Python Debugging Techniques for Beginners

Debugging is an important part of the software development process, and Python provides several techniques for beginners to debug their code. Here are some common techniques:

1. Print statements: One of the simplest and most widely used techniques is to insert print statements in your code to check the values of variables and expressions at different points in the execution. This can help you identify where the problem is occurring and what the state of the program is at that point.
2. The pdb library: Python includes a built-in library called pdb that provides a command-line interface for debugging. You can insert the statement import pdb; pdb.set_trace() at the point where you want to start debugging, and the program will enter the pdb interactive mode, allowing you to step through the code and inspect variables.
3. The ipdb library: ipdb is an improved version of pdb library, it allows you to use the same interface as pdb but with some added features like syntax highlighting and tab completion.
4. The breakpoint() function: Python 3.7 introduces a built-in function breakpoint() that is similar to pdb.set_trace() but it does not require importing pdb, it is built-in to the interpreter.
5. IDEs and text editors with debugging support: Many IDEs and text editors have built-in support for debugging Python code, such as PyCharm, VSCode, and Sublime Text. These tools provide a graphical user interface that allows you to set breakpoints, step through code, and inspect variables.
6. Assert statements: Using assert statements you can check if a certain condition is true during runtime and if it isn't it will raise an AssertionError, you can use this to check if the code is working as expected.
7. logging: Logging is a way to record information about your code's execution. It can be used to record messages that can help you understand what is happening in your code.
8. try-except block: Using try-except blocks to catch and handle specific errors, can help you isolate and fix the issue, and also can provide the user with a meaningful message.

While debugging can be a frustrating process, these techniques can help you quickly identify and fix errors in your code, allowing you to move on to the next step in your development process. It's important to try different techniques to find the one that works best for you and your specific needs.

 Do Comment what's your favorite? 

Python’s Inbuilt Modules to Make Life Easier

Python has a number of built-in modules and packages that are included with the standard distribution. Here are some popular ones:

1. math: A module that provides mathematical functions and constants, such as trigonometric functions, logarithms, and the constant pi.
2. random: A module that provides various random number generators and probability distributions.
3. os: A module that provides a way to interact with the operating system, such as navigating the file system, creating and removing directories, and executing shell commands.
4. time: A module that provides functions for working with time and dates, such as measuring time intervals and parsing and formatting date and time strings.
5. datetime: A module that provides classes for working with dates and times, such as date, time, datetime, timedelta, etc.
6. json: A module for working with JSON data, it provides functions for encoding and decoding JSON data.
7. re : A module that provides regular expression matching operations.
8. sys: A module that provides access to some variables and functions that are used or maintained by the Python interpreter, such as the command-line arguments passed to a script.
9. statistics: A module for mathematical statistics functions, like mean, median, variance and etc.
10. sys: A module that provides access to system-specific parameters and functions, like interpreter version, command line arguments and etc.
11. urllib : A module that provides an API for using the basic HTTP and FTP protocols, it also used for opening and reading URLs.
12. argparse : A module that makes it easy to write user-friendly command-line interfaces.

These are just a few examples of the built-in modules and packages available in Python. Each of them provides a specific set of functionalities that can be used to solve different problems.

Do comment your favorite module.

Python Tips and Tricks for Beginners - Part 1

Here are a few tips and tricks for Python beginners:

1. Use list comprehensions instead of for loops: List comprehensions are a concise way to create lists and are often faster than for loops.

   They have the syntax: [expression for item in iterable if condition]. Example

   original_list = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
   squared_list = [x**2 for x in original_list]
   print(squared_list)
   

   output:

   [1, 4, 9, 16, 25]
   

2. Use the "with" statement when working with files: The "with" statement is used when working with files and automatically takes care of closing the file after it's been used. This eliminates the need to explicitly call the close() method and can help prevent errors.

   Example:

   with open('example.txt', 'r') as file:
       contents = file.read()
       print(contents)
   

   Once the code inside the with block is finished executing, the file will automatically be closed. This ensures that the file is closed even if an exception is raised inside the with block. The same can be used when writing to a file.

3. Use the built-in function enumerate(): The enumerate() function is used to loop over a list while keeping track of the index of the current item. It returns both the index and the value of the current item.

   Example:

   fruits = ['apple', 'banana', 'orange']
   for index, value in enumerate(fruits):
       print(f"{index}: {value}")
   

4. Use the ternary operator for simple if-else statements: The ternary operator allows you to write simple if-else statements in a single line of code. The syntax is: value_if_true if condition else value_if_false.

   value_if_true if condition else value_if_false.
   

   Example

   x = 10
   y = 20
   
   bigger = x if x > y else y
   print(bigger)
   

   Output:

   20
   

   A more complex example:

   age = 20
   status = "minor" if age < 18 else "adult" if age < 65 else "senior"
   print(status)
   

   output:

   adult
   

5. Get familiar with modules and packages: Python has a large number of modules and packages, many of which are designed to perform specific tasks. It is important to familiarize yourself with the available modules and packages and to use the ones that are appropriate for your task.

   some of the modules for example (read more Python's Inbuilt Modules for beginner)
   

   1. random
   2. os
   3. DateTime and time
   4. json

6. Get into the habit of writing documentation: Good documentation is essential for any code you write. This is even more important for beginners, who are still learning the best practices for writing code.

7. Practice and practice, write more code, and get yourself involved in open-source projects that will help you to improve your skills.

8. Make use of Python Tutors and Mentors, who can guide and help you to overcome any issues you face while learning.

9. Get any function doc string in python shell buy adding ? at last and press enter.

   Example:

   sum?
   

output:

Signature: sum(iterable, /, start=0)
Docstring:
Return the sum of a 'start' value (default: 0) plus an iterable of numbers

When the iterable is empty, return the start value.
This function is intended specifically for use with numeric values and may
reject non-numeric types.
Type:      builtin_function_or_method

By implementing these tips and tricks, you can write more efficient and readable Python code, and also it will help you to improve your coding skills.

Do check out Python’s official documentation time to time. Do comment your favorite tricks.