# behave/behave

BDD, Python style.

Repository: https://github.com/behave/behave
Canonical: https://ross.abutalabs.com/products/behave
Homepage: https://behave.readthedocs.io/en/latest/
Language: Python
License: NOASSERTION
License Family: other
Topics: bdd, bdd-framework, behave, behavior-driven-development, gherkin, cucumber-like, python, python3
Last push: 2026-08-26T17:04:22+00:00

## Health v2 (maintenance only)
Score: 81/100 (v2, computed 2026-09-02T17:46:02.011165+00:00)
- activity 99, release rhythm 46, longevity 100
- inputs: {"age_days": 5426, "days_push": 7, "days_rel": 363, "gap_med": 7, "n_releases_24m": 4}
- flags: no_license
- formula: round(0.45*activity + 0.35*rhythm + 0.20*longevity); archived -> min(score, 10)

## Adoption (not part of the score)
Stars 3521, forks 670 (observed 2026-08-28T04:08:07.952167+00:00)

## What it is
behave is a behavior-driven development (BDD) testing framework for Python that runs tests written in Gherkin natural-language syntax backed by Python step implementations. It is a Cucumber-like tool for collaborative acceptance testing between developers, QA, and business stakeholders.

## Use cases
- write acceptance tests in gherkin and run them with python
- bdd framework for python projects
- run cucumber-style feature files in python
- collaborate with non-technical stakeholders on test scenarios
- automate behavior-driven acceptance testing
- parse and execute gherkin feature files

## When to choose
- your team practices BDD and wants Gherkin feature files with Python step definitions
- you need a mature, Cucumber-like BDD tool in the Python ecosystem
- non-technical stakeholders must read or write test scenarios

## When to avoid
- you want plain unit testing without natural-language scenarios - use pytest instead
- your stack is JVM-based - Cucumber or JBehave fit better
- you need JavaScript-based BDD - consider Cucumber.js

## Facets
- artifact type: framework
- maturity: active
- function: testing, e2e-testing
- domain: testing, developer-tools
- platform: python, cli, cross-platform
- tags: bdd, gherkin, cucumber-like, acceptance-testing, behavior-driven-development, automation

## Member repositories
- behave/behave (main) score 81

## Provenance
- Observed fields: from GitHub, fetched 2026-08-28T04:08:07.952167+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 2026-08-29T18:35:27.373713+00:00, confidence not recorded.
  - readme: https://github.com/behave/behave (fetched 2026-08-28T04:08:07.952167+00:00, sha eca5218d2c5d)
  - registry_pypi: https://pypi.org/pypi/behave/json (fetched 2026-08-29T09:29:45.747840+00:00, sha f636501678a2)
- Data as of 2026-08-30T08:39:29.467469+00:00.