Python Guide

Python Coding Guidelines

Requirements

• Python ≥ 3.12; pytest ≥ 8.

Essentials

• Data models - Use dataclasses and type hints, see references/dataclasses-type-hints.md, references/type-checking.md
• Iteration - Prefer generators/comprehensions for data processing, see references/generators-comprehensions.md
• Performance - Cache pure functions with @cache, see references/caching-functions.md
• Resource management - Use context managers for cleanup, see references/resource-management.md
• Modern syntax - Use pathlib, f-strings, specific exceptions, see references/pathlib-file-ops.md, references/string-formatting.md, references/exception-handling.md
• Paradigm - Functional style → fp-guide; class/OO design → oop-guide

Gotchas

• Mutable default arguments (def f(x=[]):) share state across calls: use None and assign inside
• The GIL serializes pure-Python execution: threads only help on I/O; CPU-bound work needs multiprocessing or compiled extensions
• is checks identity, not equality: small-int caching means a is b works for 1 but fails for 300
• __init__.py is no longer required for packages (PEP 420), but mixing namespace and regular packages causes silent import-shadowing bugs

Progressive disclosure

• Read references/dataclasses-type-hints.md - Load when defining structured data models or adding type annotations
• Read references/type-checking.md - Load when using Protocols, type aliases, or complex Union types
• Read references/resource-management.md - Load when working with files, connections, or resources needing cleanup
• Read references/caching-functions.md - Load when optimizing expensive computations or repeated function calls
• Read references/generators-comprehensions.md - Load when processing large datasets or streaming data
• Read references/string-formatting.md - Load when formatting output, building messages, or templating
• Read references/pathlib-file-ops.md - Load when reading/writing files or traversing directories
• Read references/exception-handling.md - Load when defining error handling or creating custom exceptions