fix(cli): skip project install for json crew sync

lib/cli/src/crewai_cli/install_crew.py

@@ -1,20 +1,63 @@
+from pathlib import Path
 import subprocess
 
 import click
 
-from crewai_cli.utils import build_env_with_all_tool_credentials
+from crewai_cli.utils import build_env_with_all_tool_credentials, parse_toml
+
+
+def _find_json_crew_file(project_root: Path | None = None) -> Path | None:
+    """Return the JSON crew definition path when present."""
+    root = project_root or Path.cwd()
+    for filename in ("crew.jsonc", "crew.json"):
+        crew_path = root / filename
+        if crew_path.is_file():
+            return crew_path
+    return None
+
+
+def _is_json_crew_project(project_root: Path | None = None) -> bool:
+    """Return True for JSON crew projects that do not need package install."""
+    root = project_root or Path.cwd()
+    if _find_json_crew_file(root) is None:
+        return False
+
+    pyproject_path = root / "pyproject.toml"
+    if not pyproject_path.is_file():
+        return True
+
+    try:
+        pyproject = parse_toml(pyproject_path.read_text())
+    except Exception:
+        return True
+
+    declared_type: str | None = (
+        (pyproject.get("tool") or {}).get("crewai", {}).get("type")
+    )
+    return declared_type != "flow"
 
 
 # Be mindful about changing this.
 # on some environments we don't use this command but instead uv sync directly
 # so if you expect this to support more things you will need to replicate it there
 # ask @joaomdmoura if you are unsure
-def install_crew(proxy_options: list[str], *, raise_on_error: bool = False) -> None:
+def install_crew(
+    proxy_options: list[str],
+    *,
+    raise_on_error: bool = False,
+    install_project: bool | None = None,
+) -> None:
     """
     Install the crew by running the UV command to lock and install.
     """
     try:
-        command = ["uv", "sync", *proxy_options]
+        if install_project is None:
+            install_project = not _is_json_crew_project()
+
+        command = ["uv", "sync"]
+        if not install_project and "--no-install-project" not in proxy_options:
+            command.append("--no-install-project")
+        command.extend(proxy_options)
 
         # Inject tool repository credentials so uv can authenticate
         # against private package indexes (e.g. crewai tool repository).

lib/cli/src/crewai_cli/run_crew.py

@@ -231,7 +231,7 @@ def _install_json_crew_dependencies() -> None:
 
     try:
         click.echo("Installing dependencies...")
-        install_crew([], raise_on_error=True)
+        install_crew([], raise_on_error=True, install_project=False)
     except subprocess.CalledProcessError as e:
         raise SystemExit(e.returncode) from e
     except Exception as e:

lib/cli/tests/test_install_crew.py

@@ -0,0 +1,66 @@
+from pathlib import Path
+
+import pytest
+
+import crewai_cli.install_crew as install_crew_module
+
+
+@pytest.fixture(autouse=True)
+def _tool_credentials(monkeypatch):
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        install_crew_module,
+        "build_env_with_all_tool_credentials",
+        lambda: {"CREWAI_TEST": "1"},
+    )
+
+
+def test_install_crew_json_project_skips_project_install(
+    fp, monkeypatch, tmp_path: Path
+):
+    monkeypatch.chdir(tmp_path)
+    (tmp_path / "pyproject.toml").write_text(
+        """
+[project]
+name = "json_crew"
+
+[tool.crewai]
+type = "crew"
+""".strip()
+    )
+    (tmp_path / "crew.jsonc").write_text("{}\n")
+    fp.register(["uv", "sync", "--no-install-project"], stdout="")
+
+    install_crew_module.install_crew([])
+
+
+def test_install_crew_flow_project_installs_project(fp, monkeypatch, tmp_path: Path):
+    monkeypatch.chdir(tmp_path)
+    (tmp_path / "pyproject.toml").write_text(
+        """
+[project]
+name = "flow_project"
+
+[tool.crewai]
+type = "flow"
+""".strip()
+    )
+    (tmp_path / "crew.jsonc").write_text("{}\n")
+    fp.register(["uv", "sync"], stdout="")
+
+    install_crew_module.install_crew([])
+
+
+def test_install_crew_classic_project_installs_project(
+    fp, monkeypatch, tmp_path: Path
+):
+    monkeypatch.chdir(tmp_path)
+    (tmp_path / "pyproject.toml").write_text("[project]\nname = 'classic'\n")
+    fp.register(["uv", "sync"], stdout="")
+
+    install_crew_module.install_crew([])
+
+
+def test_install_crew_install_project_false_adds_no_install_project(fp):
+    fp.register(["uv", "sync", "--no-install-project", "--frozen"], stdout="")
+
+    install_crew_module.install_crew(["--frozen"], install_project=False)

lib/cli/tests/test_run_crew.py

@@ -127,14 +127,16 @@ def test_json_run_installs_dependencies_when_pyproject_exists(
     (tmp_path / "pyproject.toml").write_text("[project]\nname = 'demo'\n")
     calls = []
 
-    def fake_install_crew(proxy_options, *, raise_on_error=False):
-        calls.append((proxy_options, raise_on_error))
+    def fake_install_crew(
+        proxy_options, *, raise_on_error=False, install_project=None
+    ):
+        calls.append((proxy_options, raise_on_error, install_project))
 
     monkeypatch.setattr("crewai_cli.install_crew.install_crew", fake_install_crew)
 
     run_crew_module._install_json_crew_dependencies()
 
-    assert calls == [([], True)]
+    assert calls == [([], True, False)]
 
 
 def test_json_run_skips_dependency_install_without_pyproject(
@@ -143,7 +145,9 @@ def test_json_run_skips_dependency_install_without_pyproject(
     monkeypatch.chdir(tmp_path)
     calls = []
 
-    def fake_install_crew(proxy_options, *, raise_on_error=False):
+    def fake_install_crew(
+        proxy_options, *, raise_on_error=False, install_project=None
+    ):
         calls.append((proxy_options, raise_on_error))
 
     monkeypatch.setattr("crewai_cli.install_crew.install_crew", fake_install_crew)
@@ -157,7 +161,9 @@ def test_json_run_install_failure_exits_nonzero(monkeypatch, tmp_path: Path):
     monkeypatch.chdir(tmp_path)
     (tmp_path / "pyproject.toml").write_text("[project]\nname = 'demo'\n")
 
-    def fake_install_crew(proxy_options, *, raise_on_error=False):
+    def fake_install_crew(
+        proxy_options, *, raise_on_error=False, install_project=None
+    ):
         raise subprocess.CalledProcessError(42, ["uv", "sync"])
 
     monkeypatch.setattr("crewai_cli.install_crew.install_crew", fake_install_crew)