Pylint is a static code analyser that examines Python programs for potential errors, violations of coding conventions and opportunities to improve maintainability. It analyses source code without executing it, helping developers detect problems before they become apparent during testing or everyday use.
The application goes beyond basic style checking by considering how program elements relate to one another. It can identify suspicious attribute access, incorrectly used functions and structures that may be difficult to maintain. Its diagnostics are particularly valuable when reviewing changes to a substantial Python codebase.
Pylint offers extensive configuration facilities, allowing teams to establish their own naming conventions, select appropriate checks and suppress findings that are not relevant to a particular project. Its plugin architecture extends the analyser to cover additional programming patterns and specialised development requirements.
This is free and open source software.
Key Features
- Detects potential errors involving undefined variables, invalid attribute access and incorrect function arguments.
- Checks naming conventions and identifies inconsistent or potentially confusing coding practices.
- Reports design problems including excessive complexity, too many function arguments and large classes.
- Supports custom checkers and additional analysis functionality through plugins.
- Provides detailed configuration of individual diagnostics, naming rules and analysis thresholds.
- Supports inline suppression comments for disabling selected warnings in specific locations.
- Offers machine-readable report formats for editor integration and automated code checks.
- Includes pyreverse for generating class and package diagrams.
- Provides symilar for detecting duplicated source code.
Website: github.com/pylint-dev/pylint
Support:
Developer: Pierre Sassoulas, Daniël van Noord, Claudiu Popa
License: GNU General Public License v2.0
Pylint is written in Python. Learn Python with our recommended free books and free tutorials.
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Read our verdict in the software roundup.
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