---
id: scour
version: "0.38.2"
license: Apache License 2.0
license_treatment: permissive
maintenance: dormant
---

# scour — Scour SVG Optimizer

License: permissive · Maintenance: dormant · Downloads: 135.7K/mo

## What it is and what it does

Scour is an SVG optimizer designed to reduce file size by removing redundant information typically introduced by SVG editors. It works by analyzing the structure of SVG files and stripping unnecessary data while keeping the visual output identical. The tool is primarily used as a command-line utility and can be integrated into build pipelines or used standalone for one-off optimization tasks.

The package has been stable since its 2013 release and is classified as Production/Stable. However, it has not received a new release since 2020-11-22, making it dormant in terms of active development. It carries no runtime dependencies and is intended for developers and system administrators who need to optimize SVG graphics for web deployment or further processing.

Use it for:

- Optimize SVG files for web deployment to reduce bandwidth and improve page load times.
- Clean up SVG exports from design tools before publishing or sharing graphics.
- Integrate SVG optimization into build pipelines as a preprocessing step.
- Reduce file size of vector graphics for embedded or resource-constrained environments.
- Prepare SVG files for further processing or conversion by removing editor-specific metadata.

## Worth the install?

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

Scour optimizes and cleans SVG files by removing redundant data and simplifying structure, reducing file size while preserving visual output.

Yes, if you need a stable, dependency-free SVG optimizer for established workflows. The package is mature and carries no known vulnerabilities. However, the dormant status (no release since 2020-11-22) means it will not receive updates for new Python versions or SVG specification changes. Install only if your SVG optimization needs are stable and you do not require ongoing maintenance or support.

## Install

pip install scour
uv add scour
poetry add scour

## Installing scour

Before you install: High install friction with no runtime dependencies. The package is dormant—last release was 2020-11-22, over 2091 days ago, though the repository remains active with a recent commit on 2024-08-16. Suitable for stable, established workflows but not for projects requiring ongoing maintenance or updates.

License in practice: Licensed under Apache License 2.0 (permissive). You can use, modify, and distribute scour freely in commercial and private projects, provided you include the license notice.

Quickstart:

pip install scour==0.38.2

scour -i input.svg -o output.svg

Scour is a command-line tool; no Python version requirement is specified in the package metadata.

Verify before relying:

- Whether scour works with modern Python versions (3.10+) despite no explicit version constraint in metadata.
- What 'high install friction' specifically means for this package (compiled dependencies, system requirements, or other barriers).

## Package facts

- License: Apache License 2.0 (permissive)
- Python support: unspecified
- Install friction: high
- Maintenance: dormant
- Downloads: 135.7K/month (top 15,000 on PyPI)
- Known vulnerabilities: none known

## Tags

svg optimizer, svg minifier, reduce svg file size, svg cleaner, svg compression, vector graphic optimization, svg preprocessor, svg-optimization, cli-tool, graphics-processing

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