Does Poetry Support Python Standards for Dependency Management?

Until version 2.0, Poetry maintained its own configuration format in tool.poetry. This approach reflected both Poetry’s established user base and its feature set that extended beyond standard packaging needs. However, Poetry 2.0’s adoption of the project section for pyproject.toml files marked a significant shift toward ecosystem-wide standardization.

Poetry now supports dual configuration approaches:

Poetry maintains its tool.poetry.dependencies section for advanced features while supporting standard project.dependencies declarations. Users can choose based on their needs:

• Use project.dependencies for standard Python dependency declarations
• Use tool.poetry.dependencies for Poetry-specific features
• Combine both approaches when needed

The move toward Python standards provides several advantages:

• Project Portability: Easier migration between different build tools
• Future Compatibility: Better alignment with emerging packaging standards
• Simplified Learning: Standard patterns work across tools

Learn More:

• Poetry 2.0 Release Blog Post
• PEP 621 Specification
• Python Packaging User Guide
• Poetry Documentation