Quick start guide for Python development on a Mac
Note
For a modern approach, consider uv, which handles Python installation, project management, and dependency management in a single tool. The pyenv + Poetry workflow described below remains valid, but uv offers a more streamlined experience.
Python developers (and hobbyists) often hear the advice not to use the preinstalled “system” Python on a Mac. When looking into alternatives, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by all the options: python.org installers, Homebrew, pyenv, conda, pyflow, rye, and more.
My forthcoming ebook is designed to help you make informed choices about Python development and let you focus on writing code instead of managing your development environment.
In the meantime, I’ll point you to Dylan Stein’s excellent Quick start guide for Python development on a Mac.
Dylan provides a straightforward walkthrough of installing a modern version of Python with pyenv and using Poetry for dependency management.