uv
Checks whether the uv Python package manager is installed and installs it if missing. Ensures uv is on PATH. Use when another skill requires uv as a prerequisite.
Security Assessment
Detected risks:
About uv
This is a small prerequisite-installer skill that ensures the `uv` Python package manager is available before other Google DeepMind Science Skills run their Python CLI scripts. It solves a narrow dependency problem: many science skills assume `uv` is installed and on PATH, and this skill provides the detect-and-install steps so those skills can execute reliably.
The workflow first checks whether `uv` is already available via `uv --version`, then checks the default install location (`$HOME/.local/bin`) in case it is installed but not on PATH. If `uv` is genuinely missing, it informs the user and installs it, then adds the install directory to PATH and verifies. The install step uses the official Astral installer, piping a remote install script from astral.sh into a shell on Unix/macOS (`curl -LsSf https://astral.sh/uv/install.sh | sh`) or invoking the PowerShell equivalent (`irm | iex`) on Windows. This remote-script execution pattern is the main thing a reviewer should be aware of; it targets the official uv vendor domain and is the documented installation method, but it does run a fetched script with shell privileges.
Target users are anyone running the Science Skills toolchain who needs uv as a prerequisite. It is a single SKILL.md with no bundled code of its own. Typical use is being invoked automatically by another skill that depends on uv, or run directly to bootstrap a consistent Python environment.
FAQ
What does this skill actually do?
It checks whether the uv Python package manager is installed and on PATH, installs it if missing using the official Astral installer, and then adds it to PATH and verifies with uv --version.
How does it install uv?
On Unix/macOS it pipes the official install script from astral.sh into a shell (curl ... | sh); on Windows it runs the PowerShell equivalent (irm ... | iex). Both fetch and execute the vendor's installation script.
Will it reinstall uv if it is already present?
No. It first runs uv --version, and if that succeeds it skips the remaining steps. It also checks the default $HOME/.local/bin location before attempting an install.
Does it need elevated privileges?
The documented steps install uv into the user's home directory ($HOME/.local/bin) and adjust PATH for the session, without requiring root or sudo.
When should this skill be used?
When another Science Skill requires uv as a prerequisite. It is intended as a bootstrap step so downstream Python CLI scripts have a consistent environment.
Install uv
Quick Setup:
- Copy the skill folder to
.claude/skills/ - Claude will automatically detect and use the skill
Repository
google-deepmind/science-skills