behave
Metrics as of , from the GitHub or GitLab API of each repository. Refreshed monthly.
What behave is
The behave package is a behavior-driven development tool for Python. Tests are natural-language feature files that use Gherkin keywords such as Feature, Scenario, Given, When and Then. Each step maps to a Python function in a features/steps directory, decorated with given, when, then or step. Step patterns can capture typed parameters such as integers. The behave command executes the features. Its summary counts passed, failed and skipped features, scenarios and steps, plus undefined steps.
Written from the project's README, read , and its documentation (see sources).
- Category
- BDD
- License
- BSD-2-Clause
- Language
- Python
- Changelog
- Releases on GitHub
Repository metrics
Status
activeLast commit within 90 days of the fetch date.Computed from the last commit date and the archive flag on the fetch date. See the status rules.
Alternatives
Listed BDD tools, same primary language first, then by GitHub stars. Each line gives one fact from the tool's documentation where it differs from behave's, with its source.
Robot Framework: Languages for writing tests: Robot Framework plain text syntax; Python as the primary language for extending it. source: README
pytest-bdd: Languages for writing tests: Python (pytest plugin). source: README
cucumber-js: Languages for writing tests: JavaScript; TypeScript and other languages that transpile to JavaScript. source: Docs: Transpiling
cucumber-ruby: Languages for writing tests: Ruby. source: README
Codeception: Languages for writing tests: PHP. source: README
Behat: Languages for writing tests: PHP. source: Docs: Behat documentation
Gauge: Languages for writing tests: Language runners for C# (.NET and .NET Core), Java, JavaScript, Python, Ruby. source: Docs: Plugins
Cucumber JVM: Languages for writing tests: Java (JVM). source: README
Questions
Is behave open source?
Yes. behave is released under BSD-2-Clause, an OSI-approved license, as reported by the GitHub API on 2026-09-22.
Is behave maintained?
On 2026-09-22, the last commit to the default branch was on 2026-09-21, so the listed status is active. Rule: Last commit within 90 days of the fetch date.
How many GitHub stars does behave have?
3,529 stars on 2026-09-22, from the GitHub API. The number is refreshed at each monthly update.
What language is behave written in?
The repository's primary language, as reported by the GitHub API, is Python.
Sources
- GitHub REST API: repository, read
- GitHub REST API: commits, read
- GitHub REST API: latest release, read
- GitHub REST API: contributors, read
- LICENSE file, read
- README, read