About the Python Dependency Converter
Python's dependency ecosystem speaks several formats: requirements.txt for pip, Pipfile for pipenv, and pyproject.toml for Poetry, PDM, and modern pip. Migrating a project between tools means translating pins, extras, and version specifiers between syntaxes — mechanical work this converter automates in the browser.
The conversion preserves the intent of each specifier: exact pins (==), compatible-release constraints (~=), Poetry's caret (^) ranges, and environment markers map across formats with documented equivalents rather than being silently dropped.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between ~= and Poetry's ^ constraint?
Both allow "compatible" upgrades but with different rules: ~=1.4.2 (PEP 440) allows >=1.4.2,<1.5.0, while Poetry's ^1.4.2 allows >=1.4.2,<2.0.0 — a far wider range. Converting between them changes which future releases are accepted, so audit the result when stability matters.
Should I commit a lock file or a requirements.txt?
Both, conceptually: declare loose constraints in pyproject.toml or Pipfile (what you need), and commit the generated lock file (what you tested). For pip-only workflows, pip-compile from pip-tools generates a fully pinned requirements.txt that serves as the lock file. Deploying from unpinned requirements is how Friday deploys break.
How do extras and environment markers convert?
Extras like requests[security] and markers like ; python_version < "3.11" exist in all three formats with equivalent syntax — requirements.txt and Pipfile use PEP 508 strings, while Poetry expresses them as structured TOML (extras = [...], markers = ...). They translate losslessly, but verify markers survive the round trip; they are the most commonly dropped element.
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