Python Setup

This guide covers how I manage Python for projects using uv (fast Python/packaging tool).

Requirements

• uv installed — see the uv page

Install / Select Python versions

Install specific versions

uv python install 3.12
uv python install 3.11 3.12

Pin a project to a version (writes .python-version)

uv python pin 3.12

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Create & activate a virtual environment

uv venv
source .venv/bin/activate

explicit specify python version and venv folder

uv venv --python 3.12 .venv312
source .venv312/bin/activate

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Packages (pip interface)

Install a package

uv pip install PACKAGE

Upgrade a package

uv pip install -U PACKAGE

Editable install (from a local repo)

uv pip install -e .

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Tools: uvx and persistent installs uv tools

Run a tool once (ephemeral)

uvx ruff --version
uvx httpie --help

Install a tool persistently and use it

uv tool install ruff
ruff --version

Run a specific version or alternate source

uvx ruff@latest check
uvx --from git+https://github.com/httpie/cli httpie --help

If a tool isn’t on your PATH after install

uv tool update-shell