# ApeWorX/ape

Build and explore on-chain with Python

Repository: https://github.com/ApeWorX/ape
Canonical: https://ross.abutalabs.com/products/ape
Homepage: https://docs.apeworx.io/ape/stable/userguides/quickstart
Language: Python
License: Apache-2.0
License Family: permissive
Topics: ethereum, python, web3, defi, ape, brownie, developer-tools, framework, nft, smart-contracts, solidity, vyper, apeworx
Last push: 2026-08-22T12:28:29+00:00

## Health v2 (maintenance only)
Score: 99/100 (v2, computed 2026-09-03T02:20:16.233290+00:00)
- activity 99, release rhythm 99, longevity 100
- inputs: {"age_days": 2067, "days_push": 11, "days_rel": 11, "gap_med": 13, "n_releases_24m": 38}
- flags: none
- formula: round(0.45*activity + 0.35*rhythm + 0.20*longevity); archived -> min(score, 10)

## Adoption (not part of the score)
Stars 1053, forks 183 (observed 2026-08-28T04:03:23.568312+00:00)

## What it is
Ape Framework is a Python-based Web3 development framework for compiling, testing, deploying, and interacting with smart contracts from a single command-line session. It features a modular plugin system supporting multiple contract languages (Solidity, Vyper) and multiple blockchain networks, and serves as a successor to the popular Brownie framework.

## Use cases
- compile and test solidity smart contracts in python
- deploy and interact with ethereum contracts from a python script
- write automated tests for smart contracts with pytest
- manage local and remote blockchain accounts for signing transactions
- fork a mainnet network locally for defi prototyping
- trace and debug smart contract transactions and reverts
- migrate an existing brownie project to a modern framework
- build a plugin to support a new evm chain or contract language

## When to choose
- you want a python-native alternative to hardhat or foundry for ethereum development
- you need to script on-chain interactions, deployments, or defi strategies in python
- you maintain a brownie project and want an actively maintained successor
- you need multi-chain support via a plugin architecture rather than a single fixed toolchain
- you want contract compilation, testing, console, and scripting unified in one CLI

## When to avoid
- you need a javascript or typescript toolchain like hardhat or ethers.js
- you only want a wallet or block explorer rather than a development framework
- you develop on non-evm chains without an available ape ecosystem plugin
- you require native windows support without WSL
- you need a no-code or graphical smart contract tool

## Facets
- artifact type: framework
- maturity: active
- function: web-framework, testing, cli, developer-tools, sdk, plugin-system, compiler, cryptography, blockchain
- domain: blockchain, developer-tools, fintech
- platform: python, cli, cross-platform
- tags: ethereum, web3, smart-contracts, solidity, vyper, defi, nft, brownie-successor, plugin-ecosystem, contract-testing, on-chain-interaction, apeworx, cryptocurrency, linux, macos, docker

## Member repositories
- ApeWorX/ape (main) score 99

## Provenance
- Observed fields: from GitHub, fetched 2026-08-28T04:03:23.568312+00:00.
- Health v2: computed from the inputs above; adoption is never an input.
- Inferred fields (summary, facets, guidance): AI-extracted, prompt v1, taxonomy v1, on 2026-08-30T06:59:18.434738+00:00, confidence not recorded.
  - readme: https://github.com/ApeWorX/ape (fetched 2026-08-28T04:03:23.568312+00:00, sha 1cd51bae0617)
  - homepage: https://docs.apeworx.io/ape/stable/userguides/quickstart (fetched 2026-08-29T13:01:01.737118+00:00, sha 52423811f580)
  - site_page: https://docs.apeworx.io/ape/stable/userguides/installing_plugins.html (fetched 2026-08-29T13:01:01.746622+00:00, sha 3a7e18f2b2de)
  - site_page: https://docs.apeworx.io/ape/stable/methoddocs/ape.html (fetched 2026-08-29T13:01:01.748565+00:00, sha 552559e58f63)
  - site_page: https://docs.apeworx.io/ape/stable/methoddocs/api.html (fetched 2026-08-29T13:01:01.750496+00:00, sha 63a758de45d3)
  - site_page: https://docs.apeworx.io/ape/stable/methoddocs/cli.html (fetched 2026-08-29T13:01:01.768506+00:00, sha fde08bf64155)
  - site_page: https://docs.apeworx.io/ape/stable/methoddocs/contracts.html (fetched 2026-08-29T13:01:01.771024+00:00, sha c3ddfdd609b7)
  - site_page: https://docs.apeworx.io/ape/stable/methoddocs/exceptions.html (fetched 2026-08-29T13:01:01.773558+00:00, sha 5527bc211368)
  - site_page: https://docs.apeworx.io/ape/stable/methoddocs/managers.html (fetched 2026-08-29T13:01:01.775652+00:00, sha bc7d15c12d24)
  - site_page: https://docs.apeworx.io/ape/stable/methoddocs/plugins.html (fetched 2026-08-29T13:01:01.779840+00:00, sha cf21866af10a)
- Data as of 2026-08-30T08:39:29.467469+00:00.