diff --git a/.github/actions/setup-uv-python/action.yml b/.github/actions/setup-uv-python/action.yml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..055e56121
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/actions/setup-uv-python/action.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+name: "Set up uv and Python"
+description: "Installs uv, sets up Python via .python-version, and installs build deps from pyproject.toml"
+
+runs:
+  using: composite
+  steps:
+    - name: Install uv
+      uses: astral-sh/setup-uv@v8.0.0
+      with:
+        version: "0.11.3"
+
+    - name: Set up Python
+      shell: bash
+      run: |
+        uv python install
+        echo "python=$(uv python find)" >> $GITHUB_ENV
+
+    - name: Install Python build deps
+      shell: bash
+      run: uv pip install .
diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index 385da7f12..f1e1190b2 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -49,15 +49,8 @@ jobs:
           node-version: '22'
           cache: 'pnpm'
 
-      - name: Setup Python 3.11 for node-gyp
-        uses: actions/setup-python@v5
-        with:
-          python-version: '3.11'
-
-      - name: Install Python build deps (setuptools shim for distutils)
-        run: |
-          python -m pip install --upgrade pip setuptools wheel
-          echo "python=$(which python3)" >> $GITHUB_ENV
+      - name: Set up uv and Python
+        uses: ./.github/actions/setup-uv-python
 
       - name: Install dependencies (strict lockfile)
         env:
@@ -192,15 +185,8 @@ jobs:
           node-version: '22'
           cache: 'pnpm'
 
-      - name: Setup Python 3.11 for node-gyp
-        uses: actions/setup-python@v5
-        with:
-          python-version: '3.11'
-
-      - name: Install Python build deps (setuptools)
-        run: |
-          python -m pip install --upgrade pip setuptools wheel
-          echo "python=$(which python3)" >> $GITHUB_ENV
+      - name: Set up uv and Python
+        uses: ./.github/actions/setup-uv-python
 
       - name: Install system build dependencies
         run: |
@@ -305,16 +291,8 @@ jobs:
           node-version: '20'
           cache: 'pnpm'
 
-      - name: Setup Python 3.11 for node-gyp
-        uses: actions/setup-python@v5
-        with:
-          python-version: '3.11'
-
-      - name: Install Python build deps (setuptools shim for distutils)
-        shell: bash
-        run: |
-          python -m pip install --upgrade pip setuptools wheel
-          echo "python=$(which python)" >> "$GITHUB_ENV"
+      - name: Set up uv and Python
+        uses: ./.github/actions/setup-uv-python
 
       - name: Install dependencies (strict lockfile)
         shell: bash
@@ -479,15 +457,8 @@ jobs:
           node-version: '22'
           cache: 'pnpm'
 
-      - name: Setup Python 3.11 for node-gyp
-        uses: actions/setup-python@v5
-        with:
-          python-version: '3.11'
-
-      - name: Install Python build deps (setuptools shim for distutils)
-        run: |
-          python -m pip install --upgrade pip setuptools wheel
-          echo "python=$(which python3)" >> $GITHUB_ENV
+      - name: Set up uv and Python
+        uses: ./.github/actions/setup-uv-python
 
       - name: Install dependencies (strict lockfile)
         env:
diff --git a/.python-version b/.python-version
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..fdcfcfdfc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.python-version
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+3.12
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.md b/CONTRIBUTING.md
index 30bd3d68f..d10e09c0f 100644
--- a/CONTRIBUTING.md
+++ b/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -7,10 +7,26 @@ Thanks for your interest in contributing! We favor small, focused PRs and clear
 Prerequisites
 
 - **Node.js 20.0.0+ (recommended: 22.20.0)** and Git
+- **Python 3.12+** with [uv](https://docs.astral.sh/uv/) (for native module builds)
 - Optional (recommended for end‑to‑end testing):
   - GitHub CLI (`brew install gh`; then `gh auth login`)
   - At least one supported coding agent CLI (see docs for list)
 
+### Python Setup
+
+This project uses [uv](https://docs.astral.sh/uv/) to manage Python build dependencies. Install uv first, then the project will automatically use the Python version specified in `.python-version`:
+
+```bash
+# Install uv (Linux/macOS)
+curl -LsSf https://astral.sh/uv/install.sh | sh
+
+# Or on Windows (PowerShell)
+powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -c "irm https://astral.sh/uv/install.ps1 | iex"
+
+# Install Python build deps (setuptools, wheel) for native modules
+uv pip install .
+```
+
 Setup
 
 ```bash
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..b9fa1ece5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+[project]
+name = "emdash-build-deps"
+version = "0.0.0"
+requires-python = ">=3.12"
+dependencies = [
+    "setuptools>=67.0",
+    "wheel",
+]
+
+[build-system]
+requires = ["setuptools>=67.0", "wheel"]
+build-backend = "setuptools.build_meta"