Python - Python initiation: core language, modern workflows, and scientific applications

Overview: Python interpreter + UV¶

To work effectively with Python, you need two components:

A Python interpreter: This is the core Python installation that runs your code.
UV: A modern package and project manager that handles installing libraries, managing dependencies, and creating isolated environments for your projects.

Why UV?¶

UV solves several critical problems in Python development:

Fast and reliable package installation: UV is significantly faster than traditional tools like pip, especially when installing scientific packages.
Dependency management: It ensures that all packages work together correctly and creates a reproducible environment.
Project isolation: UV creates separate environments for each project, preventing conflicts between different projects’ requirements.
Modern workflow: UV combines the functionality of several older tools into one consistent interface.

While there are other package managers (we’ll also install Pixi for conda packages), UV is currently the best choice for managing Python packages from PyPI, which includes most of the scientific Python ecosystem.

Why not only UV then?¶

UV can actually install and manage Python interpreters itself without needing a separate installation. However, relying exclusively on UV-managed Python has some limitations in certain use cases, particularly around system integration and compatibility with specific tools. Installing a standalone Python interpreter alongside UV provides greater flexibility and ensures compatibility across different workflows.

Install a Python interpreter¶

Windows

macOS

Debian-Ubuntu-Mint

On Windows, use the Python install manager to install Python. You have two options:

Microsoft Store (recommended): Install “Python” from the Microsoft Store
WinGet: Run winget install 9NQ7512CXL7T in PowerShell or Command Prompt

Once installed, you can install Python 3.13 (or any other version) using:

py install 3.13

The install manager uses the py command and will automatically update itself. You can see all available Python versions with py list --online.

On macOS, the simplest way to install Python is by using brew:

brew install python

Alternatively, you can install Python by following the instructions on this official page (open this link in a new tab).

On Linux, a Python interpreter is typically already installed. However, for Python development, it is helpful to install some additional components:

sudo apt install python3-dev python3-venv

UV: Modern Python package and project manager¶

UV is a fast, modern Python package and project manager developed in Rust by Astral. It has quickly become the recommended tool for managing Python packages and projects due to its speed and reliability.

What UV does for you¶

Installs Python packages quickly and reliably (much faster than pip)
Manages project dependencies and ensures they’re compatible
Creates isolated environments automatically for each project
Handles Python versions so you can use different Python versions for different projects
Locks dependencies to ensure your project works the same way everywhere

Installation¶

To install UV, open a terminal and run

Windows

macOS and Linux

powershell -ExecutionPolicy ByPass -c "irm https://astral.sh/uv/install.ps1 | iex"

uv installer cannot modify your configuration files?

(.zshrc, etc.) are owned by root — which is abnormal. The fix is to move them aside so the uv installer can create fresh ones:

cd ~
mkdir old_conf_files
sudo mv .zshrc old_conf_files

Then relaunch the uv installer.

Once the installation is complete, open a new terminal and verify that the uv command is available:

uv --version

You should see the UV version number displayed.