Python Project Preparation

Comprehensive workflow for initializing Python projects with modern best practices.

Workflow Overview

1. Clarify requirements → Understand project scope and constraints
2. Plan architecture → Design structure appropriate to project type
3. Initialize structure → Create directories and base files
4. Configure tooling → Set up dev tools, linting, testing
5. Document → README, CONTRIBUTING, API docs as needed
6. Verify setup → Test that everything works

Step 1: Clarify Requirements

Gather essential information before scaffolding:

Skip questions with obvious answers from context.

Step 2: Plan Architecture

Project Type Patterns

Library/Package (for PyPI or internal distribution):

project-name/
├── src/project_name/      # Source code (src layout)
│   ├── __init__.py
│   └── core.py
├── tests/
├── docs/
├── pyproject.toml
├── README.md
└── LICENSE

CLI Application:

project-name/
├── src/project_name/
│   ├── __init__.py
│   ├── cli.py             # Entry point
│   └── commands/
├── tests/
├── pyproject.toml
└── README.md

Web Application (FastAPI/Flask):

project-name/
├── src/project_name/
│   ├── __init__.py
│   ├── main.py            # App entry
│   ├── api/
│   ├── models/
│   └── services/
├── tests/
├── alembic/               # If using DB migrations
├── pyproject.toml
└── README.md

Script Collection (utilities, automation):

project-name/
├── scripts/
│   ├── script_one.py
│   └── script_two.py
├── shared/                # Common utilities
├── requirements.txt       # Or pyproject.toml
└── README.md

See references/project-templates.md for detailed templates with all standard files.

Step 3: Initialize Structure

Use the Init Script

Run the bundled initialization script for quick setup:

python scripts/init_project.py <project-name> --type <library|cli|webapp|scripts>

The script creates the directory structure, pyproject.toml, and base files.

Manual Initialization

If customization is needed, create structure manually:

mkdir -p src/project_name tests docs
touch src/project_name/__init__.py
touch tests/__init__.py
touch pyproject.toml README.md LICENSE

Step 4: Configure Tooling

pyproject.toml (Modern Standard)

All configuration in one file. See references/tool-configs.md for complete examples.

Minimal pyproject.toml:

[project]
name = "project-name"
version = "0.1.0"
description = "Brief description"
requires-python = ">=3.10"
dependencies = []

[project.optional-dependencies]
dev = ["pytest>=8.0", "ruff>=0.4", "mypy>=1.10"]

[build-system]
requires = ["hatchling"]
build-backend = "hatchling.build"

Essential Dev Tools

Recommended Tool Configuration

Add to pyproject.toml:

[tool.ruff]
line-length = 88
target-version = "py310"

[tool.ruff.lint]
select = ["E", "F", "I", "UP", "B", "SIM"]

[tool.mypy]
python_version = "3.10"
strict = true

[tool.pytest.ini_options]
testpaths = ["tests"]
addopts = "-v --tb=short"

Pre-commit Hooks

Create .pre-commit-config.yaml:

repos:
  - repo: https://github.com/astral-sh/ruff-pre-commit
    rev: v0.4.4
    hooks:
      - id: ruff
        args: [--fix]
      - id: ruff-format
  - repo: https://github.com/pre-commit/mirrors-mypy
    rev: v1.10.0
    hooks:
      - id: mypy
        additional_dependencies: []

Install with: pre-commit install

Step 5: Document

README.md Structure

# Project Name

Brief description (1-2 sentences).

## Installation

\`\`\`bash
pip install project-name
\`\`\`

## Quick Start

\`\`\`python
# Minimal working example
\`\`\`

## Usage

[Key features and examples]

## Development

\`\`\`bash
pip install -e ".[dev]"
pre-commit install
pytest
\`\`\`

## License

[License type]

Additional Docs (as needed)

• CONTRIBUTING.md → For open source or team projects
• CHANGELOG.md → For versioned releases
• docs/ → For complex APIs (use mkdocs or sphinx)

Step 6: Verify Setup

Run these checks after initialization:

# Install in development mode
pip install -e ".[dev]"

# Verify linting works
ruff check .
ruff format --check .

# Verify type checking
mypy src/

# Verify tests run
pytest

# Verify package imports
python -c "import project_name"

Quick Reference

Common Commands

# Create virtual environment
python -m venv .venv && source .venv/bin/activate

# Install with dev dependencies
pip install -e ".[dev]"

# Run all quality checks
ruff check . && ruff format --check . && mypy src/ && pytest

# Build distribution
python -m build

# Upload to PyPI (test)
twine upload --repository testpypi dist/*

Version Bumping

Use semantic versioning: MAJOR.MINOR.PATCH

• MAJOR: Breaking changes
• MINOR: New features (backward compatible)
• PATCH: Bug fixes

Conditional Workflows

Starting from scratch? → Follow steps 1-6 sequentially

Adding tooling to existing project? → Jump to Step 4, adapt configs to existing structure

Just need documentation? → Jump to Step 5, use templates from references

Need CI/CD setup? → See references/tool-configs.md for GitHub Actions templates

Source: camauger/dev-skills — distributed by TomeVault.