Easily share Python scripts with dependencies (uv + PEP 723)
Posted by thisdavej@reddit | Python | View on Reddit | 31 comments
Sharing single-file Python scripts with external dependencies can be challenging, especially when sharing with people who are less familiar with Python. I wrote a article that made the front page of HN last week on how to use uv and PEP 723 to embed external deps directly into scripts and accomplish the goal.
No more directly messing with virtual environments, requirements.txt, etc. for simple scripts. Perfect for sharing quick tools and utilities. uv rocks! Check it out here.
jjrreett@reddit
I never like asking my coworkers who are less familiar with code to install extra tooling. It’s another thing to learn, another thing to got confused by. Now UV is rather simple and has a lot of pros, but at least for me, it doesn’t work with our pip index. So it’s a whole other set of errors.
So i tend to try to stick with the familiar requirements.txt.
I also try to share repos not scripts, so multi file things aren’t an issue.
ArtOfWarfare@reddit
Does pip support PEP 723? If yes, I’ll use that and ignore uv. If no, I’ll ignore both uv and PEP 723.
The only universe I care about uv in is the one where it’s included with a standard install of Python.
echanuda@reddit
It’s faster, easier to use, eliminates need for venv management, and has a bunch of nice tools if you need them. I understand certain environments can be restrictive, but if you can use uv then I don’t see much reason not to. Not hard to migrate either. You do you but the stark “if it’s not pip idc” mindset is kinda silly considering the amount of time I’ve saved just from how fast venv management and package installs have been with it.
fiddle_n@reddit
Fair point on PEP 723; but I find the general stance about uv to be kind of odd - only caring about it if it’s in the std lib. Do you avoid third party dependencies in their entirety? And if not, why should uv be different?
telesonico@reddit
I ran into this earlier today - it’s just as easy as a pip.conf file - just set your default index and done.
ftmprstsaaimol2@reddit
Uv can be configured to work with a private package index if that’s what you mean. You can set the default source in the global uv.toml file.
AdInfinite1760@reddit
This is a game change for Python. This makes it more likely for me to use Python where I currently use Bash. Mainly server maintenance stuff.
No_Flounder_1155@reddit
what makes this better?
AdInfinite1760@reddit
managing dependencies in python is horrible. not a python specific problem. this will make scripts feel as if they have no dependencies at all. a virtualenv is created, dependencies installed, all transparently to the user. it just works.
psssat@reddit
How is managing dependencies horrible in python?
echanuda@reddit
Everything has to be isolated to one environment. Not all dependencies will work the every machine (psycop2g, polars(-lts-cpu)), python version management, even with pyenv, was a PITA before uv, requirements.txt sucks, and I’m sure there’s more. Versus npm where most things just work.
ArtOfWarfare@reddit
So you’d rather manage bash dependencies, then?
AdInfinite1760@reddit
you did not read my comment
echanuda@reddit
I mean, this is kinda cool, but it only removes one step which is just running uv sync, no? It still requires the user has uv, which ultimately is the annoying post for an end user/newbie. If anything the front matter approach just does a poor job of obfuscating to the end user and feels even worse to edit if you want.
adiberk@reddit
UV is terrific. But this post doesn’t reveal any thing new Many other package managers allow this (poetry, pipx) and have for longer than uv has been around
However - again UV is terrific for many reasons, including the ease of running scripts
judasthetoxic@reddit
Why is uv terrific?
SeveralKnapkins@reddit
Easy and fast
judasthetoxic@reddit
Oh, i was confused because in portugueses there is a word "terrível" that means "terrible", "terrific" is a good adjective. I got confused with the false cognates lol
SeveralKnapkins@reddit
Hahah very fair!
snildeben@reddit
Almost identical blog posts within 3 days with the exact same message. Be fucking original!
thisdavej@reddit (OP)
u/snildeben I wouldn't expect you to delve this deeply, but if you look at the publish date on my article, it was March 25th. My article subsequently hit the front page of HN last Thursday night and then other similar articles created by others ensued and were posted here on reddit. For the record, I am not a copycat.
lolcrunchy@reddit
Haters gonna hate
jotaass@reddit
https://simonwillison.net/2024/Aug/21/usrbinenv-uv-run/
Chippiewall@reddit
it feels like every other day I see posts about this
snildeben@reddit
3 times now. Just lame ass copycats.
Null_Note@reddit
I don't know if encouraging massive single file scripts is a good idea. I would much rather break up my code into modules with a package manager like Poetry. Others can install the script easily with pipx.
cgoldberg@reddit
Most other package/env management tools support this... nothing special about
uv.ftmprstsaaimol2@reddit
Do you have an example? Came across it for the first time with uv but the implementation still isn’t perfect.
commandlineluser@reddit
pipxadded it in December 2023It was in the 1.4.2 release.
cgoldberg@reddit
pipx run ./script.pywhere
script.pyhas inline dependencies declared.South_Plant_7876@reddit
Phew. For a moment there I thought we were going to go 24 hours without someone talking about this.