Signal: uv.lock or pyproject.toml with [tool.uv]
- Tool: uv
- Install: uv add <package>
- Setup: uv sync
Signal: pyproject.toml with [tool.poetry]
- Tool: Poetry
- Install: poetry add <package>
- Setup: poetry install
Signal: Pipfile
- Tool: Pipenv
- Install: pipenv install <package>
- Setup: pipenv install
Signal: environment.yml
- Tool: Conda
- Install: conda install <package>
- Setup: conda env create -f environment.yml
Signal: requirements.txt only
- Tool: venv + pip
- Install: .venv/bin/pip install <package>
- Setup: .venv/bin/pip install -r requirements.txt
Signal: None of the above
- Tool: venv + pip (default)
- Install: .venv/bin/pip install <package>
- Setup: .venv/bin/pip install -r requirements.txt

Default: venv + pip

If no dependency manager is detected, use venv + pip + requirements.txt as the default:

# Initialize environment
python3 -m venv .venv

# Add dependencies
.venv/bin/pip install <package>

# Preserve state
.venv/bin/pip freeze > requirements.txt

Rules for venv + pip workflow:

Always use .venv/bin/pip or .venv/bin/python (explicit path).
After installing, run: .venv/bin/pip freeze > requirements.txt.
When setting up: .venv/bin/pip install -r requirements.txt.

Prohibited

NEVER run pip install globally
NEVER override an existing dependency manager with a different one

managing-python-dependencies

Python Dependency Management Rule

Dependency Manager Detection