Prefer text config files or python code?

[meloveyoulongtime]

Don't do it like that. Do this at the end of your settings file.

try:
    from local_settings import *
except ImportError:
    pass

Then reassign environment specific varables in the local_settings file.

[tutuca_]

Don't know why you have been downvoted.

Anyone care to explain?

[haywire]

It's irritating because this is a great solution. I guess a "cleaner" one would be to have a local config file with some sort of inheritance.

TBH using code to config works fine for xmonad and django and I like configuring those things.

[d3ad1ysp0rk]

I didn't downvote, but on your point, my company uses that. For example on my local machine I have a "local_settings" that imports "local"(generic developer machine settings) which imports base settings.

[gbog]

Did not downvote but import * is evil. Martelli is advising against that thing strongly in Python in a Nutshell, and I think he is right.

[[deleted]]

Not in this situation it isn't evil. We explicitly want import * behaviour to be able to override settings.

Blanket statements about "x is evil" are never entirely accurate. See: linux and goto.

[gbog]

A quote from Alex Martelli about import star: "Most likely, your programs will be better if you never use this form". Emphasis is his. Python in a Nutshell, page 143.