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Tool Selection Guide

This guide helps you choose the right tools for your Python project based on your specific needs, team size, and project type.

Decision Matrix

Project Type-Based Recommendations

Project Type Essential Tools Recommended Tools Optional Tools
Personal Script ruff, pytest mypy, pre-commit bandit, safety
Open Source Library ruff, pytest, mypy, github-actions pre-commit, coverage, mkdocs bandit, safety, codecov
Team Project ruff, pytest, mypy, pre-commit, github-actions coverage, bandit, safety, mkdocs tox, codecov, dependabot
Enterprise/Production All quality tools Documentation, CI/CD Semantic release, advanced monitoring

Team Size Considerations

Solo Developer (1 person)

  • Start with: ruff, pytest, basic GitHub Actions
  • Add gradually: mypy, pre-commit, mkdocs
  • Avoid initially: Complex CI/CD, enterprise tools

Small Team (2-5 people)

  • Essential: ruff, pytest, mypy, pre-commit
  • Important: GitHub Actions, coverage, basic documentation
  • Consider: bandit, safety for security

Medium Team (6-20 people)

  • Required: All quality tools, comprehensive CI/CD
  • Important: Documentation, security scanning, dependency management
  • Consider: Semantic release, advanced monitoring

Large Team/Enterprise (20+ people)

  • Required: All tools, strict enforcement
  • Important: Governance, compliance, advanced automation
  • Consider: Custom tooling, enterprise integrations

Tool Categories Deep Dive

Code Quality (Essential for all projects)

Choose when: - Any Python project - Want fast linting and formatting - Prefer modern, unified tooling

Alternatives: - flake8 + black + isort (slower, more configuration) - pylint (more detailed but slower)

Choose when: - Project will be maintained long-term - Working in a team - Want better IDE support - Code correctness is important

Skip when: - Very small scripts - Prototype/experimental code - Team unfamiliar with type hints

Testing (Essential for all projects)

Choose when: - Any Python project needing tests - Want modern testing features - Need good plugin ecosystem

Alternatives: - unittest (standard library, more verbose) - nose2 (legacy, not recommended for new projects)

Choose when: - Code quality is important - Working in a team - Need to track testing completeness

Skip when: - Very early development stages - Simple scripts - Coverage would be misleading (e.g., lots of configuration code)

Automation

Choose when: - Working with others - Want to enforce code quality - Need fast feedback loops

Skip when: - Solo development with disciplined practices - CI/CD covers all quality checks - Hooks are too slow for workflow

Choose when: - Using GitHub - Need automated testing - Want free CI/CD

Alternatives: - GitLab CI (for GitLab) - Azure DevOps (for Microsoft ecosystem) - Jenkins (for on-premise)

Security

Choose when: - Code will be deployed to production - Handling sensitive data - Security compliance is required

Skip when: - Pure data science/research code - Simple scripts with no security implications - Learning/educational projects

Choose when: - Using third-party dependencies - Security is a concern - Need to track vulnerabilities

Skip when: - Minimal dependencies - Non-production code - Dependencies are well-vetted and minimal

Documentation

MkDocs vs Sphinx

Choose MkDocs when: - Want easy setup and maintenance - Team prefers Markdown - Modern, clean appearance is important - Simple to medium complexity documentation

Choose Sphinx when: - Need advanced features (cross-references, multiple outputs) - Want Python ecosystem standard - Have complex API documentation needs - Need PDF/EPUB output

Advanced Tools

Tox (For library authors)

Choose when: - Developing a library - Need to test multiple Python versions - Want standardized testing environments

Skip when: - Application development - Using Docker for environment isolation - CI/CD handles multi-version testing

Nox (Alternative to Tox)

Choose when: - Want Python-based configuration - Need more flexibility than Tox - Have complex testing scenarios

Docker (For applications)

Choose when: - Developing applications (not libraries) - Need consistent deployment environments - Working with microservices

Skip when: - Pure library development - Simple scripts - Team lacks Docker expertise

Configuration Strategies

Minimal Setup (Quick Start)

{
    "use_ruff": "y",
    "use_mypy": "n",
    "use_pytest": "y",
    "use_coverage": "n",
    "use_pre_commit": "n",
    "use_bandit": "n",
    "use_safety": "n",
    "use_github_actions": "y",
    "use_mkdocs": "n"
}

Pros: Fast setup, minimal overhead Cons: Limited quality assurance Best for: Personal projects, prototypes, learning

{
    "use_ruff": "y",
    "use_mypy": "y",
    "use_pytest": "y",
    "use_coverage": "y",
    "use_pre_commit": "y",
    "use_bandit": "y",
    "use_safety": "y",
    "use_github_actions": "y",
    "use_mkdocs": "y"
}

Pros: Good quality/productivity balance Cons: Some learning curve Best for: Most professional projects

Maximum Setup (Enterprise)

{
    "use_ruff": "y",
    "use_mypy": "y",
    "use_pytest": "y",
    "use_coverage": "y",
    "use_pre_commit": "y",
    "use_bandit": "y",
    "use_safety": "y",
    "use_github_actions": "y",
    "use_dependabot": "y",
    "use_codecov": "y",
    "use_semantic_release": "y",
    "use_mkdocs": "y",
    "use_tox": "y",
    "use_docker": "y"
}

Pros: Maximum quality and automation Cons: Complex setup, potential overhead Best for: Critical applications, large teams

Migration Strategies

From Existing Project

  1. Assess current state: What tools are you already using?
  2. Identify gaps: What quality issues do you face?
  3. Incremental adoption: Add tools one by one
  4. Team training: Ensure everyone understands new tools

Adding Tools Gradually

  1. Start with formatting: Ruff (format only)
  2. Add linting: Ruff (check)
  3. Add type checking: MyPy with gradual mode
  4. Add automation: Pre-commit hooks
  5. Add security: Bandit and Safety
  6. Add advanced CI/CD: Multiple Python versions, coverage

Legacy Code Considerations

  • Use # noqa comments: Temporarily ignore linting issues
  • Enable MyPy gradually: Use # type: ignore comments
  • Exclude files: Use tool configuration to exclude problematic files
  • Set baselines: Use coverage and security baselines

Common Pitfalls

Over-tooling

Problem: Adding too many tools too quickly Solution: Start minimal, add tools based on actual pain points

Under-tooling

Problem: Skipping important quality tools Solution: Include at least ruff, pytest, and basic CI

Configuration Complexity

Problem: Over-configuring tools Solution: Start with defaults, customize only when needed

Team Resistance

Problem: Team pushback on new tools Solution: Gradual introduction, clear value demonstration

Performance Issues

Problem: Tools slowing down development Solution: Optimize configurations, use faster alternatives (like Ruff)

Tool Compatibility Matrix

Tool 1 Tool 2 Compatibility Notes
Ruff MyPy ✅ Excellent Ruff handles formatting, MyPy handles types
Ruff Black ⚠️ Conflict Ruff replaces Black - don't use both
pytest Coverage ✅ Excellent Standard combination
Bandit Safety ✅ Excellent Complementary security tools
Tox Nox ⚠️ Alternative Choose one - both serve similar purposes
MkDocs Sphinx ⚠️ Alternative Choose based on needs

Decision Flowchart

flowchart TD
    A[New Python Project] --> B{Team Size?}
    B -->|Solo| C[Minimal Setup]
    B -->|Small Team| D[Balanced Setup]
    B -->|Large Team| E[Maximum Setup]

    C --> F{Project Type?}
    D --> F
    E --> F

    F -->|Script/Tool| G[Basic tools only]
    F -->|Library| H[Add documentation]
    F -->|Application| I[Add security tools]
    F -->|Enterprise| J[Add all tools]

    G --> K[Final Configuration]
    H --> K
    I --> K
    J --> K

Getting Help

Learning Resources

  • Tool documentation: Each tool has excellent documentation
  • Community examples: GitHub repos using these tools
  • Tutorials: Python packaging guides and tutorials

Common Questions

  • "Too many tools?": Start minimal, add based on needs
  • "Which formatter?": Use Ruff for new projects
  • "MkDocs vs Sphinx?": MkDocs for most projects, Sphinx for complex needs
  • "CI/CD platform?": GitHub Actions for GitHub, others for different platforms

This guide should help you make informed decisions about tool selection based on your specific project needs and constraints.