Pixi: Unified Software Development and Distribution for Robotics and AI

• URL: http://arxiv.org/abs/2511.04827v1
• Date: Thu, 06 Nov 2025 21:29:04 GMT
• Title: Pixi: Unified Software Development and Distribution for Robotics and AI
• Authors: Tobias Fischer, Wolf Vollprecht, Bas Zalmstra, Ruben Arts, Tim de Jager, Alejandro Fontan, Adam D Hines, Michael Milford, Silvio Traversaro, Daniel Claes, Scarlett Raine,
• Abstract summary: Up to 70% of robotics algorithms cannot be reproduced by independent teams.<n>We present Pixi, a unified package-management framework that captures exact dependency states in project-level lockfiles.<n>Adopted in over 5,300 projects since 2023, Pixi reduces setup times from hours to minutes and lowers technical barriers for researchers worldwide.
• Score: 41.29131868930693
• License: http://arxiv.org/licenses/nonexclusive-distrib/1.0/
• Abstract: The reproducibility crisis in scientific computing constrains robotics research. Existing studies reveal that up to 70% of robotics algorithms cannot be reproduced by independent teams, while many others fail to reach deployment because creating shareable software environments remains prohibitively complex. These challenges stem from fragmented, multi-language, and hardware-software toolchains that lead to dependency hell. We present Pixi, a unified package-management framework that addresses these issues by capturing exact dependency states in project-level lockfiles, ensuring bit-for-bit reproducibility across platforms. Its high-performance SAT solver achieves up to 10x faster dependency resolution than comparable tools, while integration of the conda-forge and PyPI ecosystems removes the need for multiple managers. Adopted in over 5,300 projects since 2023, Pixi reduces setup times from hours to minutes and lowers technical barriers for researchers worldwide. By enabling scalable, reproducible, collaborative research infrastructure, Pixi accelerates progress in robotics and AI.

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