Approved :: BSD LicenseOperating System :: Microsoft :: WindowsOperating System :: POSIXOperating System :: UnixProgramming Language :: PythonProgramming Language :: Python :: 2.7Programming Language :: Python :: 3Programming Language :: Python :: 3.5Programming Language :: Python :: 3.6Programming Language :: Python :: 3.7Programming Language :: Python :: 3.8Programming Language :: Python :: Implementation :: CPythonProgramming Language :: Python :: Implementation :: PyPyTopic :: Utilities |
Evidence: remote_pdb-2.1.0-py2.py3-none-any.whl
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See also debugpy · lauterbach-trace32-rcl · rpdb · web-pdb · pdb-attach · pdbr · ipdb · pdbp · flake8-debugger · pdbpp