ObsPy Coding Style Guide¶
Like most Python projects, we try to adhere to PEP 8 (Style Guide for Python Code) and PEP 257 (Docstring Conventions) with the modifications documented here. Be sure to read all documents if you intend to contribute code to ObsPy.
Reference Conventions¶
As with numpy.ndarrays or Python lists, we try to reduce the memory consumption by using references where ever possible. In the following example a is appended to b as reference, that is the reason why b get changed when we change a:
>>> a = [1, 2, 3, 4]
>>> b = [5, 6]
>>> b.append(a)
>>> a[0] = -99
>>> print(b)
[5, 6, [-99, 2, 3, 4]]
Import Conventions¶
Like the Python projects NumPy, SciPy and matplotlib, we try to improve readability of the code by importing the following modules in an unified manner:
>>> import numpy as np
>>> import matplotlib.pylab as plt
Naming¶
Names to Avoid
- single character names except for counters or iterators
- dashes (-) in any package/module name
- __double_leading_and_trailing_underscore__ names (reserved by Python)
Naming Convention
- “Internal” means internal to a module or protected or private within a class.
- Prepending a single underscore (_) has some support for protecting module variables and functions (not included with import * from). Prepending a double underscore (__) to an instance variable or method effectively serves to make the variable or method private to its class (using name mangling).
- Place related classes and top-level functions together in a module. Unlike Java, there is no need to limit yourself to one class per module.
- Use CamelCase for class names, but lower_with_under.py for module names.
Type | Public | Internal |
---|---|---|
Packages | lower_with_under | |
Modules | lower_with_under | _lower_with_under |
Classes | CamelCase | _CamelCase |
Exceptions | CamelCase | |
Functions | lower_with_under() | _lower_with_under() |
Constants | CAPS_WITH_UNDER | _CAPS_WITH_UNDER |
Class Variables | lower_with_under | _lower_with_under |
Instance Variables | lower_with_under | _lower_with_under (protected) __lower_with_under (private) |
Methods | lower_with_under() | _lower_with_under() (protected) __lower_with_under() (private) |
Attributes | lower_with_under | |
Local Variables | lower_with_under |
Doc Strings¶
One-liner: both """ are in new lines
def someMethod(): """ This is a one line doc string. """ print("test")
Multiple lines: both """ are in new lines - also you should try provide a meaningful one-liner description at the top, followed by two linebreaks with further text.
def someMethod(): """ This is just the short story. The long story is, this docstring would not have been able to fit in one line. Therefore we have to break lines. """ print("test")
Function/Method Definitions¶
In docstrings which annotate functions and methods, the following reStructuredText fields are recognized and formatted nicely:
- param
- Description of a parameter.
- type
- Type of a parameter.
- raises, raise
- That (and when) a specific exception is raised.
- var
- Description of a variable.
- returns, return
- Description of the return value.
- rtype
- Return type.
The field names must consist of one of these keywords and an argument (except for returns and rtype, which do not need an argument). This is best explained by an example:
def formatException(etype, value, tb, limit=None):
"""
Format the exception with a traceback.
:param etype: exception type
:param value: exception value
:param tb: traceback object
:param limit: maximum number of stack frames to show
:type limit: integer or None
:rtype: list of strings
:return: Traceback messages.
"""
which renders like this:
- formatException(etype, value, tb, limit=None)¶
Format the exception with a traceback.
Parameters: - etype exception type
- value exception value
- tb traceback object
- limit (integer or None) maximum number of stack frames to show
Return type: list of strings
Returns: Traceback messages.
Tests¶
test methods names must start with test_ followed by a mixedCase part
Tests which are expected to fail, because there is a known/unfixed bug should be commented with an XXX: followed by an valid ticket number, e.g.
def test_doSomething(): """XXX: This test does something. But fails badly. See ticket #number. """ print("test") ... # XXX: here it fails ...
Miscellaneous¶
- Lines shouldn’t exceed a length of 79 characters. No, it’s not because we’re mainly using VT100 terminals while developing, rather because the diffs look nicer on short lines, especially in side-by-side mode.
- never use multiple statements on the same line, e.g. if check: a = 0.
- Prefer list comprehension to the built-in functions filter() and map() when appropriate.