QR Code Pretty

Overview

Generate pretty QR codes.

QR Code Pretty uses the python-qrcode library to generate qr codes and provides various options to customize the qrcode. You can adjust style, color and add an image in the middle. Check out the usage for all available options.

Installation

NixOS

This tool is packaged as a NixOS package. You can install it using the following flake input:

qrcode-pretty = {
  url = "github:mrinfinidy/qrcode-pretty";
  inputs.nixpkgs.follows = "nixpkgs";
};

Add the flake input to the outputs:

outputs = {
  # your other outputs
  qrcode-pretty,
  ...
}@inputs:

Then add to your home-manager config:

home-manager.users.<your-user> = {
    home.packages = [
        (inputs.qrcode-pretty.packages.${pkgs.system}.default)
    ];
};

Or build and run directly:

# Build with Nix
nix build github:mrinfinidy/qrcode-pretty

# Run from local checkout
nix run .#qrcode-pretty -- -d "your data here"

Or to test without permanent installation:

nix run github:mrinfinidy/qrcode-pretty --override-input nixpkgs nixpkgs

Debian/Ubuntu

Download and install the .deb package from the releases page:

# Download the latest .deb package
wget https://github.com/mrinfinidy/qrcode-pretty/releases/download/<version>/qrcode-pretty_<version>-1_all.deb

# Install the package
sudo dpkg -i qrcode-pretty_<version>-1_all.deb

# Install dependencies if needed
sudo apt-get install -f

Or build from source (see PACKAGING.md for details):

dpkg-buildpackage -us -uc -b
sudo dpkg -i ../qrcode-pretty_<version>-1_all.deb

Arch Linux (AUR)

Install from the AUR using your preferred AUR helper:

# Using yay
yay -S qrcode-pretty

# Using paru
paru -S qrcode-pretty

# Or manually with makepkg
git clone https://aur.archlinux.org/qrcode-pretty.git
cd qrcode-pretty
makepkg -si

Using uv

uv is a fast Python package installer and resolver, which I prefer over pip/pipx:

uv tool install qrcode-pretty

Using pipx

For installing as a standalone command-line tool:

pipx install qrcode-pretty

Development

Requirements

• Python 3.8 or higher
• Dependencies (automatically installed):
  • qrcode[pil] >= 7.0
  • pillow >= 9.0

Setting Up Development Environment

Using NixOS

# Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/mrinfinidy/qrcode-pretty.git
cd qrcode-pretty

# Enter development shell
nix-shell

# Or use the flake development shell
nix develop

Using uv

# Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/mrinfinidy/qrcode-pretty.git
cd qrcode-pretty

# Create virtual environment and install in editable mode
uv venv
# or: .venv\Scripts\activate  # On Windows

uv pip install -e .

# Run the tool
uv run qrcode-pretty -d "test"

Using pip/venv

# Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/mrinfinidy/qrcode-pretty.git
cd qrcode-pretty

# Create and activate virtual environment
python -m venv .venv
source .venv/bin/activate  # On Linux/Mac
# or: .venv\Scripts\activate  # On Windows

# Install in editable mode
pip install -e .

# Run the tool
qrcode-pretty -d "test"

Building the Package

With Nix

# Build with Nix
nix build .#qrcode-pretty

# Result will be in ./result/
./result/bin/qrcode-pretty --help

With uv

# Build wheel and source distribution
uv build

# Output will be in dist/ e.g.:
# - dist/qrcode_pretty-1.0.0-py3-none-any.whl
# - dist/qrcode_pretty-1.0.0.tar.gz

Testing

uv

This section assumes that you have successfully set up a development environment with uv.

# Install dev  dependencies
uv sync --extra dev

# Run tests
uv run pytest

Usage

QR Code Pretty provides the qrcode-pretty command-line tool.

Basic Usage

Generate a QR code with minimal options:

qrcode-pretty -d "https://github.com/mrinfinidy/qrcode-pretty"

Command-Line Options

Use qrcode-pretty -h to print all available options:

Options:
  -h, --help                              Show this help message and exit
  -d, --data <data>                       Data to encode in QR code (required)
  -i, --image <image>                     Input image file name
  -s, --style <style>                     Style for the QR code modules
      --style-inner <style>               Style for the inner eyes
      --style-outer <style>               Style for the outer eyes
  -b, --base <hex>                        Base color hex code (e.g. #000000)
  -n, --color-inner <hex>                 Inner eye color hex code
  -r, --color-outer <hex>                 Outer eye color hex code
  -o, --output <directory or filename>    Output directory path or filename (default: ~/Pictures/qrcode-pretty/qrcode.png)
      --svg                               Also generate SVG output
      --transparent                       Transparent QR code background
      --version <int>                     QR version (default: 5)
      --box-size <int>                    Box size in pixels (default: 10)
      --border <int>                      Border size in boxes (default: 4)
      --error-correction <L|M|Q|H>        Error correction level (default: H)

Available styles: square, gapped-square, circle, round, vertical-bars, horizontal-bars

Note: When embedding a center image (logo), it is recommended to use a high error correction level (default: H).

About the --image option:

• Use --image /path/to/your/logo.png to embed your own image in the QR code center
• Use --image default to use the bundled demonstration image (included with all installation methods)
• Omit --image to generate a QR code without a center image

Sample Gallery

QR Code Github

qrcode-pretty --data "https://github.com/mrinfinidy/qrcode-pretty" --image default --style round --style-inner round --style-outer round --base "#000000" --color-inner "#d3869b" --color-outer "#458588" --output "~/Pictures/"

qrcode-pretty --data "https://github.com/mrinfinidy/qrcode-pretty" --image default --style circle --style-inner round --style-outer round --base "#1d2021" --color-inner "#666341" --color-outer "#1d2021" --output "~/Pictures/"

qrcode-pretty --data "https://github.com/mrinfinidy/qrcode-pretty" --style round --style-inner round --style-outer round --base "#8e8ece" --color-inner "#6cf2e5" --color-outer "#40E0D0" --output "~/Pictures/"

QR Code afkdev8 (my homepage)

qrcode-pretty --data "https://www.afkdev8.com/" --image "~/Pictures/afkdev8-logo.png" --style vertical-bars --style-inner round --style-outer round --base "#000000" --color-inner "#000000" --color-outer "#000000" --output "~/Pictures/"

qrcode-pretty --data "https://www.afkdev8.com/" --image "~/Pictures/afkdev8-logo-dark.png" --style horizontal-bars --style-inner round --style-outer round --base "#000000" --color-inner "#000000" --color-outer "#000000" --output "~/Pictures/"

QR Code lemons

qrcode-pretty --data "lemons" --image "~/Pictures/lemons.png" --style square --style-inner circle --style-outer gapped-square --base "#000000" --color-inner "#000000" --color-outer "#000000" --output "~/Pictures/"

Package Information

This package follows modern Python packaging standards:

• Package Name: qrcode-pretty
• Module Name: qrcode_pretty
• Build System: Hatchling
• Configuration: pyproject.toml (PEP 621 compliant)
• Minimum Python: 3.8+

Project Structure

qrcode-pretty/
├── src/
│   └── qrcode_pretty/
│       ├── __init__.py
│       ├── entrypoint.py
│       ├── qr_code_generator.py
│       └── const.py
├── pyproject.toml
├── README.md
└── LICENSE

Author

afkdev8 <mail@afkdev8.com>