expand

Zero-dependency Python library implementing GNU expand(1) and unexpand(1) semantics: replace tabs with spaces and vice versa, with custom tab stops and leading-only / all-blanks modes.

Install

python -m pip install -e .

Requires Python 3.10+. No runtime dependencies.

Quick example

from expand import expand, unexpand

expand("a\tb\tc", tabsize=4)             # "a   b   c"
expand("a\tb\tc", tabsize=[4, 8, 12])    # "a   b   c"

unexpand("    hello", tabsize=4)         # "\thello"
unexpand("    a    b", tabsize=4, all_blanks=True)

API

expand(text, tabsize=8, *, leading_only=False) -> str

Replace tabs with spaces. tabsize may be a single int (every-N-columns) or a list of strictly-increasing stops.

unexpand(text, tabsize=8, *, leading_only=True, all_blanks=False) -> str

Compress runs of spaces back to tabs where they reach a stop boundary.

ExpandError

Subclass of ValueError.

License

MIT