---
id: sphinx-press-theme
version: "0.9.1"
license: MIT
license_treatment: permissive
maintenance: dormant
---

# sphinx-press-theme — A Sphinx-doc theme based on Vuepress

License: permissive · Maintenance: dormant · Downloads: 158.5K/mo

## What it is and what it does

sphinx_press_theme is a Sphinx documentation theme that applies a modern, responsive design inspired by VuePress to your Python documentation. It replaces Sphinx's default HTML output with a contemporary layout built on Vue.js and Stylus, managed through Vite. The theme is a pure Python package with only sphinx as a runtime dependency, making it straightforward to install and configure by setting `html_theme = "press"` in your Sphinx `conf.py`.

The project has been in beta since its first release on 2018-08-06 and is currently dormant—the author lacks time to maintain it and has publicly sought new maintainers. While it supports Sphinx 7.X in its latest version (0.9.1) and has accumulated 120 GitHub stars, the 874-day gap since the last release means it may not account for recent changes in Sphinx or the JavaScript ecosystem it depends on.

Use it for:

- Apply a modern, Vue.js-inspired visual design to Python project documentation without writing custom theme CSS.
- Migrate from Sphinx's default theme to a responsive layout that works well on mobile and desktop browsers.
- Build documentation for projects targeting developers who expect contemporary web design in their docs.
- Use a lightweight theme alternative when you want Sphinx's power but not the default aesthetic.

## Worth the install?

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

A modern, responsive Sphinx documentation theme based on VuePress that renders Sphinx projects with a contemporary design using Vue.js and Stylus.

Yes, with conditions. The theme is permissive-licensed, installs cleanly, and delivers a modern design for Sphinx docs. However, install only if you can tolerate dormant maintenance: the 874-day gap since the last release and the author's public call for maintainers mean bug fixes and Sphinx compatibility updates are unlikely. Verify compatibility with your Sphinx version before committing to production use.

## Install

pip install sphinx-press-theme
uv add sphinx-press-theme
poetry add sphinx-press-theme

## Installing sphinx-press-theme

Before you install: Low install friction with a single runtime dependency (sphinx). However, the project is dormant—last release was 874 days ago and the author explicitly sought maintainers in the README. No recent updates or active maintenance signal.

License in practice: MIT license is permissive; you can use, modify, and distribute this theme freely with minimal restrictions.

Quickstart:

pip install sphinx_press_theme

In conf.py:
html_theme = "press"

Verify before relying:

- Whether the theme works reliably with current Sphinx 7.X versions despite the long dormancy period.
- Status of any breaking changes in Sphinx or Vue.js ecosystem since last release that might affect theme rendering.
- Whether community forks or maintained alternatives have emerged given the stated lack of active maintainer.

## Package facts

- License: MIT (permissive)
- Python support: unspecified
- Install friction: low
- Maintenance: dormant
- Downloads: 158.5K/month (top 15,000 on PyPI)
- Known vulnerabilities: none known

## Tags

sphinx theme modern responsive, sphinx documentation styling, vuejs sphinx theme, sphinx html theme, sphinx press theme, sphinx doc generator theme, responsive sphinx docs, sphinx-theme, documentation-styling, dormant-maintenance

[View on SkillFed](https://skillfed.io/packages/sphinx-press-theme) · [View on PyPI](https://pypi.org/project/sphinx-press-theme/)