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Ruff vs mypy: open-source code quality and static analysis tools compared

Metrics as of , from the GitHub or GitLab API of each repository. Refreshed monthly.

Summary

Ruff: Python linter and code formatter written in Rust that covers Flake8, Black and isort functions in one tool.

mypy: Static type checker for Python that checks PEP 484 type hints without running the program.

Both are listed under Code quality and static analysis. The table gives repository metrics from the GitHub API with their fetch date, then the documented facts used for every comparison in this category, each linked to the README or docs page it comes from. A cell reads "not documented" when the fact was not found in the project's documentation; that does not mean the feature is absent.

Side by side

Ruff and mypy: metrics and documented facts, in the fixed row order used for code quality and static analysis comparisons.
FactRuffmypy
Stars49,731120,6481
Forks2,43013,3101
Contributors97918691
Last release2026-09-1612026-08-151
Last commit2026-09-2212026-09-221
Commits in 90 days1,44711361
LicenseMIT1MIT1
Primary languageRust1Python1
Statusactive1active1
Languages or files analysedPython files (*.py, *.pyi), Jupyter Notebooks (*.ipynb) and pyproject.toml source: Docs: Configuring RuffPython programs with type hints source: README
Configuration formatTOML settings in pyproject.toml, ruff.toml or .ruff.toml source: READMEConfig file: mypy.ini, .mypy.ini, pyproject.toml ([tool.mypy]) or setup.cfg ([mypy]) source: Docs: The mypy configuration file
CI integrationGitHub Actions (ruff-action) and a GitLab CI/CD example with a code quality report source: Docs: IntegrationsDocs describe running mypy in a CI system, with an example CI script source: Docs: Using mypy with an existing codebase
Report formatsconcise, full, JSON, JSON Lines, JUnit, grouped, GitHub, GitLab, Pylint, rdjson, Azure, SARIF source: Docs: Configuring RuffJUnit XML; JSON output; HTML, XML, Cobertura XML and text type checking coverage reports source: Docs: The mypy command line
Install methodPyPI package ruff via uv, pip or pipx; standalone installers source: READMEpip (python3 -m pip install -U mypy) source: README

1 Fetched from the GitHub or GitLab API on . Hover a value for its own date.

When each fits

Written from each project's documented scope, not from preference. Neither tool is ranked.

Ruff

Fits projects that lint and format Python code with one tool; its README describes use in place of Flake8, Black, isort, pydocstyle, pyupgrade and autoflake. source: README

mypy

Fits projects that add PEP 484 type hints to Python programs; its README describes gradual typing, where hints are added over time with a fallback to dynamic typing. source: README

More on these tools

Sources

  1. GitHub REST API: repository, read
  2. GitHub REST API: repository, read
  3. GitHub REST API: contributors, read
  4. GitHub REST API: contributors, read
  5. GitHub REST API: latest release, read
  6. GitHub REST API: tags, read
  7. GitHub REST API: commits, read
  8. GitHub REST API: commits, read
  9. Docs: Configuring Ruff, read
  10. README, read
  11. README, read
  12. Docs: The mypy configuration file, read
  13. Docs: Integrations, read
  14. Docs: Using mypy with an existing codebase, read
  15. Docs: The mypy command line, read

Documented facts collected 2026-09-22. See the methodology for how metrics and facts are gathered.