Today we’re going to talk about some of the best practices for writing Python code that will make your programs look like they were written by a pro, not a hacker who stumbled upon this language by accident.
To set the stage: formatting and syntax. This is where most people go wrong when it comes to Python programming. They think that as long as their code works, it doesn’t matter how messy or unreadable it looks. But trust us, your future self (and anyone else who has to work with your code) will thank you for following these guidelines:
1. Use four spaces for each indentation level. No tabs allowed! This is not a debate, It’s just the way it is. 2. Don’t mix tabs and white space. If you must use tabs (which we don’t recommend), make sure they are set to match your editor’s default tab width. Otherwise, you might end up with some seriously wonky code that looks like a game of whack-a-mole. 3. Use comments sparingly and only when necessary. Python is already pretty easy to read, so don’t overdo it on the commenting. If your code needs a lot of explanation, maybe you should consider rewriting it or breaking it down into smaller functions. Now that we’ve covered formatting and syntax, documentation. This might seem like an unnecessary step for some people (especially if they’re working on their own projects), but trust us: good documentation is essential to Python programming best practices. Here are a few tips to help you get started:
1. Write docstrings for all public modules, functions, classes, and methods. This will make it easier for other developers to understand what your code does and how they can use it. 2. Follow the PEP 257 conventions when writing docstrings. This includes using a triple-quoted string format (“””) and including information about the function’s parameters, return value, and any side effects. 3. Keep docstrings current to the code. If you make changes to your code, update the documentation accordingly. As for testing: this is another area where many Python programmers fall short. They might write a few tests when they first start working on a project, but then forget about them as they move forward. This can lead to all sorts of problems down the line (like bugs that are hard to track down and fix). To avoid these issues, make sure you’re writing tests for your code from the very beginning. Here are some best practices to help you get started:
1. Use a testing framework like unittest or pytest. This will make it easier to write and run tests, as well as provide helpful feedback when something goes wrong. 2. Write tests that cover all possible scenarios (including edge cases). This will ensure that your code is robust and can handle any input. 3. Run your tests regularly (ideally, every time you make a change to your code). This will help catch issues early on and prevent them from becoming bigger problems down the line. Finally, naming conventions. This might seem like a minor detail, but it can have a big impact on how easy your code is to read and understand. Here are some best practices to follow:
1. Use descriptive names for variables, functions, classes, and modules. Avoid using single-letter variable names or overly generic function names (like “do_stuff”). 2. Follow the PEP 8 guidelines when it comes to naming conventions. This includes capitalizing class names and starting module names with lowercase letters. 3. Use underscores to separate words in long variable or function names, rather than using camelCase (which can be hard to read). And there you have it: some of the best practices for Python programming that will help you write cleaner, more efficient code. Remember: formatting and syntax matter, documentation is essential, testing is crucial, and naming conventions are important. By following these guidelines, you’ll be well on your way to becoming a true Python pro!