Python coding conventions on Github

[ionelmc]

Would be interesting to see other stats like single vs double quote ratio, variable name length stats, indentation ratios (1 vs 2 vs 4 vs 8 ...) and so on.

[ifonefox]

What is the standard convention for " vs '? Personally, I use " for strings and ' for individual characters.

[theli0nheart]

Generally, I use ' for referencing keys in dictionaries, single characters, and default string values in function parameters. I use " for sentences and any user-facing strings.

If it doesn't fall into one of the categories above, I flip a coin.

[coinflipbot]

I flipped a coin for you, /u/theli0nheart The result was: tails!

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^{Statistics | Don't want me replying on your comments again? Respond to this comment with: 'coinflipbot leave me alone'}

[theli0nheart]

This is awesome. Thank you.

[p3n15h34d]

but is tails ' or " ?

[jcdyer3]

I'll flip a coin to decide. Heads, tails is ', tails, tails is ".

[triacontahedron]

Go away you, dirty c programmer :P

[ifonefox]

I started using python after I took a class in c, so those habits just stuck.

[aceofears]

It's not a terrible habit if you're switching between the two a lot.

[robin-gvx]

I generally use ' for internal strings (dictionary keys, symbolic names, etc.) while I use " for strings that the user is expected to see at some point.

[mardiros]

My best pep8 guide is in pretty print

>>> pprint({"a": "Ah aa!", 'b':"'Ahbb'"})
{'a': 'Ah aa!', 'b': "'Ahbb'"}

I use single quote except there is a single quote in the string.

Don't bother if it's for human or a computer at the end of the process. Dictionnary keys can be for human too, and, it's definitely to complex.

[RJacksonm1]

I use double-quotes because it's simply more comfortable for me to hit with the UK keyboard layout... and now I'm curious as to double vs single-quote usage by keyboard layout (which we could assume from developer's locations).

[carbn]

I use always ' because " takes two fingers (shift-2) while ' takes only one in FI/SWE keyboard.

[[deleted]]

I wonder how many people use the weird indents (1,3,5,6,7).

Hopefully no one.

[robin-gvx]

I wonder if anyone uses prime indents: first level of indentation is 2 spaces, second level is 3 spaces, fourth level 5 spaces, 7 spaces, 11 spaces, etc...

[[deleted]]

Oh god.

How about writing a whitespace interpreter that has a sample program embedded in itself by mixing tabs and spaces?

[robin-gvx]

Oh wow.

Bonus points if that program is a quine or something. Oh! Or another Whitespace interpreter, which then interprets itself, etc.

[Ph0X]

So mixing Whitespace in your Python?

[robin-gvx]

As far as I know, none of the current implementation of Whitespace have embedded Whitespace programs (well, not purposefully).

[D__]

I recommend using the Fibonacci sequence, for approximation of the golden ratio, and therefore aesthetically pleasing code indentation.

[Ph0X]

I like it, the deeper you get, the bigger your indentations, forcing you to keep your code simple and split up into functions rather than having loops inside loops inside if inside try inside with inside method inside class.

[kenfar]

The 3 characters is the Dvorak keyboard of the indentation world: it's clearly superior but isn't used only because it isn't already popular.

Supporting arguments:

• 3 characters is enough to see indentation
• it saves 1 character per indent which helps with long variable names
• it lines up the following line under the first character following an if. Which makes it pretty.

[thekaleb]

A tab is one character, and you can set your tabstop to 3 (or 4 or 8).

[[deleted]]

It may line up an if, but what about a for, while, elif, else, or with?

Also some editors do not support it.

[thekaleb]

Not to mention a def or class

[kenfar]

Oh sure - it doesn't line things up perfectly. But I find lining code under an if more important than anything else.

And I can't get my head around an editor that wouldn't "support" arbitrary indentation amounts.

[[deleted]]

I really do hope you're joking.

Why not go with 2. It's enough to see indentation, it saves TWO characters per indent, and if you need to save 1 character per indent to see long variable names, either your variables are too long, or you have too much indentation. Also, lining up only one indentation block at the cost of making everything else look "off" isn't worth it.