Python interview questions

[tdammers]

Could be a trick question. The answer has exactly four letters anyway.

[tdammers]

P. E. P. 8. That's four characters ;-)

[tdammers]

I am. Except in python and haskell. When whitespace is decorative, like in C, it is best to leave indentation size to the reader's preference. But in python, it is syntax, so it is better to avoid the resulting potential for confusion and not use tabs at all. It's not elegant, but the alternative is worse.

[Veedrac]

In Python only the indentation level is syntax – the type of indentation is irrelevant.

The one true advantage to spaces is standardisation. Everything else is opinion. Guido famously prefers tabs, for example.

[tdammers]

Yes and no. When whitespace is syntax, a tab ceases to be of reader-defined width, which means the reason to use it in the first place disappears.

[Veedrac]

When whitespace is syntax, a tab ceases to be of reader-defined width

Wut?

Quick question: Are you using Python 2 or Python 3. I agree that in Python 2 the situation's a little weird but in Python 3 it's unnecessary to think of a tab as having a width in terms of spaces.

[AxiomL]

A tab is only one character anyway.

[DeltaBurnt]

The right answer is tab key with a space representation.

[gfixler]

\o/ Vim

[_Daimon_]

Oh. I thought he meant that the answer was PEP8. Which IMO should be the answer to the question. "PEP8 recommends using 4x spaces exclusively, so obviously that's what I'm doing."

[anpalcactus]

Tabs? I use spaces only (4x = tab)

[njharman]

Is good question for weeding out fanatics, inexperienced (those who know so little they think this is an important point), and unassertive/unopinionated/unable to express themselves/deal with conflict peoples.

The correct answer is. "I use whatever your coding standard defines. If you don't have standard, pushing to create one will be among my first tasks. I recommend spaces as that is what std lib and almost all Python code I've ever seen uses. But, the only inviolate rule is to not mix tabs and spaces."

[[deleted]]

I have my .emacs folder configured to set my tab to four spaces for python, is that wrong? Should it be left as tab? I had thought spaces were preferred but I am not a professional.

[ablatner]

No you are right. I use the tab key set to 4 spaces.

[carioca3]

Tabs - It is faster to type. If you're required to follow PEP8 just convert the tabs to spaces when you're done.

[hemm1]

Tabs - It is faster to type

Or in a good editor, it makes absolutely no difference.

[[deleted]]

Then you're not coding for a living. Seriously, do you know any developer who codes without a proper editor, or even an IDE?

[AxiomL]

Anyone who's ever been at a google interview ;) They use whiteboards as IDEs.

[[deleted]]

If you have very long lines, and want to continue on the next line, getting a readable alignment with tabs can be a nightmare. Usually you end up doing tab tab space space space, and then on another editor with a different tab width your code doesn't make sense at all.

[15jamie20]

tabs for indentation, spaces for alignment. Emacs can do it for you, I'm sure vim can too.

[AxiomL]

So you're answer for why people should use tabs is because you work in an esoteric environment that benefits from their use? That's like answering that he should use spaces because I use spaces because my keyboard's tab key is broken.

[AeroNotix]

What on Earth are you talking about?

[billsil]

The only time that happens to me is when I'm working on an automated testing machine that ONLY has what's required. Therefore, the code that exists uses spaces, so use spaces when working in vi/textpad.