If you write Python code regularly, you know that some tasks can be painfully repetitive.
Python has some incredibly powerful libraries that can save you hours (or even days) of work. The problem? Most people keep using the same mainstream ones—NumPy, Pandas, and Requests—without realizing there are hidden gems that can automate, optimize, and simplify a lot of tasks.
So here’s a list of 10 Python libraries that can help you get things done faster.
1. Rich – Stop Using Boring Print Statements
Rich is a game-changer for beautifully formatted console logs. It lets you print tables, syntax-highlighted code, markdown, and even progress bars. Perfect for debugging or making CLI tools visually appealing.
Time saved: No more ugly print debugging or manually formatting tables.
from rich.console import Console
console = Console()
console.print("Hello, [bold magenta]Rich![/bold magenta]")
2. Typer – Writing CLIs the Easy Way
If you’ve ever struggled with argparse, you’re going to love Typer. It’s based on FastAPI’s structure and makes it ridiculously easy to build command-line interfaces.
Time saved: No more manually parsing command-line arguments. Just type hint your functions and Typer does the rest.
import typer
app = typer.Typer()
@app.command()
def hello(name: str):
print(f"Hello {name}")
app()
3. Polars – A Faster Alternative to Pandas
If your Pandas operations feel slow, Polars is the upgrade you need. It’s a blazingly fast DataFrame library that can handle large datasets more efficiently.
Time saved: Significantly reduced processing time for big data.
import polars as pl
df = pl.read_csv("data.csv")
df.filter(pl.col("age") > 30)
4. FastAPI – The Modern Way to Build APIs
Django and Flask are great, but FastAPI is a whole different level. It’s fast, has built-in validation, and generates API docs automatically.
Time saved: Less boilerplate, automatic validation, and speedier performance.
from fastapi import FastAPI
app = FastAPI()
@app.get("/")
def read_root():
return {"message": "Hello, FastAPI!"}
5. Pydantic – Stop Writing Manual Data Validation
If you hate writing manual validation logic, Pydantic is your best friend. It allows you to define data models with automatic validation using Python type hints.
Time saved: No need to write complex validation functions.
from pydantic import BaseModel
class User(BaseModel):
name: str
age: int
user = User(name="John", age="25") # Raises validation error
6. Loguru – Logging Made Ridiculously Simple
Python’s built-in logging module is powerful but overcomplicated. Loguru makes logging as easy as writing a print statement.
Time saved: No need to configure complex logging settings.
from loguru import logger
logger.info("This is an info message")
7. TQDM – Add Progress Bars with Zero Effort
If you work with loops that take time, TQDM is a must-have. It lets you add progress bars to your loops with a single line.
Time saved: Makes long-running loops visually trackable.
from tqdm import tqdm
for i in tqdm(range(100)):
pass # Your logic here
8. Shapely – Work with Geometric Objects Effortlessly
If you deal with geospatial data, Shapely makes working with geometric objects a breeze.
Time saved: No need to manually compute intersections, distances, or shapes.
from shapely.geometry import Point
point = Point(1.0, 2.0)
print(point.x, point.y)
9. Pytest – Write Better Tests, Faster
Forget about Python’s built-in unittest
. Pytest makes writing and running tests intuitive and efficient.
Time saved: Cleaner syntax, auto-discovery, and better debugging.
def test_example():
assert 2 + 2 == 4
Run all tests with a single command:
pytest
10. Playwright – Automate Browser Actions Like a Pro
For web scraping or automated testing, Playwright is a powerful alternative to Selenium.
Time saved: Faster execution, headless browsing, and better handling of modern web apps.
from playwright.sync_api import sync_playwright
with sync_playwright() as p:
browser = p.chromium.launch()
page = browser.new_page()
page.goto("https://example.com")
print(page.title())
browser.close()
If you find yourself repeating certain tasks, look for a Python library that can automate or simplify it. Chances are, someone has already built the solution for you.
Which of these libraries have you used? Got any more time-saving Python gems? Drop them in the comments!
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