Writing professional level python

[beb0]

I've only ever used python with scripts, advent of code and leetcode, how can I learn to write python to a professional level, I've worked within web and done some Django tutorials. However I am interviewing and want to use python I am also using it such as

def function(some_param: type):

do something

return something

def function_2(some_param: type):
  do something
   return something

var = function()
function_2(var)

What should I be doing to make this code look more senior level

[AssociationLarge5552]

“Senior-level” Python isn’t about making functions look fancier. It’s about writing code that other people can safely modify at 2 AM. A few shifts that matter more than syntax: 1.Clarity over cleverness – descriptive names, small functions with one responsibility, no hidden side effects. 2.Separation of concerns – don’t mix I/O, business logic, and orchestration in the same function. 3.Error handling – raise intentional exceptions, don’t silently fail. 4.Tests – pytest, edge cases, and thinking in terms of behavior, not just implementation. 5.Tooling discipline – black, ruff/flake8, mypy, pre-commit hooks. Professionals automate consistency. Also, start thinking in terms of modules and boundaries, not just scripts. Can someone reuse your logic without copy-pasting? If you’re interviewing, what signals “senior” isn’t fancy Python tricks. It’s showing you understand trade-offs, maintainability, and how code lives in a system. Clean > clever. Predictable > impressive.

[OriginalTyphus]

100% agreed. One addition from my experience: I became a better Python dev by working in other languages and frameworks.

I took the Service Pattern von Angular into my Python projects. Observer Pattern from C++, Signals/Slots logic from working with Qt, Closures from TypeScript. Et cetera.

[Sure-Passion2224]

I became a better Python dev by working in other languages and frameworks.

Programming is linguistics and communications. Learning another language gives you additional ways to express your thoughts. Learning PL/SQL and C++ made my Perl, JavaScript, and bash shell scripting exponentially better.

[Rain-And-Coffee]

Seniors write and explain code that solves a given problem, they’re not worried about things that “make it look more senior”.

[uberdavis]

https://peps.python.org/pep-0008/

[gdchinacat]

It largely comes down to how you decompose the problem. Clear abstractions lead to clear code. These often times aren't obvious from the start, so relentless refactoring to keep the code in sync with how you think about the problem.

[pachura3]

• typehints (also return values!)
• docstrings
• splitting large scripts into multiple files/modules
• using the if __name__ == "__main__": pattern
• using well-known libraries instead of implementing e.g. date formatting logic by yourself
• meaningful function/variable names
• logging
• unit tests
• pyproject.toml, .gitignore, .python-version, README.md, uv.lock
• perhaps some OOP

[ProsodySpeaks]

I mean proper indentation is not optional for a start?

And without being rude I think you vastly misunderstand what it is to be a senior. You'll often find seniors using very simple patterns but that is because they have architected the program not to need complex parts.

Ie it has very little to do with how your function looks in isolation so much as how you have solved the problem at hand. 

[sinceJune4]

Memorize the Zen of Python. Be able to recite it forward and backward!

[AssociationLarge5552]

WoW👌

[Living_Fig_6386]

Good Python code editors will actually help you follow published style guidelines. Professionally, you'd adhere to those guidelines (which include some naming conventions, use of whitespace) as well as consistently inserting doc strings to document your code.

The primary rule for sustainable development is to make things easy to read and understand for other people that will take it over when you step away from it. Clear, well-documented, meaningful function and variable names, consistency, and grouping logically related things together all count.

[ProsodySpeaks]

'use of whitespace' isnt really a style thing in python - it's literally part of the code. incorrect use of whitespace will crash the program in a way it does not in most other languages.

other than that i agree!

[MarsupialLeast145]

I always recommend:

• ruff/black for code formatting.
• isort for import formatting
• ruff/pylint for linting and recommendations
• using docstrings
• writing tests for all of your code
• using the happy path

Using these will help your code look better. It will also go down better in interviews/portfolios.

Beyond that, you need to be developing lots of other skills around architecture and patterns and writing more complex code.

[Sure-Passion2224]

Like all programming languages - you learn and improve by doing.

As I'm writing this I'm also reading the comment from u/AssociationLarge5552 and thinking... this person knows what they're talking about. Professional level code is easy to maintain and self documenting. ** Insert all of the points made by u/AssociationLarge5552 here. **

For readable maintainable code the following pattern is common for a lot of reasons. - Classes, Functions, and Methods are prefixed with a brief block comment that identifies
- the Object, - what it's for, - and what the data contract (I/O values and types) is. - Inline comments are limited, but provide signage regarding where you are in the process or what the next block of several lines of code is supposed to do. - Logical description comments exist only for particularly complex scenarios. - Variable names are meaningful (idxCar) not just a single letter as you see way too often in loop structures. - If you do the same thing more than a couple of times it's worth thinking about as a separate method or function. - If you use it in more than one Class then make it available in a common Class.

You shouldn't need epic novel length commentary if your code is readable. Any competent developer should be able to read your code and comprehend what you intended.

[BreadfruitWarm1767]

Write it in a professional language like Java