Chapter 1: Optimal Python Development Life Cycle

Keeping in mind your prior experience with Python, we have skipped the introductory details of the Python language in this chapter. First, we will have a short discussion of the broader open source Python community and its specific culture. That introduction is important, as this culture is reflected in code being written and shared by the Python community. Then, we will present the different phases of a typical Python project. Next, we will look at different ways of strategizing the development of a typical Python project.

Moving on, we will explore different ways of documenting the Python code. Later, we will look into various options of developing an effective naming scheme that can greatly help improve the maintenance of the code. We will also look into various options for using source control for Python projects, including situations where developers are mainly using Jupyter notebooks for development. Finally, we explore the best practices to deploy the code for use, once it is developed and tested.

We will cover the following topics in this chapter:

• Python culture and community
• Different phases of a Python project
• Strategizing the development process
• Effectively documenting Python code
• Developing an effective naming scheme
• Exploring choices for source control
• Understanding strategies for deploying the code
• Python development environments

This chapter will help you understand the life cycle of a typical Python project and its phases so that you can fully utilize the power of Python.