uncalled
Find unused functions in Python projects
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
Yes, if you need a lightweight, zero-dependency tool to find unused functions. The permissive MIT license and low install friction make it a low-risk addition to a development workflow. Maintenance is dormant but the last release is recent enough (2024-07-11) and no vulnerabilities are known. Best suited for developers who want a simple, fast alternative to heavier static analysis frameworks.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- Requires Python 3.10 or later.
- Low install friction with no runtime dependencies.
- Maintenance is dormant—last release was 2024-07-11 and last commit 2024-09-03, so the package is not actively developed but remains available and functional.
License · maintenance · safety
permissive license (permissive) — MIT license (permissive) allows free use, modification, and distribution with minimal restrictions—suitable for both open-source and commercial projects.
last release 2024-07-11 (764 days) · last repo commit 2024-09-03 · 20 stars
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 587,361 downloads/mo, #5,875 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
pip install uncalled
uncalled path/to/project- Whether regex mode is the default and how it compares to AST mode in speed and accuracy for typical projects.
- Whether the 'both' combined mode is recommended as a general-purpose setting or only for specific scenarios.
- How false-positive rates compare to vulture or other similar dead-code detection tools.
What it is and what it does
uncalled is a command-line tool that scans Python projects to identify functions that are never called. It offers two detection strategies: a fast regex-based approach (the default) and an AST-based traversal method. A combined 'both' mode runs both strategies together to minimize false positives. The tool is designed as a lightweight, low-friction alternative for developers who want to clean up unused code without heavy configuration.
You run it as a simple CLI command pointing to your project directory. With no runtime dependencies and low install friction, it integrates easily into development workflows or CI pipelines. The regex approach prioritizes speed while the AST approach offers deeper semantic understanding; combining them helps catch real unused functions while filtering out spurious matches.
Use it for
- Identify dead code in legacy Python projects before refactoring or cleanup.
- Run as a pre-commit or CI check to prevent unused functions from accumulating in codebases.
- Audit a codebase for code quality and maintainability improvements.
- Compare detection strategies (regex vs. AST) on your own project to understand trade-offs.
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
Yes, if you need a lightweight, zero-dependency tool to find unused functions.
The permissive MIT license and low install friction make it a low-risk addition to a development workflow. Maintenance is dormant but the last release is recent enough (2024-07-11) and no vulnerabilities are known. Best suited for developers who want a simple, fast alternative to heavier static analysis frameworks.
Install
uncalled on PyPI
Before you install
Low install friction with no runtime dependencies. Maintenance is dormant—last release was 2024-07-11 and last commit 2024-09-03, so the package is not actively developed but remains available and functional.
Requires Python 3.10 or later.
License in practice
MIT license (permissive) allows free use, modification, and distribution with minimal restrictions—suitable for both open-source and commercial projects.
Quickstart
pip install uncalled
uncalled path/to/projectVerify before relying
- Whether regex mode is the default and how it compares to AST mode in speed and accuracy for typical projects.
- Whether the 'both' combined mode is recommended as a general-purpose setting or only for specific scenarios.
- How false-positive rates compare to vulture or other similar dead-code detection tools.
Package facts
| License | permissive license permissive |
| Python support | Supports the current Python release >=3.10 |
| Install friction | Low. Pure-Python wheel |
| Runtime dependencies | None |
| Maintenance | Dormant 764 days since the last release |
| Last repo commit | |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 587,361 / month, #5,875 on PyPI 30-day window, as of 2026-08-14 |
| Known vulnerabilities | None known OSV.dev, checked 2026-08-14 |
| Classifiers | License :: OSI Approved :: MIT LicenseOperating System :: OS IndependentProgramming Language :: Python :: 3 |
Evidence: uncalled-0.1.8-py3-none-any.whl
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