Dependency Management Tools
Dependency management tools are software utilities that automate the process of handling external libraries, packages, and modules required for a project. They manage installation, versioning, updates, and resolution of dependencies to ensure consistent and reproducible builds across different environments. These tools are essential in modern software development to streamline workflows and prevent conflicts.
Developers should use dependency management tools when working on projects with external libraries to avoid manual handling and ensure compatibility. They are crucial for maintaining project stability, enabling team collaboration, and automating builds in CI/CD pipelines. Specific use cases include managing Python packages with pip, Java projects with Maven or Gradle, and JavaScript/Node.js applications with npm or Yarn.