Install and manage Python interpreters

[axiomofjoy]

uv venv accepts a --python flag that allows the user to specify a path to a particular Python interpreter or version if it is already installed on the machine. I would like for uv to install and manage Python for me, similar to conda create --name env-name python=3.9.

I am really enjoying using uv so far. Keep up the good work!

[zanieb]

This is on our roadmap :)

[dillfrescott]

Also looking forward to this!

[Spenhouet]

Consider the possibility to specify the required python version via a .python-version file within the project root dir, as suggested here: #1850

[mlissner]

I just want to chime in to say that I'm evaluating uv right now and my big question was whether and how it would handle installing Python itself. This is embarrassing, but I've been a Python developer for over a decade. I've used pip, virtualenvwrapper, Python 2 and 3, poetry, and more.

Whenever somebody tells me I have to use a specific version of Python, it sucks the life right out of me. I know there are tools for this. I know I use pip or poetry. I know I'm going to lose an hour figuring it all out, just like last time....

So, from my perspective, as a long-time Python dev, but an occasional installer of Python, I'd love to see this!

Thank you for the great tool. Impressive stuff.

[zanieb]

We agree it's awfully painful to install and manage multiple Python versions across platforms. We'll be tackling this problem soon.

[Oppen]

In terms of roadmap, is there any particular release that should have it or is it still the indeterminate future? I'd love to get rid of pyenv and need to set appropriate expectations 👀

[zanieb]

It's next on my list of projects, following tool management (#3560) and rewriting interpreter discovery (#3266)