---
id: sqlean-py
version: "3.50.4.5"
license: zlib/libpng
license_treatment: permissive
maintenance: abandoned
---

# sqlean.py — sqlite3 with extensions

License: permissive · Maintenance: abandoned · Downloads: 1.2M/mo

## What it is and what it does

sqlean.py wraps SQLite with a collection of optional extensions that add domain-specific SQL functions. It maintains full API compatibility with Python's standard sqlite3 module, so you can use it as a direct replacement without rewriting connection or query code. The extensions—covering cryptography, fuzzy matching, statistics, regex, file I/O, IP address handling, and more—are disabled by default but can be enabled globally or selectively before opening a connection.

The package is distributed as precompiled wheels for Linux and macOS, making installation straightforward on those platforms. However, the repository is archived and no longer maintained, which means bug fixes and compatibility updates with future Python or SQLite versions are unlikely. The codebase is based on pysqlite3 and is available under a permissive zlib license.

Use it for:

- Add statistical functions (median, percentiles) to SQLite queries without external dependencies.
- Perform fuzzy string matching and phonetic searches directly in SQL.
- Hash and encode data using crypto functions within SQL expressions.
- Parse and manipulate IP addresses as part of SQL queries.
- Read and write files from SQL using fileio extension functions.

## Worth the install?

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

A drop-in replacement for Python's sqlite3 module that bundles sqlean extensions, adding cryptography, fuzzy matching, statistics, regex, file I/O, and other SQL functions directly into SQLite.

Yes, if you are on Linux or macOS and need sqlean extensions in a Python SQLite environment. The permissive license and zero runtime dependencies make it low-risk. However, the abandoned repository status means you should not rely on it for long-term production systems expecting active maintenance or future Python compatibility patches. Windows users will need to build from source.

## Install

pip install sqlean-py
uv add sqlean-py
poetry add sqlean-py

## Installing sqlean.py

Before you install: Medium install friction due to compiled wheels; prebuilt binaries available for Linux and macOS (x86_64/aarch64) but not Windows. Repository is archived and marked abandoned as of the fact sheet date, with no active maintenance.

License in practice: Licensed under zlib/libpng (permissive), allowing use in commercial and proprietary projects with minimal restrictions.

Quickstart:

pip install sqlean.py

import sqlean
sqlean.extensions.enable_all()
conn = sqlean.connect(":memory:")
result = conn.execute("select median(value) from generate_series(1, 99)").fetchone()
conn.close()

No Windows wheels available; requires Python 3.9 or later; requires manual build on unsupported platforms.

Verify before relying:

- Whether the abandoned status affects long-term compatibility with future Python or SQLite versions.
- Whether the 293 days since last release indicates sufficient stability or potential staleness for production use.

## Package facts

- License: zlib/libpng (permissive)
- Python support: supports_current
- Install friction: medium
- Maintenance: abandoned
- Downloads: 1.2M/month (top 5,000 on PyPI)
- Known vulnerabilities: none known

## Tags

sqlite3 extensions, sqlean python wrapper, sqlite with crypto functions, fuzzy string matching sql, sqlite statistics functions, sqlite-extensions, cryptography, fuzzy-matching

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