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pkgsrc VS Python Poetry

Compare pkgsrc VS Python Poetry and see what are their differences

pkgsrc logo pkgsrc

pkgsrc is a framework for building over 17,000 open source software packages.

Python Poetry logo Python Poetry

Python packaging and dependency manager.
  • pkgsrc Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-06-30
  • Python Poetry Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-11-12

pkgsrc features and specs

  • Cross-Platform Support
    pkgsrc is designed to be a portable package management system and can be used on a variety of Unix-like operating systems, including NetBSD, Solaris, Linux, and macOS. This cross-platform capability makes it a versatile tool for developers working in diverse environments.
  • Consistency Across Systems
    Using pkgsrc allows for a consistent package management experience regardless of the underlying operating system, reducing the learning curve and maintenance overhead for administrators managing multiple systems.
  • Comprehensive Package Collection
    pkgsrc offers a wide range of software packages, providing a robust collection that can meet diverse user needs from scientific libraries to web applications.
  • Quarterly Releases
    With quarterly releases, pkgsrc provides a balanced approach between stability and keeping software up to date, offering users new features regularly while maintaining reliability.
  • Flexible Build Options
    pkgsrc supports a flexible build system, allowing users to customize package builds with specific options or dependencies, tailored to their specific needs or system requirements.

Possible disadvantages of pkgsrc

  • Smaller Community
    Compared to other popular package management systems like apt (Debian/Ubuntu) or yum (RedHat/CentOS), pkgsrc has a relatively smaller community, which might affect the availability of support and community-driven improvements.
  • Potentially Older Software
    While pkgsrc maintains stable quarterly releases, it may occasionally lag behind other systems in terms of offering the very latest versions of certain software, which might not be ideal for users needing the newest features.
  • Manual Configuration
    Setting up pkgsrc might require manual interventions and configurations, which could pose a hurdle for users unfamiliar with its setup process or those who prefer more automated solutions.
  • Dependency Management
    Although pkgsrc is quite capable in dependency handling, some users may find its dependency resolution to be less automatic or seamless compared to other systems which offer more integrated solutions.
  • Performance Overhead
    Because it is designed to be cross-platform, there can be some performance overhead associated with using pkgsrc compared to native package managers that are optimized for specific operating systems.

Python Poetry features and specs

  • Dependency Management
    Python Poetry provides a robust system for managing project dependencies, making it easy to specify, install, and update packages.
  • Simplified Configuration
    It uses a clear and concise `pyproject.toml` file for configuration, which simplifies the setup process compared to other tools.
  • Environment Isolation
    Automatically manages virtual environments, ensuring that dependencies are isolated and do not interfere with each other.
  • Consistent Builds
    Poetry can lock dependencies to exact versions, ensuring consistent and repeatable builds across different environments.
  • Publishing Tools
    Includes built-in tools for publishing packages to PyPI, making the distribution process straightforward and streamlined.

Possible disadvantages of Python Poetry

  • Learning Curve
    Requires users to learn new commands and techniques, which can be a barrier for those familiar with other tools like pip and virtualenv.
  • Performance
    Dependency resolution and installation processes can sometimes be slower compared to tools like pip, especially for large projects.
  • Compatibility
    May have compatibility issues with certain packages or tools that expect a different environment or dependency management system.
  • Community Support
    While growing, the community and ecosystem around Poetry are not as large or mature as those around more established tools.
  • Limited IDE Integration
    Integration with some Integrated Development Environments (IDEs) might not be as seamless as for more widely used tools, potentially impacting productivity.

Analysis of Python Poetry

Overall verdict

  • Yes, Python Poetry is considered a good tool for managing Python projects, especially for developers who prefer a streamlined, cohesive approach to dependency management and virtual environment handling.

Why this product is good

  • Python Poetry is highly regarded because it simplifies dependency management and project setup for Python projects. It uses a simple `pyproject.toml` file for configuration and has a clear, intuitive CLI. It also resolves dependencies consistently and creates isolated virtual environments by default, which enhances project reproducibility and reduces conflicts.

Recommended for

  • Developers seeking a modern alternative to `pip` and `virtualenv`
  • Teams looking for consistent dependency resolution across different environments
  • Python developers prioritizing ease of use and intuitive project setup
  • Projects requiring robust dependency management and isolation

pkgsrc videos

pkgsrc on ChromeOS

More videos:

  • Review - Using pkgsrc for multi-platform deployments in heterogeneous environments, G Clifford Williams

Python Poetry videos

My Poetry is BAD

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to pkgsrc and Python Poetry)
Package Manager
45 45%
55% 55
Kids
0 0%
100% 100
Developer Tools
36 36%
64% 64
Front End Package Manager

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Python Poetry seems to be a lot more popular than pkgsrc. While we know about 162 links to Python Poetry, we've tracked only 10 mentions of pkgsrc. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

pkgsrc mentions (10)

  • Our Audit of Homebrew
    > https://pkgsrc.smartos.org/install-on-macos/ Note that Pkgsrc is a NetBSD-derived project. * https://pkgsrc.org The Joyent folks leveraged it to allow their customers, who were perhaps not as familiar with Solaris/SmartOS, a larger pool of packages. Pkgsrc was running on Solaris before Joyent, Joyent built on top of it. - Source: Hacker News / 10 months ago
  • Show HN: Brioche – A new Nix-like package manager
    Https://pkgsrc.org/ from netbsd runs on many systems. - Source: Hacker News / 12 months ago
  • Installing packages without an internet connection?
    It seems according to pkgsrc.org that pkgin might follow the PKG_PATH environment variable. You're supposed to set PKG_PATH="http://cdn.NetBSD.org/pub/pkgsrc/packages/NetBSD/$(uname -p)/$(uname -r|cut -f '1 2' -d.)/All/", and according to uname(1), -p gives the processor architecture and -r gives the operating system [kernel] release. Source: over 2 years ago
  • pkgsrc.se is no more :(
    It seems like pkgsrc.org hasn’t got the news yet. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Slackware 15.0
    I still have a Slackware install that runs some really old stuff I have. I remember working at AN ISP in the 90s and slack was are secure distro. All the important stuff (authentication, configs, etc.) were stored and served from our 'slack pool'. Funny part is now I do a very basic Slackware install that setup pkgsrc (https://pkgsrc.org) on it so I can really experience the best and worst of times! - Source: Hacker News / over 3 years ago
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Python Poetry mentions (162)

  • Say Hello to UV: A Fast Python Package & Project Manager Written in Rust
    If you’ve been managing Python projects long enough, you’ve probably dealt with a mess of tools: pip, pip-tools, poetry, virtualenv, conda, maybe even pdm. - Source: dev.to / about 1 month ago
  • ⚡️PipZap: Zapping the mess out of the Python dependencies
    First, there was pip. Combined with a requirements.txt, it seemed like a great idea – a straightforward method to declare dependencies explicitly. Luckily, we quickly realized this method tends to spiral into chaos, particularly when developers use "tricks" like pip freeze to lock dependencies rigidly. Fortunately, the Python ecosystem has evolved, introducing modern solutions like Poetry and now uv, offering... - Source: dev.to / 2 months ago
  • How to write an AsyncIO Telegram bot in Python
    Anyway, enough reminiscing about the past, this is not intended to be the ultimate guide on asynchronous programming, but a more pragmatic quick-start guide I wish I had back then. Assuming we are in a properly managed project (either through tools like poetry or uv), let’s start with a new module telegram.py for our telegram bot. Remember to add python-telegram-bot dependency to the project. - Source: dev.to / 3 months ago
  • Managing Python Deps with Poetry
    Managing dependencies in Python projects can often become cumbersome, especially as projects grow in complexity. Poetry is a modern dependency management and packaging tool that simplifies this process, offering a streamlined way to create, manage, and distribute Python projects. - Source: dev.to / 3 months ago
  • Why You Should Rethink Your Python Toolbox in 2025
    Learn more about poetry here . It’s a great tool. - Source: dev.to / 4 months ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing pkgsrc and Python Poetry, you can also consider the following products

Conda - Binary package manager with support for environments.

Homebrew - The missing package manager for macOS

pip - The PyPA recommended tool for installing Python packages.

MacPorts - The MacPorts Project is an open-source community initiative to design an easy-to-use system for compiling, installing, and upgrading either command-line, X11 or Aqua based open-source software on the Mac OS X operating system.

pre-commit by Yelp - A framework for managing and maintaining multi-language pre-commit hooks

Portage - Portage is source-based package manager used by Gentoo and its descendants. It controls all process from fetching source through building it, installing into clean environment to "merging" with already installed software.