dead

library2.1.0pypypiunverified

Dead simple Python dead code detection. Current version 2.1.0 (released 2024-12-08). Checks for unused functions, classes, variables, and imports. Release cadence is irregular, typically a few times a year. Compatible with Python >=3.9.

testing

pip install dead

github ↗package ↗

INSTALL

IMPORT

SIG · DEAD

dead

testingpythonv2.1.0

Install

1.6s avg

Import

—

Disk

17MB

Pass rate

10/ 10

Env Coverage10 / 10

glibc

3.9–3.13

musl

3.9–3.13

Install & Compatibility

Where this runs

tested against v2.1.0 · pip install

no network on importno background threads

Install × environment matrix

Each cell = how many times install + import succeeded across repeated harness runs. Partial = flaky.
glibc = Debian/Ubuntu slim · musl = Alpine Linux

musl

py 3.10–3.95 runs

installs and imports cleanly · install 0.0s · import 0.000s · 18.6MB

glibc

py 3.10–3.95 runs

installs and imports cleanly · install 1.6s · import 0.000s · 19MB

17MB installed

● package 17MB

Code

Verified usage

Verified import paths — ran on the pinned version, not inferred.

DeadCodeChecker

✓ from dead import DeadCodeChecker

✗ from dead import DeadCodeChecker

Run dead via command line. There is no stable Python API; use subprocess.

# Install: pip install dead # Basic usage: dead . # Always check file list first: import subprocess import sys # Run from command line, not import cmd = [sys.executable, '-m', 'dead', '--', '.'] subprocess.run(cmd, check=True)

dead --version

Debug

Known issues

breakingVersion 2.x is a complete rewrite. CLI arguments changed: no more -v/--verbose, --exclude replaced by --ignore. Module structure changed: 'from dead.dead import DeadCodeChecker' no longer works. Direct import of dead from Python is not supported as a library; use subprocess.

fix

Update CLI calls: replace '--exclude' with '--ignore'. Remove any direct Python imports of dead internals.

affects: 1.x -> 2.x

gotchadead only detects *truly unused* symbols in the current project scope. It does not detect unused *exports* intended for external consumers (library code). It may also miss unused symbols behind conditional imports or dynamic access.

fix

Use dead as a quick check but complement with mypy's --unused-ignore or pyright's unused expression checks for deeper analysis.

affects: all

deprecatedThe '--min-version' flag is deprecated in 2.x and will be removed in a future release. Use '--target-version' instead.

fix

Replace '--min-version' with '--target-version'.

affects: 2.0.0+

Upgrade

Version history

2.1.0latest on PyPI · released Feb 8, 2025

Audit

Dependencies

pathspecrequiredFile pattern matching (gitignore style)

pyyamloptionalOptional config file parsing

tomlioptionalOptional TOML config parsing (Python <3.11)

Agent activity

8 hits · last 30 days

node

Resources

githubhttps://github.com/asottile/dead ↗

packagehttps://pypi.org/project/dead/ ↗