Modern Python Development Practices

Modern Python Development Practices

Introduction

Modern Python development has evolved significantly, bringing new tools and best practices that enhance productivity and code quality. This guide explores the essential practices and tools that every Python developer should know in 2024.

Development Environment Setup

Essential Tools

  • VSCode/PyCharm: Modern IDEs with Python support
  • Python 3.11+: Latest stable version with performance improvements
  • Git: Version control system

# Setting up a new Python project
python -m venv venv
source venv/bin/activate  # or venv\Scripts\activate on Windows
pip install --upgrade pip
                            

Code Quality and Testing

Modern Testing Stack

  • Pytest: Modern testing framework
  • Black: Code formatter
  • Flake8: Style guide enforcement
  • MyPy: Static type checking

# Example of modern Python testing
import pytest
from typing import List

def calculate_total(numbers: List[int]) -> int:
    return sum(numbers)

def test_calculate_total():
    assert calculate_total([1, 2, 3]) == 6
    assert calculate_total([]) == 0
                            

Dependency Management

Modern Python projects require robust dependency management. Here are the best practices:

Tools and Practices

  • Poetry: Modern dependency management
  • pip-tools: Requirements management
  • Virtual environments: Project isolation

Modern Python Features

Type Hints


from typing import Optional

def get_user(user_id: int) -> Optional[dict]:
    ...
                                    

Async/Await


async def fetch_data():

    async with aiohttp.ClientSession() as session:
        ...
                                    

Best Practices and Tips

Code Organization

  • Use clear directory structure
  • Follow package naming conventions
  • Implement proper logging

Performance

  • Use built-in data structures appropriately
  • Implement caching when needed
  • Profile code for optimizations
Author

Milan Salvi

Python Developer & Software Engineer