pdm

Installation and Setup

Install it from PyPI:

• Windows
• Linux + macOS

(venv) PS> py -m pip install pdm

(venv) $ python -m pip install pdm

Initialize a project and create pyproject.toml:

$ pdm init

Key Features

• Centralizes project metadata and dependency declarations in pyproject.toml.
• Locks resolved versions in pdm.lock to support reproducible installs across machines and CI systems, and can opt in to the standardized pylock.toml format from PEP 751.
• Manages isolated project environments and retains opt-in support for PEP 582 (__pypackages__), although PEP 582 was rejected and PDM now recommends using virtual environments.
• Downloads and installs Python interpreters through the pdm python command group, so you can set up a version that isn’t already on the machine.
• Organizes dependencies into groups like dev and exports pinned requirements when you need a requirements.txt file.
• Runs tools inside the project environment via pdm run and supports declarative scripts in [tool.pdm.scripts].
• Builds wheels and source distributions through a PEP 517–based build workflow with pdm build.

Usage

Create an environment and select a Python interpreter for the project:

$ pdm venv create -n py314

Install a Python interpreter that isn’t on your system yet:

$ pdm python install 3.14

Add and remove dependencies:

$ pdm add "httpx>=0.25"
$ pdm remove httpx

Work with groups:

$ pdm add -G dev pytest

Lock the project:

$ pdm lock
$ pdm install # Sync env to the lockfile
$ pdm update  # Refresh locked versions

Define a script inside the environment:

[tool.pdm.scripts]
tests = "pytest -q"

Run the script:

$ pdm run tests

Export pinned requirements:

$ pdm export -o requirements.txt

Or export the standardized PEP 751 lock format:

$ pdm export -f pylock -o pylock.toml

Build distributable artifacts:

$ pdm build

Related Resources

Tutorial

How to Manage Python Projects With pyproject.toml

Learn how to manage Python projects with the pyproject.toml configuration file. In this tutorial, you'll explore key use cases of the pyproject.toml file, including configuring your build, installing your package locally, managing dependencies, and publishing your package to PyPI.

intermediate tools

For additional information on related topics, take a look at the following resources:

• Dependency Management With Python Poetry (Tutorial)
• uv vs pip: Managing Python Packages and Dependencies (Tutorial)
• Using Python's pip to Manage Your Projects' Dependencies (Tutorial)
• Everyday Project Packaging With pyproject.toml (Course)
• uv vs pip: Python Packaging and Dependency Management (Course)
• How to Manage Python Projects With pyproject.toml (Quiz)
• Managing Dependencies With Python Poetry (Course)
• Dependency Management With Python Poetry (Quiz)
• uv vs pip: Managing Python Packages and Dependencies (Quiz)
• A Beginner's Guide to pip (Course)
• Using Python's pip to Manage Your Projects' Dependencies (Quiz)