appenv

appenv is a single Python file that pins packages to exact versions and exposes their binaries via symlinks. Drop it into a repository, commit it, and every checkout gets the same tools at the same versions — locally and on remote machines.

Core Concepts

  • Single-file deployment: appenv.py is the entire tool — drop it into any repository

  • Symlink dispatch: ./http (where http → appenv) runs the http binary from the pinned venv

  • Reproducible everywhere: commit appenv, pyproject.toml, and uv.lock — every checkout gets identical versions

  • Multiple binaries: create additional symlinks to expose more tools from the same venv

Project Structure

.
├── appenv              # Main application entrypoint
├── pyproject.toml      # Project configuration and dependencies
├── docs/               # Documentation
│   ├── index.md
│   ├── user/
│   └── dev/
├── src/                # Source code
│   └── appenv.py
└── tests/              # Test suite

Conventions

  • The appenv script requires Python 3.9+, managed environments require 3.10+.

  • uv 0.5.0+ is auto-installed if not found.

  • The appenv filename becomes the CLI command via symlink dispatch — ./http where http → appenv

  • pyproject.toml must be present next to the appenv file

  • Dependencies are resolved and locked by uv into uv.lock

Getting Started

New to appenv? Start with the Common Workflows — practical examples for setting up a project, adding dependencies, and integrating with CI/CD.

For reference material, see Commands Reference and Locking Behavior.