Python Validation¶
Python's traditional validation stack (pip, Flake8/Pylint, mypy) was designed for human workflows. Each tool runs for seconds, acceptable when you lint once before committing. Agents validate after every edit, turning those seconds into minutes of blocked reasoning per task.
Tool Execution Cost¶
| Tool | Traditional | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Package install | pip | 2-10s |
| Linting | Flake8/Pylint | 2-5s |
| Type checking | mypy | 10-60s |
An agent editing Python files might validate 50 times per session. At 5 seconds per lint pass, that's over 4 minutes of waiting on linting alone.
Available Toolchains¶
Astral¶
The Astral toolchain provides Rust-based replacements for the entire stack: uv for package management, Ruff for linting/formatting, and ty for type checking. All three share configuration in pyproject.toml.
Astral tools run 10-100x faster than their traditional counterparts, bringing validation into the sub-second range where agents can run it continuously.
Related Topics¶
- Validation Tools - Overview and hook patterns
- Hooks - PostToolUse triggers for validation