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See the difference

Let’s install a package with pip vs uv:

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With pip (traditional)

pip install pandas
# ⏱️ Takes 15-30 seconds

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With uv (modern)

uv pip install pandas
# ⚡ Takes 1-2 seconds
That’s 10-30x faster! And it gets better.

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Real-world comparison

Creating a new project:
  • Traditional way
  • With uv
# Create virtual environment
python -m venv .venv

# Activate it (different per OS!)
# Windows: .venv\Scripts\activate
# Mac/Linux: source .venv/bin/activate

# Install packages
pip install requests pandas numpy

# Save dependencies
pip freeze > requirements.txt
Time: ~45 seconds Commands: 4+ (varies by OS)

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Why is uv so fast?

  1. Written in Rust - Compiled language, not interpreted Python
  2. Smart caching - Reuses downloaded files intelligently
  3. Parallel downloads - Gets multiple packages at once
  4. Better algorithms - Optimized dependency resolution

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More than just speed

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One tool, not five

Traditional Python:
  • pip for packages
  • venv for virtual environments
  • pip-compile for lock files
  • pyenv for Python versions
  • pipx for global tools
With uv:
  • uv does it all

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It just works

No more:
  • “Did I activate my venv?”
  • “Which Python am I using?”
  • “Why is this package conflicting?”
uv handles it automatically.

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Modern features

  • Lock files - Exact reproducible installs
  • Workspace support - Multiple related projects
  • Script running - Built-in task runner
  • Python management - Install Python versions too

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Installing uv

One command for any system:
  • Mac/Linux
  • Windows
curl -LsSf https://astral.sh/uv/install.sh | sh
After installation, restart your terminal.

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Quick commands

Here’s what you need to know: 
# Create new project
uv init my-project

# Add packages
uv add requests pandas

# Install from existing project
uv sync

# Run Python
uv run python script.py

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Should you switch?

Yes, if you want:
  • Faster development
  • Simpler commands
  • Less confusion
  • Modern tooling
Maybe wait if:
  • You’re in a team using pip
  • You have complex legacy setups
  • You’re just starting (learn basics first)
uv is backwards compatible - it can read requirements.txt and work with existing projects!

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What’s next?

Let’s see uv in action by creating a real project.

Using uv

Create your first uv project