What's the best tool for writing boilerplate code in Python?

The “best” tool depends on what kind of boilerplate you mean, but for most Python projects, these are the top choices:

• Cookiecutter — best general-purpose project scaffold generator

  • Great for creating full project templates
  • Widely used and flexible
  • Good if you want to start new packages/apps with a standard structure

• Copier — modern alternative to Cookiecutter

  • Similar purpose, often nicer for template updates over time
  • Good if you want reusable templates that can evolve

• IDE live templates/snippets — best for small code boilerplate

  • In PyCharm or VS Code, snippets are ideal for repeating class/function/test patterns
  • Fastest option for local code insertion

• Code generation tools/frameworks — best for specific domains

  • Example: Django startproject/startapp, FastAPI project templates, SQLAlchemy model generators, etc.
  • Best when tied to a framework’s conventions

My quick recommendation

• If you want to generate entire project scaffolds: Cookiecutter
• If you want snippets inside your editor: VS Code/PyCharm templates
• If you want a modern template system with update support: Copier

If you tell me whether you mean project scaffolding, function/class snippets, or framework app boilerplate, I can recommend the best specific tool.