Install Dependencies

Install Dependencies

Philosophy

Core Principle: Let package managers handle version resolution automatically. Never specify version numbers unless absolutely necessary.

Why This Approach

1. Package managers are smarter: Modern package managers (uv, npm, cargo) resolve compatible versions automatically
2. Avoid version conflicts: Manual version specifications often create dependency hell
3. Get latest features: Always use the newest compatible versions
4. Simpler maintenance: No need to manually track and update versions
5. Trust the ecosystem: Package managers understand semver and compatibility better than manual pinning

Universal Rules

✅ DO:

• Add dependency names without version numbers
• Let the package manager resolve versions
• Trust the lock file (package-lock.json, Cargo.lock, uv.lock)
• Update dependencies regularly through the package manager

❌ DON'T:

• Specify version numbers (>=, ^, ~, =)
• Manually pin versions without good reason
• Override package manager decisions
• Commit version specifications to dependency files

Exception Case

The ONLY time to specify a version is when there's a known breaking change or compatibility issue that requires pinning to a specific version.

Requirements for version pinning:

• Must be documented with a comment explaining why
• Must be treated as temporary until the issue is resolved
• Should include link to issue/​ticket tracking the problem

Example:

dependencies = [
    "problematic-lib",  # Pinned to v1.2.3 due to breaking change in v1.3.0 (see issue #123)
]

Language-Specific Details

For language-specific syntax and examples:

• Python: See PYTHON.md
• TypeScript/​JavaScript: See TYPESCRIPT.md
• Rust: See RUST.md

Workflow

1. Add dependency: Add dependency name only (no version)
2. Let package manager resolve: Run the appropriate install/​sync command
3. Verify: Check that dependency was resolved and installed
4. Commit lock file: Always commit the updated lock file