uv is finally an all-in-one tool that finally takes all of the good ideas from previous projects and combines them together to work well as one (and unbelievably fast).
The fact that it's a binary, not written in python, also simplifies bootstrapping. So you don't need python+dependencies installed in order to install your python+dependencies.
One helpful element that has changed over the years compared to the old wild west days is the large number of PEPs that have quietly in the background bit by bit standardized packaging formats and requirements.
Some foundations have moved into the stdlib. This means that newer tools are much more compatible with each other and mainly just differ in implementation rather than doing different things altogether. The new stuff is working on a much more standard base and can leave behind many dark crufty corners.
Unravelling the legacy stuff and putting the standards in place seems to have taken 15+ years?
I'm hoping for the best. now there's a lot of CI and Readme.md that will need rewriting