python-uv

Original🇺🇸 English
Translated

This skill should be used when the user asks to "set up a Python project with uv", "manage dependencies with uv", "create a uv project", "use uv for Python package management", or needs guidance on uv workflows, pyproject.toml configuration, lockfiles, and development dependency groups.

5installs

NPX Install

npx skill4agent add the-perfect-developer/the-perfect-opencode python-uv

Python UV Project Management

Provides workflows and best practices for managing Python projects using uv — Astral's fast Python package and project manager.

Project Initialization

Create a new project with
uv init
:
bash
# Named project in new directory
uv init my-project
cd my-project

# Initialize in current directory
uv init
Generated structure:
my-project/
├── .gitignore
├── .python-version
├── README.md
├── main.py
└── pyproject.toml
After the first
uv run
,
uv sync
, or
uv lock
, uv creates:
my-project/
├── .venv/
├── .python-version
├── README.md
├── main.py
├── pyproject.toml
└── uv.lock
Run the project immediately after init:
bash
uv run main.py
uv auto-creates and syncs the virtual environment on every
uv run
invocation.

Core File Roles

FilePurposeCommit?
pyproject.toml
Broad requirements, project metadataYes
uv.lock
Exact resolved versions, cross-platformYes
.python-version
Default Python version for the projectYes
.venv/
Isolated virtual environmentNo
Critical rule: Commit
uv.lock
to version control. It guarantees reproducible installs across machines and CI environments. Never edit it manually.

Managing Dependencies

Runtime Dependencies

bash
# Add with automatic version constraint
uv add requests

# Add with explicit version constraint
uv add 'requests>=2.31.0'

# Add with extras
uv add 'pandas[excel,plot]'

# Add platform-specific dependency
uv add "jax; sys_platform == 'linux'"

Development Dependencies

Separate dev dependencies from published requirements using dependency groups:
bash
# Add to the default dev group (not published to PyPI)
uv add --dev pytest ruff mypy

# Add to named groups for fine-grained control
uv add --group lint ruff
uv add --group test pytest pytest-cov
uv add --group docs mkdocs
Resulting
pyproject.toml
:
toml
[dependency-groups]
dev = ["pytest>=8.1.1,<9"]
lint = ["ruff>=0.4.0"]
test = ["pytest", "pytest-cov"]
Groups can nest to avoid duplication:
toml
[dependency-groups]
lint = ["ruff"]
test = ["pytest"]
dev = [
  {include-group = "lint"},
  {include-group = "test"},
]

Removing and Upgrading

bash
# Remove a dependency
uv remove requests

# Upgrade a specific package to latest compatible version
uv lock --upgrade-package requests

# Upgrade all packages
uv lock --upgrade

Running Commands

Always use
uv run
— it ensures the environment is synced before execution:
bash
# Run a Python script
uv run main.py

# Run a tool from the environment
uv add flask
uv run -- flask run -p 3000

# Run with a one-off extra dependency (not added to project)
uv run --with rich python -c "import rich; rich.print('[bold]Hello[/bold]')"

# Run only specific dependency groups
uv run --no-default-groups --group test pytest
Alternatively, sync and activate manually when needed (e.g., interactive shells):
bash
# macOS/Linux
uv sync
source .venv/bin/activate

# Windows
uv sync
.venv\Scripts\activate
Do not use
uv pip install
for project dependencies — use
uv add
instead. Direct pip manipulation bypasses the lockfile and breaks reproducibility.

Dependency Sources

Override where packages are fetched from during development using
tool.uv.sources
:
bash
# From a local path (editable)
uv add --editable ../my-lib

# From a Git repository
uv add git+https://github.com/encode/httpx

# Pin to a specific Git tag
uv add git+https://github.com/encode/httpx --tag 0.27.0

# From a custom index
uv add torch --index pytorch=https://download.pytorch.org/whl/cpu
Sources are a uv-only development feature. Use
--no-sources
to validate that published metadata is self-contained:
bash
uv lock --no-sources
uv build --no-sources

Syncing and Locking

bash
# Sync environment to lockfile (installs missing, removes extra)
uv sync

# Sync including all dependency groups
uv sync --all-groups

# Sync only specific groups
uv sync --group test

# Regenerate lockfile without syncing
uv lock

# Check if lockfile is up-to-date (for CI)
uv lock --check

Building and Viewing Version

bash
# Build source distribution and wheel
uv build

# Check built artifacts
ls dist/
# my-project-0.1.0-py3-none-any.whl
# my-project-0.1.0.tar.gz

# View current package version
uv version
uv version --short        # 0.1.0 only
uv version --output-format json

Best Practices

Lockfile hygiene
  • Commit
    uv.lock
    ; never edit it manually
  • Run
    uv lock --check
    in CI to detect uncommitted lockfile drift
  • Use
    uv lock --upgrade-package <name>
    for targeted upgrades, not
    --upgrade
    carelessly
Dependency discipline
  • Use
    --dev
    /
    --group
    for all non-runtime dependencies (linters, formatters, test runners, type checkers)
  • Never use
    uv pip install
    directly in a project — always
    uv add
  • Set
    requires-python
    in
    pyproject.toml
    to lock down supported versions
Environment hygiene
  • Never commit
    .venv/
    ; the generated
    .gitignore
    excludes it by default
  • Use
    uv run
    rather than activating the venv manually in scripts and CI
  • For one-off tools, prefer
    uvx <tool>
    over installing into the project environment
Publishing safety
  • Run
    uv build --no-sources
    before publishing to validate published metadata is correct without
    tool.uv.sources
    overrides
pyproject.toml example (library pattern):
toml
[project]
name = "my-lib"
version = "0.1.0"
description = "A short description"
readme = "README.md"
requires-python = ">=3.11"
dependencies = [
    "httpx>=0.27.0",
]

[project.optional-dependencies]
network = ["aiohttp>=3.9"]

[dependency-groups]
dev = [
    {include-group = "lint"},
    {include-group = "test"},
]
lint = ["ruff>=0.4.0", "mypy>=1.10"]
test = ["pytest>=8.0", "pytest-cov>=5.0"]

[build-system]
requires = ["hatchling"]
build-backend = "hatchling.build"

Quick Reference

TaskCommand
Create project
uv init <name>
Run script
uv run <file.py>
Add dependency
uv add <package>
Add dev dependency
uv add --dev <package>
Add to named group
uv add --group <group> <package>
Remove dependency
uv remove <package>
Upgrade package
uv lock --upgrade-package <name>
Sync environment
uv sync
Rebuild lockfile
uv lock
Build distributions
uv build
Check version
uv version
Run tool one-off
uv run --with <pkg> python ...
Simulate no sources
uv lock --no-sources

Additional Resources

Reference Files

For detailed information, consult:
  • references/dependency-management.md
    — Advanced dependency configuration: optional extras, platform markers, multiple sources, editable installs, and dependency specifier syntax
  • references/project-structure.md
    — Deep dive on
    pyproject.toml
    ,
    uv.lock
    ,
    .python-version
    , workspace layout, and configuration options