usethis

Automate Python project setup and development tasks that are otherwise performed manually.

usethis knows about popular Python tools, workflows and frameworks, and knows how they interact. It can add and remove tools, configure them, and set up the project for you in a way that won't break your existing configuration and it will make the necessary adjustments to your project configuration files.

usethis gives detailed messages about what it is doing (and what you need to do next).

• Output beginning with ✔ represents a task which usethis has automated.
• Output beginning with ☐ represents a task which you need to perform manually.
• Output beginning with ℹ gives hints and tips.

Inspired by an R package of the same name, this package brings a similar experience to the Python ecosystem as a CLI tool.

Highlights

• First-class support for state-of-the-practice tooling: uv, ruff, pytest, and pre-commit.
• Automatically add and remove tools: declare, install, and configure in one step.
• Powerful knowledge of how different tools interact and sensible defaults.
• Get started on a new Python project or a new workflow in seconds.

Getting Started

First, it is strongly recommended you install the uv package manager: this is a simple, documented process.

If you are starting a new project, it is recommended to call uv init --lib to initialize the project directory.

Then, you can install usethis for the project:

# With uv
$ uv add --dev usethis

# With pip
$ pip install usethis

Alternatively, run in isolation, using uvx or pipx.

Example Usage

To use Ruff on a fresh project, run:

$ uvx usethis tool ruff
✔ Writing 'pyproject.toml'.
✔ Adding dependency 'ruff' to the 'dev' dependency group.
✔ Adding Ruff config to 'pyproject.toml'.
✔ Enabling Ruff rules 'A', 'C4', 'E4', 'E7', 'E9', 'EM', 'F', 'FURB', 'I', 'PLE', 'PLR', 'RUF', 'SIM', 'UP' in 'pyproject.toml'.
✔ Ignoring Ruff rules 'PLR2004', 'SIM108' in 'pyproject.toml'.
☐ Run 'ruff check --fix' to run the Ruff linter with autofixes.
☐ Run 'ruff format' to run the Ruff formatter.

To use pytest, run:

$ uvx usethis tool pytest
✔ Adding dependencies 'pytest', 'pytest-cov', 'coverage' to the 'test' dependency group in 'pyproject.toml'.
✔ Adding pytest config to 'pyproject.toml'.
✔ Enabling Ruff rule 'PT' in 'pyproject.toml'.
✔ Creating '/tests'.
✔ Writing '/tests/conftest.py'.
☐ Add test files to the '/tests' directory with the format 'test_*.py'.
☐ Add test functions with the format 'test_*()'.
☐ Run 'pytest' to run the tests.

To configure Bitbucket pipelines, run:

$ uvx usethis ci bitbucket
✔ Writing 'bitbucket-pipelines.yml'.
✔ Adding cache 'uv' definition to 'bitbucket-pipelines.yml'.
✔ Adding 'Test on 3.12' to default pipeline in 'bitbucket-pipelines.yml'.
✔ Adding 'Test on 3.13' to default pipeline in 'bitbucket-pipelines.yml'.
☐ Run your pipeline via the Bitbucket website.

Interface

usethis tool

Add a new tool to a Python project, including:

• declared & installed dependencies with uv add,
• relevant pyproject.toml configuration,
• any other relevant directories or tool-bespoke configuration files, and
• .pre-commit-config.yaml configuration if using pre-commit.

Currently supported tools:

• Ruff
• pytest
• deptry
• pre-commit
• pyproject-fmt

Example:

usethis tool ruff

Supported arguments:

• --remove to remove the tool instead of adding it
• --offline to disable network access and rely on caches
• --quiet to suppress output

usethis badge

Add badges to READEME.md.

Currently supported badges:

• Ruff
• pre-commit

Supported arguments:

• --remove to remove the badge instead of adding it
• --offline to disable network access and rely on caches
• --quiet to suppress output

usethis ci

Add Continuous Integration pipelines to the project.

Currently supported platforms:

• Bitbucket

Example:

usethis ci bitbucket.

Supported arguments:

• --remove to remove the CI configuration instead of adding it
• --offline to disable network access and rely on caches
• --quiet to suppress output

usethis browse pypi

Dispaly or open the PyPI landing page associated with another project.

Example:

usethis browse pypi numpy

Supported arguments:

• --browser to open the link in the browser automatically.

Development

This project is at the early stages of development. If you are interested in contributing, please ensure you have a corresponsing GitHub Issue open.

License

usethis is licensed under the MIT license (LICENSE or https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT)

Unless you explicitly state otherwise, any contribution intentionally submitted for inclusion in usethis by you, as defined in the Apache License, Version 2.0, (https://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0), shall be licensed under the MIT license, without any additional terms or conditions.