traceback2

Backports of the traceback module

traceback2 v1.4.0 1.5M downloads/30d#3,806 on PyPI★ 5

Permissive license UNKNOWN Abandoned released 2015-03-09

What it is and what it does

traceback2 is a backport of Python's standard traceback module designed to provide consistent exception formatting and manipulation across older Python versions (2.6–3.4). It allows code targeting legacy Python environments to use a unified traceback API rather than dealing with version-specific differences in the standard library.

The package has no runtime dependencies and installs cleanly, but it is no longer maintained. The repository was archived and the last release occurred in 2015. Modern Python versions include the traceback functionality natively, so this package is primarily useful only for projects that must support very old Python versions that are themselves no longer receiving security updates.

Use it for:

Formatting exception tracebacks consistently in code that must run on Python 2.6 or 2.7.
Manipulating exception frames in legacy Python 3.2–3.4 environments where the standard library traceback API differs.
Providing unicode traceback output in Python 2.x applications that depend on linecache2.

Worth the install?

AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying

Provides a backport of Python's traceback module to older Python versions, allowing consistent traceback formatting and manipulation across Python 2.6+ and Python 3.2+.

No. The package is abandoned and unmaintained since 2015. Modern Python versions include native traceback support. Install only if you are maintaining legacy code that must run on Python 2.6–3.4 and cannot upgrade—otherwise, use the standard library traceback module.

Install

traceback2 on PyPI

pip

pip install traceback2

uv

uv add traceback2

poetry

poetry add traceback2

Installing traceback2

Before you install

Installation is straightforward with no runtime dependencies. However, the package is abandoned—last release was 2015-03-09 and the repository is archived. It has not been maintained for years, so it will not receive bug fixes or security updates.

License in practice

Licensed under the Python Software Foundation License (permissive), which poses no legal barrier to use in most projects.

Quickstart

pip install traceback2

import traceback2 as traceback
traceback.print_exc()

Designed for Python 2.6, 2.7, 3.2, 3.3, and 3.4; modern Python versions have native traceback support and do not need this backport.

Verify before relying

Whether the unicode output behavior in Python 2.x (mentioned in the description) affects current use cases or is still relevant.
Current compatibility with Python versions released after the package's last update in 2015.

Package facts

License	UNKNOWN (permissive)
Python support	not specified
Install friction	low — pure-Python wheel
Runtime dependencies	none
Maintenance	abandoned — 4,176 days since the last release
Last repo commit	2023-09-01 (repository archived)
First released	2014-11-24
Downloads	1,531,411/month — #3,806 on PyPI (30-day window, as of 2026-08-14)
Known vulnerabilities	none known (OSV.dev, checked 2026-08-14)

Evidence: traceback2-1.4.0-py2.py3-none-any.whl

Development Status :: 6 - MatureIntended Audience :: DevelopersLicense :: OSI Approved :: Python Software Foundation LicenseOperating System :: OS IndependentProgramming Language :: PythonProgramming Language :: Python :: 2Programming Language :: Python :: 2.6Programming Language :: Python :: 2.7Programming Language :: Python :: 3Programming Language :: Python :: 3.2Programming Language :: Python :: 3.3Programming Language :: Python :: 3.4Topic :: Software Development