pyscn

Python code analysis for AI agents: complexity, dead code, clones, coupling, and a health score.

AI & MLGov1.32.5

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Code quality analysis for Python in the age of AI coding.

Building with Cursor, Claude, or ChatGPT? pyscn keeps AI-generated code maintainable with structural analysis.

Article PyPI Downloads Go License

Quick Start

# Run analysis without installation
uvx pyscn@latest analyze .
# or
pipx run pyscn analyze .

Demo

pyscn analysis report

Features

One command scores your whole codebase (0-100 with an A-F grade) and generates an HTML report that shows what to fix first.

pyscn looks at your code from five angles:

  • 🧹 Dead code - unreachable code you can safely delete
  • 📋 Duplicate code - copy-pasted and structurally similar code worth merging (Type 1-4 clone detection)
  • 🌀 Complexity - functions and executable class suites that are hard to read and test (cyclomatic and cognitive complexity)
  • 🔥 Module and directory hotspots - per-file quality and per-directory complexity rollups for prioritizing refactors
  • 🏗️ Architecture - circular imports, layer rule violations (clean / layered / hexagonal / MVC presets), and auto-detected module communities that reveal how your code is actually structured
  • 🧩 Class design - classes that do too much or depend on too much (CBO coupling, LCOM4 cohesion)

100,000+ lines/sec • Built with Go + tree-sitter

Other Languages

pyscn is the Python analyzer of polyscan. For JavaScript, TypeScript, Go, Rust and C++, run:

npx polyscan analyze .

Same five angles, same 0-100 score, one HTML report.

Polyscan for GitHub

Polyscan App files a weekly audit report as a GitHub Issue. Free for public repositories.

AI Agent Integration

pyscn ships Agent Skills that teach AI coding agents when and how to run each analysis: health checks, refactoring, architecture review, and CI-friendly reports.

Agent Skills (Recommended)

uvx add-skills ludo-technologies/pyscn

This installs the Skills into your project. They work with Claude Code, Cursor, Codex, Gemini CLI, and many other agents (add --agent cursor etc. to target one, --global for all projects).

Then just ask your agent:

  1. "Analyze the code quality of the app/ directory"

  2. "Find duplicate code and help me refactor it"

  3. "Show me complex code and help me simplify it"

MCP Server (Optional)

For tighter integration, the bundled pyscn-mcp server exposes the same analyses as MCP tools to Claude Code, Cursor, ChatGPT, and other MCP clients.

Claude Code plugin (sets up the MCP server and the Skills together):

claude plugin marketplace add ludo-technologies/pyscn
claude plugin install pyscn-mcp@pyscn-marketplace

Manual setup for Claude Code:

claude mcp add pyscn-mcp uvx -- pyscn-mcp

Cursor / Claude Desktop: add to your MCP settings (~/.config/claude-desktop/config.json or Cursor settings):

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "pyscn-mcp": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": ["pyscn-mcp"],
      "env": {
        "PYSCN_CONFIG": "/path/to/.pyscn.toml"
      }
    }
  }
}

Dive deeper in mcp/README.md for setup walkthroughs and docs/MCP_INTEGRATION.md for architecture details.

Installation

# Install with pipx (recommended)
pipx install pyscn

# Or with uv
uv tool install pyscn

macOS Intel (x86_64): PyPI wheels are built for Apple Silicon only (the Intel wheel was dropped in v1.5.1), so uvx, pipx, uv, and pip cannot install pyscn on Intel Macs. Use brew install pyscn or go install github.com/ludo-technologies/pyscn/cmd/pyscn@latest instead.

Alternative installation methods

Build from source

git clone https://github.com/ludo-technologies/pyscn.git
cd pyscn
make build

Go install

go install github.com/ludo-technologies/pyscn/cmd/pyscn@latest

Common Commands

pyscn analyze

Run comprehensive analysis with HTML report

pyscn analyze .                              # All analyses with HTML report
pyscn analyze --json .                       # Generate JSON report
pyscn analyze --json --output - . | jq       # JSON report on stdout
pyscn analyze --json --html --no-open .      # JSON and HTML reports from one run
pyscn analyze --select complexity .          # Only complexity analysis
pyscn analyze --select deps .                # Only dependency analysis
pyscn analyze --select complexity,deps,deadcode . # Multiple analyses
pyscn analyze --skip-communities .           # Skip module community detection

pyscn check

Fast CI-friendly quality gate

pyscn check .                         # Quick pass/fail check
pyscn check --max-complexity 15 .     # Custom thresholds
pyscn check --max-cycles 0 .          # Only allow 0 cycle dependency
pyscn check --select deps .           # Check only for circular dependencies
pyscn check --select di .             # Detect DI anti-patterns (opt-in)
pyscn check --allow-circular-deps .   # Allow circular dependencies (warning only)

pyscn init

Create configuration file

pyscn init                         # Generate .pyscn.toml

💡 Run pyscn --help or pyscn <command> --help for complete options

Configuration

Create a .pyscn.toml file or add [tool.pyscn] to your pyproject.toml:

# .pyscn.toml
[complexity]
max_complexity = 15

[dead_code]
min_severity = "warning"

[output]
directory = "reports"

⚙️ Run pyscn init to generate a full configuration file with all available options


Documentation

📖 pyscn documentation site — installation, rule catalog, CLI reference, configuration, output specification

For contributors: Development Guide • Architecture • Testing

Enterprise Support

For commercial support, custom integrations, or consulting services, contact us at contact@ludo-tech.org

License

MIT License — see LICENSE


Built with ❤️ using Go and tree-sitter

Installation

Source-derived launch command. Check the maintainer’s required arguments and credentials before running:

bash
uvx pyscn-mcp

Set up in your AI client

Merge this template into ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json. Keep existing servers. Add any arguments, credentials, and permissions required by the maintainer; this template has not been install-tested.

json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "io-github-ludo-technologies-pyscn": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": [
        "pyscn-mcp"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Restart Claude Desktop completely for changes to take effect. Confirm the server appears connected in the client’s tool list, then try a read-only example from its documentation.

Claude Desktop setup reference

Package

pyscn-mcppypi

Compatible MCP Clients

pyscn works with any MCP-compatible client. Copy the config snippet from the Configuration section above and add it to the file shown for your client, then restart the application.

  • Claude Desktop~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.jsonRestart Claude Desktop completely for changes to take effect.
  • Cursor~/.cursor/mcp.jsonRestart Cursor for changes to take effect.
  • VS Code.vscode/mcp.jsonReload VS Code window for changes to take effect.
  • Windsurf~/.codeium/windsurf/mcp_config.jsonRestart Windsurf for changes to take effect.
  • Claude Code.mcp.jsonSave at the project root, then start Claude Code in that project and review the MCP server approval prompt. Keep real credentials out of shared files.

Learn More