# uv — Extremely Fast Python Package and Project Manager

> uv is an all-in-one Python package and project manager written in Rust by Astral. It replaces pip, pip-tools, pipx, poetry, pyenv, and virtualenv with a single blazing-fast tool that is 10-100x faster than traditional Python packaging tools.

## Install

Save in your project root:

# uv — Extremely Fast Python Package and Project Manager

## Quick Use
```bash
# Install uv
curl -LsSf https://astral.sh/uv/install.sh | sh

# Create a new project
uv init my-project
cd my-project

# Add dependencies (10-100x faster than pip)
uv add requests fastapi sqlalchemy

# Run scripts
uv run python main.py

# Install a CLI tool (replaces pipx)
uv tool install ruff

# Use a specific Python version (replaces pyenv)
uv python install 3.12
```

## Introduction
uv is a revolutionary Python package and project manager that replaces an entire stack of tools with a single, blazing-fast binary. Built in Rust by Astral (the creators of Ruff), uv is 10-100x faster than pip for package installation and provides a unified workflow for managing Python versions, virtual environments, dependencies, and project builds.

With over 83,000 GitHub stars in just over a year, uv is the fastest-growing tool in the Python ecosystem. It has rapidly become the recommended way to manage Python projects, endorsed by major frameworks and organizations.

## What uv Does
uv replaces six separate tools in the Python ecosystem: pip (package installer), pip-tools (dependency resolver), virtualenv (environment creator), pyenv (Python version manager), pipx (tool installer), and poetry/PDM (project manager). One tool, one binary, dramatically faster.

## Architecture Overview
```
[uv (single Rust binary)]
        |
+-------+-------+-------+
|       |       |       |
[Project]  [Package]  [Python]
Management  Install    Version
uv init    uv add     uv python
uv run     uv pip     install
uv build   uv lock    uv python
uv publish             list
        |
[Replaces]
pip + pip-tools + virtualenv
+ pyenv + pipx + poetry
        |
[Performance]
10-100x faster than pip
Global cache with hard links
Parallel downloads
```

## Self-Hosting & Configuration
```toml
# pyproject.toml — uv project configuration
[project]
name = "my-app"
version = "0.1.0"
requires-python = ">= 3.11"
dependencies = [
    "fastapi>=0.115",
    "sqlalchemy>=2.0",
    "httpx>=0.27",
]

[project.scripts]
serve = "my_app.main:run"

[tool.uv]
dev-dependencies = [
    "pytest>=8.0",
    "ruff>=0.8",
    "mypy>=1.13",
]
```

```bash
# Common uv workflows
uv init my-app             # Create new project
uv add fastapi              # Add dependency
uv add --dev pytest         # Add dev dependency
uv lock                     # Generate lockfile
uv sync                     # Install from lockfile
uv run pytest               # Run in virtual env
uv run python main.py       # Run scripts
uv build                    # Build package
uv publish                  # Publish to PyPI
uv tool install ruff        # Install CLI tool globally
uv python install 3.12      # Install Python version
```

## Key Features
- **10-100x Faster** — Rust-powered package resolution and installation
- **All-in-One** — replaces pip, virtualenv, pyenv, pipx, and poetry
- **Universal Lockfile** — cross-platform reproducible dependency resolution
- **Python Version Management** — install and switch Python versions
- **Global Cache** — shared cache with hard links for zero-cost duplicates
- **pip Compatible** — drop-in replacement for pip commands (uv pip install)
- **Script Support** — inline script metadata for single-file dependencies
- **Cross-Platform** — works on Linux, macOS, and Windows

## Comparison with Similar Tools
| Feature | uv | pip + venv | Poetry | PDM | Conda |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Speed | 10-100x faster | Baseline | 2-5x slower | Moderate | Slow |
| Python Management | Yes | No (needs pyenv) | No | No | Yes |
| Lockfile | Yes | No (pip-tools) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Project Init | Yes | Manual | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Tool Install | Yes (pipx) | No (needs pipx) | No | No | No |
| Single Binary | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Language | Rust | Python | Python | Python | Python/C |

## FAQ
**Q: Can I replace pip with uv in existing projects?**
A: Yes. Use "uv pip install" as a drop-in replacement for pip. For full project management, run "uv init" in an existing directory to generate a pyproject.toml and migrate.

**Q: Does uv work with existing requirements.txt files?**
A: Yes. "uv pip install -r requirements.txt" works exactly like pip. You can also migrate to uv lockfiles with "uv add" commands.

**Q: How does uv achieve such speed?**
A: uv is written in Rust with parallel downloads, a global package cache with hard-link deduplication, and an optimized dependency resolver. It avoids the overhead of Python startup and pip internals.

**Q: Is uv stable enough for production?**
A: Yes. uv follows semantic versioning and is used by major Python projects. Astral (backed by significant VC funding) is committed to long-term maintenance.

## Sources
- GitHub: https://github.com/astral-sh/uv
- Documentation: https://docs.astral.sh/uv
- Website: https://astral.sh
- Created by Charlie Marsh and Astral team
- License: MIT / Apache-2.0

---
Source: https://tokrepo.com/en/workflows/34cb5a2b-3701-11f1-9bc6-00163e2b0d79
Author: AI Open Source