name: python-starter
description: Automatically configures formatter and linter settings when initializing Python projects. Installs ruff by default and uses pyproject.toml for configuration. Detects or asks the user about venv/poetry/uv environments and installs as dev dependencies. Optionally configures pre-commit and ty. Suggests VSCode workspace settings when using VSCode. Use this skill when starting Python projects ("Start a Python project", "Create a FastAPI project", "Create a data analysis Python project", etc.).

Python Starter

Automatically configures formatter and linter when initializing Python projects.

Workflow

1. Environment Detection and Selection
2. Use UV if uv.lock file exists or uv command is available
3. Use Poetry if [tool.poetry] section exists in pyproject.toml
4. If no environment is configured, recommend uv
5. Otherwise use venv

6. Ask the user if uncertain

7. Install ruff

8. Install ruff as dev dependency based on selected environment
9. Use commands (avoid writing code directly)

10. Reference: environment-setup.md

11. Configure pyproject.toml

12. Create pyproject.toml if it doesn't exist
13. Add ruff configuration (see pyproject-toml-examples.md for default settings)

14. Template: assets/pyproject.toml.template

15. Install pytest

16. Install pytest as dev dependency based on selected environment

17. Use commands (avoid writing code directly)

18. Type Checking Setup (Optional)

19. Ask the user if they want ty setup
20. Install ty as dev dependency if needed
21. Add ty configuration to pyproject.toml

22. Reference: pyproject-toml-examples.md

23. Pre-commit Setup (Optional)

24. Ask the user if they want pre-commit setup
25. Install pre-commit and create .pre-commit-config.yaml if needed
26. Reference: pre-commit-setup.md

27. Template: assets/.pre-commit-config.yaml.template

28. VSCode Settings Suggestion

29. Suggest creating .vscode/settings.json when using VSCode
30. Include ruff and ty (if configured) settings
31. Reference: vscode-settings.md

32. Template: assets/.vscode-settings.json.template

33. Create .gitignore

34. Create .gitignore if it doesn't exist
35. Include common Python ignores for virtual environments, cache files, build artifacts, IDE files, and OS files
36. Template: assets/.gitignore.template

Principles

• Command-first: Use commands whenever possible instead of writing code directly
• Use pyproject.toml: Store all configuration in pyproject.toml
• Dev dependencies: Install ruff, pytest, ty, and pre-commit as dev dependencies
• User confirmation: Confirm with user for environment selection, ty, and pre-commit before proceeding

References

• Environment setup: references/environment-setup.md
• pyproject.toml examples: references/pyproject-toml-examples.md
• Pre-commit setup: references/pre-commit-setup.md
• VSCode settings: references/vscode-settings.md