# Python Developer Tools Reference


Reference pages describe each Python development tool: what it does, what it ships with, where it fits in the ecosystem, and which related tools exist. They are meant for quick lookup, not end-to-end reading.

For task-shaped questions, see the [How-To guides]({{< ref "handbook/How To/" >}}). For step-by-step setup, see the [Tutorials]({{< ref "handbook/Tutorial/" >}}).

The groups below cluster tools by the job they do.

- [Anaconda: Python and R Data Science Platform](https://pydevtools.com/handbook/reference/anaconda.md)
- [Basedpyright: Python Type Checker (pyright Fork)](https://pydevtools.com/handbook/reference/basedpyright.md)
- [Black: Python Code Formatter](https://pydevtools.com/handbook/reference/black.md)
- [Briefcase](https://pydevtools.com/handbook/reference/briefcase.md)
- [build: Python Package Build Frontend](https://pydevtools.com/handbook/reference/build.md)
- [cibuildwheel: Cross-Platform Python Wheel Builder](https://pydevtools.com/handbook/reference/cibuildwheel.md)
- [Conda](https://pydevtools.com/handbook/reference/conda.md)
- [Conda Package](https://pydevtools.com/handbook/reference/conda-package.md)
- [conda-forge: Community Conda Package Channel](https://pydevtools.com/handbook/reference/conda-forge.md)
- [conda-pypi](https://pydevtools.com/handbook/reference/conda-pypi.md)
- [Cookiecutter: Python Project Template Tool](https://pydevtools.com/handbook/reference/cookiecutter.md)
- [cx_Freeze](https://pydevtools.com/handbook/reference/cx-freeze.md)
- [direnv: Per-Directory Environment Variables for Python](https://pydevtools.com/handbook/reference/direnv.md)
- [distutils: Python's Original Build System](https://pydevtools.com/handbook/reference/distutils.md)
- [flake8: Python Linter](https://pydevtools.com/handbook/reference/flake8.md)
- [Flit: Python Build and Publish Tool](https://pydevtools.com/handbook/reference/flit.md)
- [Furo: Sphinx Documentation Theme](https://pydevtools.com/handbook/reference/furo.md)
- [Hatch: Python Project Manager](https://pydevtools.com/handbook/reference/hatch.md)
- [Homebrew: macOS Package Manager for Python](https://pydevtools.com/handbook/reference/homebrew.md)
- [IPython: Enhanced Python Interactive Shell](https://pydevtools.com/handbook/reference/ipython.md)
- [marimo: Reactive Python Notebook](https://pydevtools.com/handbook/reference/marimo.md)
- [Material for MkDocs: Documentation Theme and Framework](https://pydevtools.com/handbook/reference/mkdocs-material.md)
- [MkDocs: Markdown Documentation for Python Projects](https://pydevtools.com/handbook/reference/mkdocs.md)
- [mkdocstrings: Autogenerate API Documentation in MkDocs](https://pydevtools.com/handbook/reference/mkdocstrings.md)
- [mypy: Python Static Type Checker](https://pydevtools.com/handbook/reference/mypy.md)
- [nox: Python Test Automation Tool](https://pydevtools.com/handbook/reference/nox.md)
- [Nuitka](https://pydevtools.com/handbook/reference/nuitka.md)
- [pdb: Python's Built-in Debugger](https://pydevtools.com/handbook/reference/pdb.md)
- [PDM: Python Package and Dependency Manager](https://pydevtools.com/handbook/reference/pdm.md)
- [pip: Python Package Installer](https://pydevtools.com/handbook/reference/pip.md)
- [pip-tools: Python Dependency Pinning Tools](https://pydevtools.com/handbook/reference/pip-tools.md)
- [pipenv: Python Dependency Manager](https://pydevtools.com/handbook/reference/pipenv.md)
- [Pipfile: Python Dependency Declaration Format](https://pydevtools.com/handbook/reference/pipfile.md)
- [pipx: Install Python CLI Tools in Isolation](https://pydevtools.com/handbook/reference/pipx.md)
- [Pixi: Multi-Language Package and Workflow Manager](https://pydevtools.com/handbook/reference/pixi.md)
- [Poetry: Python Packaging and Dependency Manager](https://pydevtools.com/handbook/reference/poetry.md)
- [prek: Fast Pre-commit Hook Runner for Python](https://pydevtools.com/handbook/reference/prek.md)
- [profiling.sampling: Statistical Profiler in the Standard Library](https://pydevtools.com/handbook/reference/profiling-sampling.md)
- [py-spy: Sampling Profiler for Python](https://pydevtools.com/handbook/reference/py-spy.md)
- [pyenv: Python Version Manager](https://pydevtools.com/handbook/reference/pyenv.md)
- [pyenv-virtualenv: Python Virtual Environment Plugin](https://pydevtools.com/handbook/reference/pyenv-virtualenv.md)
- [PyInstaller](https://pydevtools.com/handbook/reference/pyinstaller.md)
- [pylint: Python Static Code Analyzer](https://pydevtools.com/handbook/reference/pylint.md)
- [pyproject-fmt: Opinionated pyproject.toml Formatter](https://pydevtools.com/handbook/reference/pyproject-fmt.md)
- [pyproject.toml: The Standard Python Project Configuration File](https://pydevtools.com/handbook/reference/pyproject.toml.md)
- [Pyrefly: Python Type Checker by Meta](https://pydevtools.com/handbook/reference/pyrefly.md)
- [pyright: Python Static Type Checker by Microsoft](https://pydevtools.com/handbook/reference/pyright.md)
- [pytest: Python Testing Framework](https://pydevtools.com/handbook/reference/pytest.md)
- [Python Packaging User Guide](https://pydevtools.com/handbook/reference/python-packaging-user-guide.md)
- [Read the Docs: Documentation Hosting for Python Projects](https://pydevtools.com/handbook/reference/read-the-docs.md)
- [requirements.txt: Python Dependency File Format](https://pydevtools.com/handbook/reference/requirements.md)
- [Ruff: Python Linter and Formatter](https://pydevtools.com/handbook/reference/ruff.md)
- [scikit-build-core: CMake Build Backend for Python](https://pydevtools.com/handbook/reference/scikit-build-core.md)
- [sdist: Python Source Distribution Format](https://pydevtools.com/handbook/reference/sdist.md)
- [setup.cfg: Setuptools Declarative Configuration File](https://pydevtools.com/handbook/reference/setup.cfg.md)
- [setuptools: Python Package Build Backend](https://pydevtools.com/handbook/reference/setuptools.md)
- [Sphinx: Python Documentation Generator](https://pydevtools.com/handbook/reference/sphinx.md)
- [sphinx-autobuild: Live Reload for Sphinx Documentation](https://pydevtools.com/handbook/reference/sphinx-autobuild.md)
- [tox: Python Test Automation Tool](https://pydevtools.com/handbook/reference/tox.md)
- [tox-uv: uv backend for tox](https://pydevtools.com/handbook/reference/tox-uv.md)
- [Twine: Python Package Upload Tool](https://pydevtools.com/handbook/reference/twine.md)
- [ty: Python Type Checker by OpenAI](https://pydevtools.com/handbook/reference/ty.md)
- [uv: Python Package and Project Manager](https://pydevtools.com/handbook/reference/uv.md)
- [uvx: Run Python CLI Tools in Isolated Environments](https://pydevtools.com/handbook/reference/uvx.md)
- [venv: Python Built-in Virtual Environment Module](https://pydevtools.com/handbook/reference/venv.md)
- [virtualenv: Python Virtual Environment Tool](https://pydevtools.com/handbook/reference/virtualenv.md)
- [watchfiles](https://pydevtools.com/handbook/reference/watchfiles.md)
- [Wheel: Python Binary Distribution Format](https://pydevtools.com/handbook/reference/wheel.md)
- [Zuban: Mypy-Compatible Python Type Checker](https://pydevtools.com/handbook/reference/zuban.md)