Python

What I do

I help you write Python code that follows professional style guide conventions. This includes:

• Enforcing naming conventions (snake_case, PascalCase, UPPER_CASE)
• Applying proper docstring formatting (module, class, function, method docstrings)
• Managing imports correctly (full package paths, proper ordering)
• Implementing type annotations following best practices
• Following line length and indentation rules
• Using proper exception handling patterns
• Writing clean, readable code that matches professional standards

When to use me

Use this skill when:

• Writing new Python code that should follow style guide conventions
• Refactoring existing Python code to match best practices
• Reviewing Python code for style compliance
• Adding documentation to Python modules, classes, or functions
• Setting up type hints for Python code
• Organizing imports in Python files

Key style rules I enforce

Naming Conventions

• Modules: module_name.py (lowercase with underscores)
• Packages: package_name (lowercase, no underscores preferred)
• Classes: ClassName (PascalCase)
• Functions: function_name() (lowercase with underscores)
• Variables: variable_name (lowercase with underscores)
• Constants: CONSTANT_NAME (uppercase with underscores)
• Private attributes: _private_var (leading underscore)
• Internal globals: _internal_global (leading underscore)
• Strongly private attributes: __secret_var (double leading underscore for name mangling)

Important: For strongly private attributes that should be protected via name mangling, always use double underscore prefix:

class MyClass:
    def __init__(self):
        # Public attribute
        self.public_var: str = "visible"
        
        # Protected attribute (convention only)
        self._protected_var: str = "use with care"
        
        # Private attribute (name mangled to _MyClass__secret)
        self.__secret: str = "truly private"

Imports

Use full package paths:

# Good
from absl import flags
from doctor.who import jodie

# Bad
import jodie  # Ambiguous

Import order:

1. Standard library imports
2. Third-party imports
3. Local application imports

Docstrings

Always use triple-quoted strings """ format.

Function docstring template:

def fetch_smalltable_rows(
    table_handle: smalltable.Table,
    keys: Sequence[bytes | str],
    require_all_keys: bool = False,
) -> Mapping[bytes, tuple[str, ...]]:
    """Fetches rows from a Smalltable.

    Retrieves rows pertaining to the given keys from the Table instance
    represented by table_handle. String keys will be UTF-8 encoded.

    Args:
        table_handle: An open smalltable.Table instance.
        keys: A sequence of strings representing the key of each table
            row to fetch. String keys will be UTF-8 encoded.
        require_all_keys: If True only rows with values set for all keys will be
            returned.

    Returns:
        A dict mapping keys to the corresponding table row data
        fetched. Each row is represented as a tuple of strings. For
        example:

        {b'Serak': ('Rigel VII', 'Preparer'),
         b'Zim': ('Irk', 'Invader'),
         b'Lrrr': ('Omicron Persei 8', 'Emperor')}

        Returned keys are always bytes. If a key from the keys argument is
        missing from the dictionary, then that row was not found in the
        table (and require_all_keys must have been False).

    Raises:
        IOError: An error occurred accessing the smalltable.
    """

Class docstring template:

class SampleClass:
    """Summary of class here.

    Longer class information...
    Longer class information...

    Attributes:
        likes_spam: A boolean indicating if we like SPAM or not.
        eggs: An integer count of the eggs we have laid.
    """

    def __init__(self, likes_spam: bool = False):
        """Initializes the instance based on spam preference.

        Args:
          likes_spam: Defines if instance exhibits this preference.
        """
        self.likes_spam = likes_spam
        self.eggs = 0

Module docstring template:

"""A one-line summary of the module or program, terminated by a period.

Leave one blank line. The rest of this docstring should contain an
overall description of the module or program. Optionally, it may also
contain a brief description of exported classes and functions and/or usage
examples.

Typical usage example:

  foo = ClassFoo()
  bar = foo.function_bar()
"""

Type Annotations

Always add type hints to function signatures:

def func(a: int) -> list[int]:
    return [a * 2]

# For variables when type isn't obvious
a: SomeType = some_func()

# Use modern syntax (Python 3.10+)
def process(data: str | None = None) -> dict[str, int]:
    pass

Important: Use capitalized type hints from typing module instead of built-in lowercase types:

from typing import Dict, List, Set, Tuple, Optional

# Good - using typing module
def process_users(users: List[str]) -> Dict[str, int]:
    return {user: len(user) for user in users}

def get_config() -> Dict[str, List[int]]:
    return {"ports": [8080, 8081]}

# Good - with Optional
def find_user(user_id: int) -> Optional[str]:
    return None

# Bad - using built-in lowercase types (avoid)
def process_users(users: list[str]) -> dict[str, int]:
    return {user: len(user) for user in users}

Note: While Python 3.9+ supports lowercase list, dict, etc., using the typing module variants (List, Dict) is preferred for consistency and broader compatibility.

Line Length and Formatting

• Maximum line length: 80 characters
• Use implicit line continuation with parentheses (not backslashes)
• Indent with 4 spaces (never tabs)
• Two blank lines between top-level definitions
• One blank line between method definitions

# Good
foo_bar(
    self, width, height, color='black', design=None, x='foo',
    emphasis=None, highlight=0
)

# Good
if (width == 0 and height == 0 and
    color == 'red' and emphasis == 'strong'):
    pass

# Bad - backslash continuation
if width == 0 and height == 0 and \
    color == 'red' and emphasis == 'strong':
    pass

Exception Handling

# Good
def connect_to_next_port(self, minimum: int) -> int:
    """Connects to the next available port.

    Args:
        minimum: A port value greater or equal to 1024.

    Returns:
        The new minimum port.

    Raises:
        ConnectionError: If no available port is found.
    """
    if minimum < 1024:
        raise ValueError(f'Min. port must be at least 1024, not {minimum}.')
    
    port = self._find_next_port(minimum)
    if port is None:
        raise ConnectionError(
            f'Could not connect to service on port {minimum} or higher.')
    return port

Default Arguments

Never use mutable objects as default values:

# Good
def foo(a, b: list[int] | None = None):
    if b is None:
        b = []

# Bad
def foo(a, b: list[int] = []):
    pass

Boolean Evaluations

Use implicit false when possible:

# Good
if not users:
    print('no users')

if foo:
    bar()

# Check for None explicitly
if x is None:
    pass

# Bad
if len(users) == 0:
    print('no users')

if foo != []:
    bar()

Comprehensions

Keep them simple - optimize for readability:

# Good
result = [mapping_expr for value in iterable if filter_expr]

# Good
result = [
    is_valid(metric={'key': value})
    for value in interesting_iterable
    if a_longer_filter_expression(value)
]

# Bad - multiple for clauses
result = [(x, y) for x in range(10) for y in range(5) if x * y > 10]

Loop Variables

Important: Always use underscore prefix for loop variables when you don't use the variable itself:

# Good - using underscore when variable is not used
for _user in users:
    print("Processing a user")
    send_notification()

for _item in items:
    count += 1

# Good - using the variable
for user in users:
    print(f"Processing {user.name}")
    user.process()

# Bad - not using underscore when variable is unused
for user in users:  # 'user' is never referenced
    print("Processing a user")

This convention makes it immediately clear that the loop variable is intentionally unused.

Linting

• Run pylint on all code
• Suppress warnings with inline comments when appropriate:

def do_PUT(self):  # WSGI name, so pylint: disable=invalid-name
    pass

The Zen of Python

Follow these fundamental principles from PEP 20 (The Zen of Python):

1. Beautiful is better than ugly - Write elegant, readable code
2. Explicit is better than implicit - Be clear about what your code does
3. Simple is better than complex - Favor straightforward solutions
4. Complex is better than complicated - When complexity is needed, keep it organized
5. Flat is better than nested - Avoid deep nesting when possible
6. Sparse is better than dense - Use whitespace for readability
7. Readability counts - Code is read more often than written
8. Special cases aren't special enough to break the rules - Consistency matters
9. Although practicality beats purity - Pragmatism over dogmatism when needed
10. Errors should never pass silently - Handle exceptions explicitly
11. In the face of ambiguity, refuse the temptation to guess - Be explicit
12. There should be one-- and preferably only one --obvious way to do it - Favor the idiomatic approach
13. Now is better than never - Don't overthink, start coding
14. Although never is often better than right now - But plan before rushing
15. If the implementation is hard to explain, it's a bad idea - Simplicity test
16. If the implementation is easy to explain, it may be a good idea - Clarity indicator
17. Namespaces are one honking great idea - Use them to organize code

Access these at any time by running:

import this

Key principles to remember:

• Explicit > Implicit
• Simple > Complex
• Readability counts
• One obvious way to do things

How I work

When you ask me to help with Python code, I will:

1. Analyze the code for style violations
2. Suggest specific improvements citing relevant style rules
3. Rewrite code sections to match professional style
4. Add proper docstrings following standard format
5. Format imports, line lengths, and indentation correctly
6. Apply type annotations where missing or incorrect

I prioritize readability and maintainability over brevity. When there's ambiguity, I'll ask clarifying questions about your specific use case.

References

• Full style guide: https://google.github.io/styleguide/pyguide.html
• PEP 8 (Python's general style guide): https://peps.python.org/pep-0008/
• PEP 257 (Docstring conventions): https://peps.python.org/pep-0257/
• Type hints (PEP 484): https://peps.python.org/pep-0484/