#python#uv#package-manager#astral

Python uv Series Overview: The 100x Faster pip Replacement

2 min read

uv is a blazing-fast Python package and project management tool built in Rust by Astral. It integrates dependency installation, virtual environments, Python version management, and CLI tool execution in a single binary. In short: pip + virtualenv + pyenv + pipx combined and supercharged — and fast enough to make you question reality.

Compared to pip, poetry, and pipenv, uv's advantages are 10–100x speed, minimal disk usage, and a single tool for the entire workflow. Especially suited for day-to-day development, CI/CD, and script execution — no more switching between multiple tools. Like a cat that only needs one cardboard box, but that box unlocks every feature and comes with turbo mode built in.

Use Cases

  • Starting a new project from scratch: uv init creates it instantly, dependencies install instantly — no more watching pip's spinner
  • Migrating from existing requirements.txt: uv pip compile takes it directly, painless upgrade
  • Temporary script dependencies: uv run --with rich script.py — no need to set up a venv
  • Running CLI tools: uvx ruff on demand, like pipx but N times faster
  • Not recommended: legacy projects still on Python 2 — consider migrating those first, don't ask uv to time-travel

Learning Map

  1. Quick Start: Install and create your first project (your first uv experience)
  2. Core Concepts: pyproject.toml, uv.lock, virtual environments — build the mental model first
  3. Common Patterns: dependency management, uv run, uvx, script execution — 80% of daily scenarios
  4. Advanced: Python version switching, pip interface, Workspace — multi-project and migration
  5. Best Practices: pitfall avoidance and operations guidelines — less pain, more time saved

Installation

# macOS / Linux
curl -LsSf https://astral.sh/uv/install.sh | sh
 
# Windows (PowerShell)
powershell -ExecutionPolicy ByPass -c "irm https://astral.sh/uv/install.ps1 | iex"

⚠️ After installation, restart your terminal or run source $HOME/.local/bin/env (as instructed by the installer) to make sure uv is in your PATH.

One-Line Summary

By the time pip finishes spinning, uv has already installed everything, run the code, and made you a coffee. Don't believe it? The next article will prove it in ten minutes.

Further Reading