Python is a beautiful language that inspires love for it in its users. So if you're trying to join the programmer bandwagon, or you're a little tired of C, Perl, Java and other languages, I recommend you try Python.
Python has many features that attract programmers. It is easy to learn, object-oriented, bytecode compiled, free and open source. There are also runtime checks. Complete and fast support for extensions that can perform various tasks.
Efficient Python
In this article, I want to highlight some of the ways Python can save time and maximize productivity. In preparation, I asked a few Pythonists, what are their top time-saving tips? The answer is here…
1. Do not use semicolon
Using semicolons is optional in Python. In contrast to other object-oriented languages, you do not need to use semicolons after every statement.
This may seem simple and may not save much time; but once your code size grows into thousands of characters, those semicolons become distracting and unnecessary to type.
2. Find a good code editor
Save a lot of time by choosing a code editor that suits your needs. Faced with so many code editors, many novices will feel confused.
It will be confusing to use another editor after getting used to one editor, so choosing one that is comfortable to you is a good starting point. No matter which one you choose, support flake8 and PEP8 live.
For editor selection guide, please refer to the article Which Code Editors Do Pythonists Use?
3. Follow Python coding standards
Following Python coding standards can improve code readability and save time in code reviews. Python's design philosophy emphasizes code readability. )
4. Use the help() function
Python’s help() is a readily available built-in function that can save a lot of time, such as looking up explanations of other functions. You can run this function directly from the interpreter terminal.
The Python documentation has more usage of this function.
5. Using libraries
Python has tons of libraries that save you from reinventing the wheel every time.
For example, you can select from the large number of available packages from the PyPIPython Package Index, a software repository.
Scikit-image is a good example, which enables image processing tasks such as blurring, contrast enhancement, and scaling to be completed with just a few function calls.
6. Use Cookiecutter
Cookiecutter is a command line tool that helps you create Python projects from project templates, which can save a lot of time.
7. Strict comments
Developing a good habit of writing comments can save you and others time, especially for debugging and tracing. Yes we hear it a lot, but it seems a lot of programmers still need reminding).
Comments are critical when working in a team, especially one making a lot of changes.
8. Test frequently
Try to test every component in your program. It may sound a bit time-consuming, but long runs can save a lot of time, help you find hidden bugs, make you feel more confident about your code, and force you to understand how each piece of your code works in real situations.
REPL is a read-eval-print loop, a common code testing tool used by many Pythonists.
9. Focus and professionalism
Pythonists recommend having an area of focus and expertise. You can do a lot with Python, from writing webcams to handling calculations and algorithms.
There are already a large number of libraries that can help complete these tasks, such as SimpleCV, a computer vision processing library; Biopython, a biological computing library; SymPy, a mathematical symbolic computing library.
Dive into areas like these and master a specific framework that helps you learn Python at a deeper level, master a specific coding style (mentioned in Part 3), and deal with specific types of problems.
10. Coding every day
When you develop the habit of writing python code every day and using python to solve problems, you will start to think in python, so to speak, which will ultimately help you solve problems faster.
Summary
In this short article, I have listed the main tips that I gathered from conversations with Python developers. Below are other tips that I can add to it.
Participate in Python events and meetups
Make sure to attend every event and gathering you can. They are helpful for sharing experiences, best practices, tools, and other interesting topics.
This may not seem like a hassle-free strategy on the surface, but learning from other people’s experiences through advice, tips, hacks is another way to avoid reinventing the wheel.
The annual PyConf is a great place to find out what’s going on.
Thinking on paper
Thinking on paper – doing this before diving straight into code – will give you the flexibility to make changes. Jumping right into writing code forces you to think about implementation details from the beginning, which is often not the best use of your time when starting a project. Thinking on paper is a way to free up attention and is great for brainstorming and problem solving!
Master the basics
This last one may seem obvious, but be sure to invest the time to learn the basics of Python. This will ultimately save you a lot of time, because you will be better prepared for more complex topics.
Some good books that can help with this include:
《Learn Python》
"Introduction to Python Programming": Introduction to the Python computer language and computer programming.
It is also important to keep relevant information fresh by reading blogs and articles. A great blog to follow is The Mouse Vs. The Python.