Simple, Modern Python
Joshua Levy recently shared his enthusiasm for uv, Astral’s Python package manager, along with a practical template for new projects using this tool. His thread on X highlights both technical advantages and philosophical approaches to modern Python development.
Key Points from Levy’s UV Template
Levy has created a simple-modern-uv, Copier template that combines minimal but essential tools for Python projects:
- Uses uv for package management
- Incorporates ruff for linting and formatting (replacing Black and isort)
- Includes mypy, codespell, and pytest
- Provides GitHub Actions configuration
- Uses Copier for template management
Why uv Matters Beyond Speed
While uv’s performance is impressive, Levy emphasizes that its real value lies in dependency management fundamentals:
- Decoupling downloads from execution: uv’s shared cache means running Python applications is as simple as knowing their name—no installation step required
- Simplifying dependency management: More reliable dependency resolution and environment handling
- Standardizing scripts: Support for PEP 723 inline script dependencies allows scripts to be self-contained with their own dependencies and Python version requirements
Template Design Philosophy
Levy advocates for the “3 Ms” in project templates:
- Minimalist: Including only essential components
- Modern: Leveraging current best practices and tools
- Maintained: Regularly updated to reflect ecosystem changes
He also highlights Copier as an underrated tool that enables maintaining multiple projects from a template while allowing customization and template updates.
Additional Recommendations
- Dynamic versioning with Git tags using uv-dynamic-versioning plugin
- Using Ruff’s formatter and linter instead of separate tools like Black and isort
- Maintaining a pragmatic middle ground between inflexible formatting (Black) and overly complex linting configurations
This template represents a streamlined approach to Python development that leverages uv’s capabilities to simplify the development workflow while maintaining modern best practices.