A Python dependency swap broke a Datasette tool plugin
Simon Willison’s LLM command-line tool switched HTTP libraries, exposing a plugin that had imported the old library without declaring its own dependency. llm-tools-datasette 0.1.1 fixes compatibility by switching to httpx2. The plugin lets a model inspect a Datasette database’s schema and issue SQL through its JSON endpoint. The small release illustrates how depending on another package’s incidental dependencies can break otherwise unchanged integrations.
Simon Willison · Oct 18, 2026
Why it matters
A dependency that happens to be installed today is a fragile assumption for plugin authors and package upgrades.
More context
The release notes target compatibility with LLM 0.36 and higher. Install the plugin in LLM’s own environment and attach a Datasette database URL, as documented in the repository. Try a public, disposable dataset first and inspect the generated queries and returned data.
Keep in mind
This is a compatibility patch, not a new database permission system. The model receives tool results, so choose data access deliberately; generated SQL and interpretations still need review.
Original read