Standalone Python Scripts

Guidelines for writing single-file Python scripts that use PEP 723 inline metadata and uv for dependency management.

When to Use

• Creating a standalone Python script (single file, no pyproject.toml)
• Writing a CLI tool or utility script
• Building a quick automation or one-off script with external dependencies

NOT for: larger Python projects with multiple modules, packages, or a pyproject.toml/setup.py structure.

Procedure

1. Check Python version support — before setting requires-python, verify the target version is not end-of-life and has at least one year until EOL. Check https://devguide.python.org/versions/ for current status. Only target older versions if explicitly requested by the user.

2. Minimize dependencies — only add external packages that clearly save time or provide essential functionality. Prefer standard library when reasonable.