uv tips

Mon, 21 Jul 2025 10:23:00 -0700

Today I learned about some powerful, lesser-known features of uv , a fast Python package and environment manager. Beyond the usual uv venv and uv sync, uv offers commands that streamline workflows for tool management, Python versions, and reproducible builds. Here’s a quick overview of some standout features:

Running ruff directly

# Install CLI tools globally in isolated environments (like pipx, but faster)
uv tool install ruff
# Run tools ephemerally without permanent installs
uvx ruff check

Manage Python versions directly

# Install specific Python versions
uv python install 3.10 3.11
# List installed versions
uv python list
# Upgrade to latest patch release
uv python upgrade 3.10

Compile requirements for reproducible builds

# Generate a pinned lockfile
uv pip compile requirements.in -o requirements.txt --universal
# Pre-compile bytecode for faster container startup
uv pip compile requirements.in -o requirements.txt --compile-bytecode

Run commands with automatic environment syncing

# Auto-sync dependencies before running
uv run ruff check
# Use non-editable installs for production-like setups
uv run --no-editable python script.py

Build and package Python distributions

# Create source distribution and wheel
uv build --wheel
# Skip build isolation for tricky dependencies
uv build --no-build-isolation-package numpy