Python Best Practices

Purpose

Apply idiomatic Python patterns and best practices from official Python documentation.

The Zen of Python (PEP 20)

Beautiful is better than ugly.
Explicit is better than implicit.
Simple is better than complex.
Complex is better than complicated.
Flat is better than nested.
Sparse is better than dense.
Readability counts.
Special cases aren't special enough to break the rules.
Although practicality beats purity.
Errors should never pass silently.
Unless explicitly silenced.
In the face of ambiguity, refuse the temptation to guess.
There should be one-- and preferably only one --obvious way to do it.
Although that way may not be obvious at first unless you're Dutch.
Now is better than never.
Although never is often better than *right* now.
If the implementation is hard to explain, it's a bad idea.
If the implementation is easy to explain, it may be a good idea.
Namespaces are one honking great idea -- let's do more of those!

Rules

1. Code Layout

indentation:
  - Use 4 spaces per indentation level
  - Never mix tabs and spaces
  - Continuation lines align vertically or use hanging indent

line_length:
  - Maximum 79 characters for code
  - Maximum 72 characters for docstrings/comments
  - Teams may agree on 99 characters for code

blank_lines:
  - Two blank lines around top-level definitions
  - One blank line between method definitions
  - Use sparingly inside functions

2. Imports

rules:
  - One import per line
  - Position at file top, after docstrings
  - Group order: standard library → third-party → local
  - Separate groups with blank lines
  - Prefer absolute imports
  - Avoid wildcard imports (from X import *)

example: |
  import os
  import sys

  from third_party import lib

  from myproject import module

3. Whitespace

avoid:
  - Extra spaces inside parentheses/brackets
  - Spaces before commas or colons
  - Spaces between function name and parenthesis
  - Multiple spaces for alignment

required:
  - Single space around binary operators
  - Spaces around -> in annotations
  - No spaces around = for default parameters

4. Naming Conventions

modules_packages:
  style: lowercase_with_underscores
  example: my_module

classes:
  style: CapWords
  example: MyClass

functions_variables:
  style: lowercase_with_underscores
  example: my_function, my_variable

constants:
  style: ALL_CAPS_WITH_UNDERSCORES
  example: MAX_SIZE, DEFAULT_VALUE

exceptions:
  style: CapWords + Error suffix
  example: ValueError, CustomError

private:
  single_underscore: _internal (weak internal)
  double_underscore: __private (name mangling)
  trailing_underscore: class_ (avoid keyword conflict)

avoid:
  - Single characters l, O, I (ambiguous)

5. Comments and Docstrings

principles:
  - Comments contradicting code are worse than none
  - Use complete sentences
  - Keep comments up to date

block_comments:
  - Indent at same level as code
  - Start each line with # and space

inline_comments:
  - Minimum two spaces from code
  - Avoid obvious statements

docstrings:
  - Write for all public modules, functions, classes, methods
  - Use triple quotes
  - First line: concise summary
  - Blank line before detailed description

6. Programming Recommendations

comparisons:
  - Use 'is' and 'is not' for None, True, False
  - Prefer isinstance() over type()
  - Use 'is not' rather than 'not ... is'

sequences:
  - Test empty: if not seq: (not if len(seq) == 0)
  - Use .startswith() and .endswith()

exceptions:
  - Derive from Exception, not BaseException
  - Catch specific exceptions
  - Avoid bare except clauses
  - Use 'raise X from Y' for chaining

functions:
  - Use def, not lambda assignment
  - Consistent return statements
  - Use with for resource management

type_hints:
  - Follow PEP 484 syntax
  - Space after colon in annotations
  - No space before colon

7. Pythonic Idioms

list_comprehension:
  prefer: "[x*2 for x in items if x > 0]"
  over: |
    result = []
    for x in items:
        if x > 0:
            result.append(x*2)

context_managers:
  prefer: "with open('file') as f:"
  over: |
    f = open('file')
    try:
        ...
    finally:
        f.close()

unpacking:
  prefer: "a, b = b, a"
  over: |
    temp = a
    a = b
    b = temp

enumerate:
  prefer: "for i, item in enumerate(items):"
  over: "for i in range(len(items)):"

dictionary:
  prefer: "d.get(key, default)"
  over: "d[key] if key in d else default"

Application

When writing or reviewing Python code:

1. Always follow PEP 8 formatting
2. Always write docstrings for public APIs
3. Prefer explicit over implicit
4. Prefer simple over complex
5. Prefer flat over nested
6. Avoid premature optimization
7. Use list comprehensions when readable
8. Use context managers for resources

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