Python Library Development Skills

A comprehensive set of Claude Code skills for professional Python library development, based on the guide at mcginniscommawill.com.

Installation

Step 1: Add the Marketplace

First, add this repository as a plugin marketplace in Claude Code:

/plugin marketplace add wdm0006/python-skills

Step 2: Install a Plugin Bundle

Install the complete skill set (recommended):

/plugin install python-library-complete@wdm0006-python-skills

Or install specific bundles based on your needs:

# Core skills for starting projects
/plugin install python-library-foundations@wdm0006-python-skills

# Skills for packaging and releasing
/plugin install python-library-distribution@wdm0006-python-skills

# Quality-focused skills (security, performance, API design)
/plugin install python-library-quality@wdm0006-python-skills

Alternative: Local Installation

For project-specific installation, clone this repository and copy the skills you need:

# Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/wdm0006/python-skills.git

# Copy skills to your project's .claude/skills/ directory
mkdir -p .claude/skills
cp -r python-skills/skills/* .claude/skills/

Or for global installation (available in all projects):

# Copy to your personal Claude skills directory
mkdir -p ~/.claude/skills
cp -r python-skills/skills/* ~/.claude/skills/

Verifying Installation

After installation, you can verify the skills are loaded by running:

/plugin list

Note: Skills require Claude Code Pro, Max, Team, or Enterprise. Free tier users do not have access to Skills.

Available Skills

Skill	Description	Based On
setting-up-python-libraries	Project setup with pyproject.toml, uv, ruff, pytest, pre-commit, GitHub Actions	Defining Library Scope, Dependency Management, Licensing, pyproject.toml Explained
improving-python-code-quality	Ruff linting, mypy type checking, Pythonic idioms, refactoring	Linting & Formatting with Ruff, Understanding McCabe Complexity, Adding Type Hints
testing-python-libraries	Pytest test suites, fixtures, parametrization, Hypothesis property-based testing	Testing with Pytest, Testing Coverage, Testing with Tox, Testing with Mocking
auditing-python-security	Security audits with Bandit, pip-audit, Semgrep, detect-secrets	Avoiding Injection Flaws, Intro to Bandit, Dependency Security, Handling Sensitive Data, Secure Coding Practices
designing-python-apis	API design principles, deprecation, breaking changes, error handling	The Art of API Design, Designing for Developer Joy
documenting-python-libraries	Google-style docstrings, Sphinx setup, ReadTheDocs configuration	Writing Effective Docstrings, Getting Started with Sphinx, Automating Docs Deployment, Documenting Your Library's API
packaging-python-libraries	pyproject.toml, PyPI publishing, trusted publishing, wheel building	pyproject.toml Explained, Publishing PyGeohash
managing-python-releases	Semantic versioning, changelogs, release automation, deprecation workflows	Semantic Versioning
optimizing-python-performance	Profiling, memory analysis, benchmarking, optimization strategies	Performance Benchmarking, Profiling with PyInstrument, Memory Profiling with Memray
building-python-clis	Click/Typer CLIs, command groups, shell completion, CLI testing	Guide to Python Libraries
building-python-communities	CONTRIBUTING.md, issue templates, PR templates, GitHub automation	Building Engaging Community, Inner Source Introduction, From Silos to Shared Libraries
reviewing-python-libraries	Comprehensive library reviews across all quality dimensions	Guide to Python Libraries

Plugin Bundles

python-library-complete

All 12 skills for comprehensive Python library development.

python-library-foundations

Core skills for starting projects:

• Project setup
• Code quality
• Testing strategy

python-library-distribution

Skills for packaging and releasing:

• Packaging
• Release management
• CLI development

python-library-quality

Quality-focused skills:

• Security audit
• Performance
• API design

Usage

Once installed, Claude will automatically use these skills when you ask about:

• Setting up a new Python library
• Adding tests to your project
• Publishing to PyPI
• Reviewing code quality
• Security scanning
• Writing documentation
• And more...

Contributing

Contributions are welcome! Please open an issue or PR on GitHub.

License

MIT License - see LICENSE for details.