usethis-python · nathanjmcdougall · Dec 29, 2025 · Dec 28, 2025 · Dec 29, 2025 · Dec 29, 2025
diff --git a/src/usethis/_integrations/pre_commit/hooks.py b/src/usethis/_integrations/pre_commit/hooks.py
@@ -7,9 +7,9 @@
 from usethis._integrations.pre_commit.init import (
     ensure_pre_commit_config_exists,
 )
+from usethis._integrations.pre_commit.language import get_system_language
 from usethis._integrations.pre_commit.schema import (
     HookDefinition,
-    Language,
     LocalRepo,
     MetaRepo,
 )
@@ -187,7 +187,7 @@ def _get_placeholder_repo_config() -> LocalRepo:
                 id=_PLACEHOLDER_ID,
                 name="Placeholder - add your own hooks!",
                 entry="""uv run --isolated --frozen --offline python -c "print('hello world!')\"""",
-                language=Language("system"),
+                language=get_system_language(),
             )
         ],
     )

diff --git a/src/usethis/_integrations/pre_commit/language.py b/src/usethis/_integrations/pre_commit/language.py
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+from packaging.version import Version
+
+from usethis._integrations.pre_commit.schema import Language
+from usethis._integrations.pre_commit.version import get_minimum_pre_commit_version
+
+
+def get_system_language() -> Language:
+    """Get the appropriate 'system' language keyword based on pre-commit version.
+
+    Returns 'unsupported' for pre-commit >= 4.4.0, otherwise 'system'.
+
+    In the future, there may be a deprecation of the 'system' language in pre-commit,
+    at which point falling back to 'system' may no longer be appropriate and this logic
+    will need to be revisited.
+    """
+    min_version = get_minimum_pre_commit_version()
+    if min_version is not None and Version(min_version) >= Version("4.4.0"):
+        return Language("unsupported")
+    return Language("system")
diff --git a/src/usethis/_tool/impl/deptry.py b/src/usethis/_tool/impl/deptry.py
@@ -9,7 +9,8 @@
 from usethis._integrations.backend.dispatch import get_backend
 from usethis._integrations.backend.uv.used import is_uv_used
 from usethis._integrations.file.pyproject_toml.io_ import PyprojectTOMLManager
-from usethis._integrations.pre_commit.schema import HookDefinition, Language, LocalRepo
+from usethis._integrations.pre_commit.language import get_system_language
+from usethis._integrations.pre_commit.schema import HookDefinition, LocalRepo
 from usethis._integrations.project.layout import get_source_dir_str
 from usethis._tool.base import Tool
 from usethis._tool.config import (
@@ -102,7 +103,7 @@ def get_pre_commit_config(self) -> PreCommitConfig:
                             id="deptry",
                             name="deptry",
                             entry=f"uv run --frozen --offline deptry {_dir}",
-                            language=Language("system"),
+                            language=get_system_language(),
                             always_run=True,
                             pass_filenames=False,
                         )
@@ -120,7 +121,7 @@ def get_pre_commit_config(self) -> PreCommitConfig:
                             id="deptry",
                             name="deptry",
                             entry=f"deptry {_dir}",
-                            language=Language("system"),
+                            language=get_system_language(),
                             always_run=True,
                             pass_filenames=False,
                         )

diff --git a/src/usethis/_tool/impl/import_linter.py b/src/usethis/_tool/impl/import_linter.py
@@ -15,7 +15,8 @@
 from usethis._integrations.file.ini.io_ import INIFileManager
 from usethis._integrations.file.pyproject_toml.io_ import PyprojectTOMLManager
 from usethis._integrations.file.setup_cfg.io_ import SetupCFGManager
-from usethis._integrations.pre_commit.schema import HookDefinition, Language, LocalRepo
+from usethis._integrations.pre_commit.language import get_system_language
+from usethis._integrations.pre_commit.schema import HookDefinition, LocalRepo
 from usethis._integrations.project.errors import ImportGraphBuildFailedError
 from usethis._integrations.project.imports import (
     LayeredArchitecture,
@@ -342,7 +343,7 @@ def get_pre_commit_config(self) -> PreCommitConfig:
                             name="import-linter",
                             pass_filenames=False,
                             entry="uv run --frozen --offline lint-imports",
-                            language=Language("system"),
+                            language=get_system_language(),
                             require_serial=True,
                             always_run=True,
                         )
@@ -361,7 +362,7 @@ def get_pre_commit_config(self) -> PreCommitConfig:
                             name="import-linter",
                             pass_filenames=False,
                             entry="lint-imports",
-                            language=Language("system"),
+                            language=get_system_language(),
                         )
                     ],
                 ),

diff --git a/src/usethis/_tool/impl/requirements_txt.py b/src/usethis/_tool/impl/requirements_txt.py
@@ -8,7 +8,8 @@
 from usethis._config import usethis_config
 from usethis._console import how_print
 from usethis._integrations.backend.dispatch import get_backend
-from usethis._integrations.pre_commit.schema import HookDefinition, Language, LocalRepo
+from usethis._integrations.pre_commit.language import get_system_language
+from usethis._integrations.pre_commit.schema import HookDefinition, LocalRepo
 from usethis._tool.base import Tool
 from usethis._tool.pre_commit import PreCommitConfig
 from usethis._types.backend import BackendEnum
@@ -73,7 +74,7 @@ def get_pre_commit_config(self) -> PreCommitConfig:
                             files="^uv\\.lock$",
                             pass_filenames=False,
                             entry="uv export --frozen --offline --quiet -o=requirements.txt",
-                            language=Language("system"),
+                            language=get_system_language(),
                             require_serial=True,
                         )
                     ],

diff --git a/tests/usethis/_integrations/pre_commit/test_language.py b/tests/usethis/_integrations/pre_commit/test_language.py
@@ -0,0 +1,107 @@
+from pathlib import Path
+
+from usethis._config_file import files_manager
+from usethis._integrations.pre_commit.language import get_system_language
+from usethis._integrations.pre_commit.schema import Language
+from usethis._test import change_cwd
+
+
+class TestGetSystemLanguage:
+    def test_returns_unsupported_when_minimum_version_is_4_4_0(self, tmp_path: Path):
+        # Arrange
+        (tmp_path / ".pre-commit-config.yaml").write_text("""\
+minimum_pre_commit_version: '4.4.0'
+repos:
+  - repo: https://github.com/abravalheri/validate-pyproject
+    rev: v0.23
+    hooks:
+      - id: validate-pyproject
+""")
+
+        # Act
+        with change_cwd(tmp_path), files_manager():
+            result = get_system_language()
+
+        # Assert
+        assert result == Language("unsupported")
+
+    def test_returns_unsupported_when_minimum_version_is_above_4_4_0(
+        self, tmp_path: Path
+    ):
+        # Arrange
+        (tmp_path / ".pre-commit-config.yaml").write_text("""\
+minimum_pre_commit_version: '4.5.0'
+repos:
+  - repo: https://github.com/abravalheri/validate-pyproject
+    rev: v0.23
+    hooks:
+      - id: validate-pyproject
+""")
+
+        # Act
+        with change_cwd(tmp_path), files_manager():
+            result = get_system_language()
+
+        # Assert
+        assert result == Language("unsupported")
+
+    def test_returns_system_when_minimum_version_is_below_4_4_0(self, tmp_path: Path):
+        # Arrange
+        (tmp_path / ".pre-commit-config.yaml").write_text("""\
+minimum_pre_commit_version: '4.3.0'
+repos:
+  - repo: https://github.com/abravalheri/validate-pyproject
+    rev: v0.23
+    hooks:
+      - id: validate-pyproject
+""")
+
+        # Act
+        with change_cwd(tmp_path), files_manager():
+            result = get_system_language()
+
+        # Assert
+        assert result == Language("system")
+
+    def test_returns_system_when_config_doesnt_exist(self, tmp_path: Path):
+        # Act
+        with change_cwd(tmp_path), files_manager():
+            result = get_system_language()
+
+        # Assert
+        assert result == Language("system")
+
+    def test_returns_system_when_minimum_version_not_declared(self, tmp_path: Path):
+        # Arrange
+        (tmp_path / ".pre-commit-config.yaml").write_text("""\
+repos:
+  - repo: https://github.com/abravalheri/validate-pyproject
+    rev: v0.23
+    hooks:
+      - id: validate-pyproject
+""")
+
+        # Act
+        with change_cwd(tmp_path), files_manager():
+            result = get_system_language()
+
+        # Assert
+        assert result == Language("system")
+
+    def test_returns_system_when_minimum_version_is_3_x(self, tmp_path: Path):
+        # Arrange
+        (tmp_path / ".pre-commit-config.yaml").write_text("""\
+minimum_pre_commit_version: '3.7.1'
+repos:
+  - repo: https://github.com/abravalheri/validate-pyproject
+    rev: v0.23
+    hooks:
+      - id: validate-pyproject
+""")
+
+        # Act
+        with change_cwd(tmp_path), files_manager():
+            result = get_system_language()
+
+        # Assert
+        assert result == Language("system")
diff --git a/tests/usethis/_integrations/pre_commit/test_yaml.py b/tests/usethis/_integrations/pre_commit/test_yaml.py
@@ -136,15 +136,20 @@ def test_extra_config(self, tmp_path: Path):
 
 
 class TestPreCommitFancyDump:
-    def test_placeholder(self):
-        _pre_commit_fancy_dump(
-            config=JsonSchemaForPreCommitConfigYaml(
-                repos=[
-                    _get_placeholder_repo_config(),
-                ]
-            ),
-            reference={},
-        )
+    def test_placeholder(self, tmp_path: Path):
+        # Arrange - create a minimal pre-commit config for get_system_language()
+        (tmp_path / ".pre-commit-config.yaml").write_text("repos: []\n")
+
+        # Act
+        with change_cwd(tmp_path), files_manager():
+            _pre_commit_fancy_dump(
+                config=JsonSchemaForPreCommitConfigYaml(
+                    repos=[
+                        _get_placeholder_repo_config(),
+                    ]
+                ),
+                reference={},
+            )
 
     def test_invalid(self):
         with pytest.raises(TypeError):

diff --git a/tests/usethis/_tool/impl/test_deptry.py b/tests/usethis/_tool/impl/test_deptry.py
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 
 from usethis._config_file import files_manager
 from usethis._integrations.file.pyproject_toml.io_ import PyprojectTOMLManager
+from usethis._integrations.pre_commit.schema import Language
 from usethis._test import change_cwd
 from usethis._tool.config import ConfigEntry, ConfigItem
 from usethis._tool.impl.deptry import DeptryTool
@@ -268,3 +269,102 @@ def test_pyproject_toml_exists(self, tmp_path: Path):
 
             # Assert
             assert (tmp_path / "pyproject.toml").exists()
+
+    class TestGetPreCommitConfig:
+        def test_uses_system_language_when_no_minimum_version(self, tmp_path: Path):
+            # Arrange
+            (tmp_path / "pyproject.toml").write_text("""\
+[project]
+name = "test-project"
+""")
+            (tmp_path / "src").mkdir()
+            (tmp_path / "src" / "test_project").mkdir()
+            (tmp_path / "src" / "test_project" / "__init__.py").touch()
+
+            # Act
+            with change_cwd(tmp_path), files_manager():
+                result = DeptryTool().get_pre_commit_config()
+
+            # Assert
+            assert result.repo_configs is not None
+            assert result.repo_configs[0].repo.hooks is not None
+            assert result.repo_configs[0].repo.hooks[0].language == Language("system")
+
+        def test_uses_system_language_when_minimum_version_below_4_4_0(
+            self, tmp_path: Path
+        ):
+            # Arrange
+            (tmp_path / "pyproject.toml").write_text("""\
+[project]
+name = "test-project"
+""")
+            (tmp_path / ".pre-commit-config.yaml").write_text("""\
+minimum_pre_commit_version: '4.3.0'
+repos: []
+""")
+            (tmp_path / "src").mkdir()
+            (tmp_path / "src" / "test_project").mkdir()
+            (tmp_path / "src" / "test_project" / "__init__.py").touch()
+
+            # Act
+            with change_cwd(tmp_path), files_manager():
+                result = DeptryTool().get_pre_commit_config()
+
+            # Assert
+            assert result.repo_configs is not None
+            assert result.repo_configs[0].repo.hooks is not None
+            assert result.repo_configs[0].repo.hooks[0].language == Language("system")
+
+        def test_uses_unsupported_language_when_minimum_version_is_4_4_0(
+            self, tmp_path: Path
+        ):
+            # Arrange
+            (tmp_path / "pyproject.toml").write_text("""\
+[project]
+name = "test-project"
+""")
+            (tmp_path / ".pre-commit-config.yaml").write_text("""\
+minimum_pre_commit_version: '4.4.0'
+repos: []
+""")
+            (tmp_path / "src").mkdir()
+            (tmp_path / "src" / "test_project").mkdir()
+            (tmp_path / "src" / "test_project" / "__init__.py").touch()
+
+            # Act
+            with change_cwd(tmp_path), files_manager():
+                result = DeptryTool().get_pre_commit_config()
+
+            # Assert
+            assert result.repo_configs is not None
+            assert result.repo_configs[0].repo.hooks is not None
+            assert result.repo_configs[0].repo.hooks[0].language == Language(
+                "unsupported"
+            )
+
+        def test_uses_unsupported_language_when_minimum_version_above_4_4_0(
+            self, tmp_path: Path
+        ):
+            # Arrange
+            (tmp_path / "pyproject.toml").write_text("""\
+[project]
+name = "test-project"
+""")
+            (tmp_path / ".pre-commit-config.yaml").write_text("""\
+minimum_pre_commit_version: '4.5.0'
+repos: []
+""")
+            (tmp_path / "src").mkdir()
+            (tmp_path / "src" / "test_project").mkdir()
+            (tmp_path / "src" / "test_project" / "__init__.py").touch()
+
+            # Act
+            with change_cwd(tmp_path), files_manager():
+                result = DeptryTool().get_pre_commit_config()
+
+            # Assert
+            assert result.repo_configs is not None
+            assert result.repo_configs[0].repo.hooks is not None
+            assert result.repo_configs[0].repo.hooks[0].language == Language(
+                "unsupported"
+            )