In this article let’s look at the functools Standard Library module and 6 cool things you can do with it (be warned, a lot of decorators are coming your way! 😍) … 1. Cache (“memoize”) things You can use the @cache decorator (formerly called @lru_cache) as a “simple lightweight unbounded function cache”. The classic example is… Continue reading 6 Cool Things You Can Do With The Functools Module
Bob Belderbos
Bob studied business economics, but got fired up about programming early in his career. He taught himself web design / coding and started living his biggest passion: automate the boring stuff, making other people's lives easier. Since then he has coded projects accruing millions in cost savings and built a coding platform that has taught Python to thousands of people worldwide. He deeply cares about helping other people succeed. His biggest win will be your next win!
Your First Python Open Source Contribution: A Step-By-Step Guide
By Bob Belderbos on 20 September 2023
Introduction I recently re-engaged with one of my open source projects and it was a rewarding experience. 🎉 It was a Pybites project I had written the core for years ago, but thanks to some amazing Pythonistas in our community it became a way more mature tool so I had to get acquainted again. I… Continue reading Your First Python Open Source Contribution: A Step-By-Step Guide
Debunking 7 Myths About Software Development Coaching
By Bob Belderbos on 12 September 2023
If you give a man a fish, you feed him for a day. If you teach a man to fish, you feed him for a lifetime. Chinese proverb Transformative power of guidance 10 years ago I was overweight, maybe not more than +12 kg, but it definitely had a bearing on the quality of my… Continue reading Debunking 7 Myths About Software Development Coaching
Make Each Line Count, Keeping Things Simple in Python
By Bob Belderbos on 24 August 2023
A challenge in software development is to keep things simple 🤯 For your code to not grow overly complex over time 😱 Simple is better than complex.Complex is better than complicated. Zen of Python 🐍 Simplicity in your code means fewer possibilities for bugs to hide and easier debugging when they do arise 📈 It… Continue reading Make Each Line Count, Keeping Things Simple in Python
⚠️Why you should avoid import * in Python 🐍
By Bob Belderbos on 15 August 2023
Anyone who’s worked with Python knows that modules can be a Godsend, saving you time, effort, and many lines of code. They even have namespacing built-in 💪 😍 To expand on this a bit: However, not all ways of using modules are equally beneficial. In this article, we will discuss why using import * can… Continue reading ⚠️Why you should avoid import * in Python 🐍
The Arbitrary (Keyword) Arguments (args and kwargs) don’t come “for free” in Python
By Bob Belderbos on 9 August 2023
Python allows you to use *args and **kwargs in function definitions to accept an arbitrary number of positional and keyword arguments, respectively. Here is a simple example: Different types of function arguments In the above example, the arbitrary_args function is defined to accept any number of positional and keyword arguments using the *args and **kwargs… Continue reading The Arbitrary (Keyword) Arguments (args and kwargs) don’t come “for free” in Python
Avoiding Silent Failures in Python: Best Practices for Error Handling
By Bob Belderbos on 7 August 2023
In the world of programming, errors are inevitable. But how we choose to handle these errors can make the difference between a system that is robust and user-friendly and one that is fraught with ambiguous issues 😱 The Zen of Python famously states, “Errors should never pass silently.” This principle emphasizes the importance of addressing… Continue reading Avoiding Silent Failures in Python: Best Practices for Error Handling
How to better streamline your Python project using a Makefile
By Bob Belderbos on 2 August 2023
Makefiles are awesome, and you can use them in your Python projects too (they are not only to compile and build C/C++ projects that is) 😎 They help you automate various tasks and streamline the development process overall 🚀 They allow you to: – Manage dependencies– Run tests– Build documentation– Format your code– Lint and… Continue reading How to better streamline your Python project using a Makefile
Why is Flat Better Than Nested? (Zen of Python)
By Bob Belderbos on 1 August 2023
The short answer: deeply nested code can be hard to read and understand (and this not only applies to Python, but for any code really). Each level of indentation adds a level of complexity and an additional condition that the reader (which is often you!) has to keep in their head while trying to understand… Continue reading Why is Flat Better Than Nested? (Zen of Python)
5 tips to learn any new Python library faster
By Bob Belderbos on 19 April 2023
This was a Pybites email first. To always get the latest and greatest content, subscribe here. Lately I have been learning some new libraries for weekly PDM Code Clinic demo sessions (e.g. PyScript, Flet, PySimpleGUI, Playwright, htmx, Redis, Leaflet, etc.) There is a general approach I take that makes this less painful and more fun.… Continue reading 5 tips to learn any new Python library faster