Top 10 tips that can save Python developers a lot of time

Python is a beautiful language that inspires love for it in its users. So if you are trying to join the programmer ranks, or you are a bit tired of C++, Perl, Java and other languages, I recommend you to 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.

Productive Python

In this article, I want to highlight some of the aspects of Python that 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. Don’t use semicolons

Using semicolons is optional in Python. Compared to other object-oriented languages, you don’t need to use semicolons after every statement.

This seems simple and doesn’t seem to save much time; but once your code size expands into thousands of characters, those semicolons become distracting and unnecessary to type.

2. Find a code editor that is comfortable for you

Choosing a code editor that is comfortable for you can save a lot of time. 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 both flake8 and PEP8 in real time.

For editor selection guide, please refer to the article Which Code Editors Do Pythonists Use?

3. Follow Python code specifications

Following Python code specifications can improve the readability of the code, thereby saving time in reviewing code. (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. Use libraries

Python has a lot of libraries that save you from reinventing the wheel every time.

For example, you can choose from a large number of available packages from PyPI (Python Package Index), which is a software repository.

Scikit-image is a good example that makes image processing tasks like blurring, contrast enhancement, and scaling possible with just a few function calls.

6. Use Cookiecutter

Cookiecutter is a command line tool that can help 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 often

Try to test every component in your program. It may sound 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 runs in real situations.

REPL is a read-eval-print loop, a common code testing tool used by many Pythonists.

9. Focus and Expertise

Pythonists all 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 with these tasks, such as SimpleCV, which is a computer vision processing library; Biopython, which is a biological computing library; SymPy, which is 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 (already 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 collected from conversations with python developers. Below are other tips that I can add.

Participate in python Activities and gatherings

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 about events.

Think 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 start, which is often not the best use of your time when starting a project. Thinking on paper is a distraction-free way that 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 way It will ultimately save you a lot of time because you will be better prepared for more complex topics.
Some good books can help with this, they include:

• "Learn Python"

• "Introduction to Python Programming": An 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.

The above introduces the top ten tips that can greatly save Python developers’ time, including aspects of it. I hope it will be helpful to friends who are interested in PHP tutorials.