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How to Load and Save CSV and JSON Files in Python
A beginner-friendly data helper that loads or saves CSV and JSON files using only the Python standard library, with automatic format detection from the file extension.
from pathlib import Path
import json
import csv
def load_data(file_path):
"""Load CSV or JSON data from disk based on file extension."""
path = Path(file_path)
if path.suffix == ".json":
with path.open() as f:
return json.load(f)
elif path.suffix == ".csv":
with path.open(…
How to Load envrc Files in Python
Parse and apply direnv-style envrc files to the current environment, with proper handling of variables, comments, and quotes.
import os
import tempfile
from pathlib import Path
from unittest.mock import patch
def load_envrc(envrc_path):
"""Parse an envrc-style file and apply it to the current environment."""
env_changes = {}
with open(envrc_path, "r") as f:
for line in f:
line = line.strip()
if l…
How to Mock Twine Upload to TestPyPI in Python
Simulate a twine upload to TestPyPI with a dry-run mock function that validates distribution files and prints the intended upload action without any network call.
import subprocess
import sys
# Mock twine upload to TestPyPI using subprocess dry-run
def mock_twine_upload(dist_file: str, repo_url: str = "https://test.pypi.org/legacy/") -> None:
"""Simulate twine upload by checking dist file and printing intended action."""
if not dist_file.endswith((".whl", ".tar.gz")):
…
How to Parse Taskfile YAML in Python
Load a Taskfile.yaml with PyYAML and simulate task execution by returning each task's commands.
import yaml
from pathlib import Path
def load_taskfile(taskfile_path: str) -> dict:
"""Load and parse a Taskfile.yaml file into a dict."""
data = Path(taskfile_path).read_text()
return yaml.safe_load(data)
def run_task(taskfile: dict, task_name: str) -> dict:
"""Simulate running a task by returning i…
How to Parse and Extract Nested Data in Python
Load JSON files with Path and recursively extract values by key from nested Python structures using modern typing and standard library.
import json
from pathlib import Path
from typing import Any, Dict, List, Union
def load_data(filepath: Union[str, Path]) -> Union[Dict[str, Any], List[Any]]:
"""Load JSON data from a file with modern Path handling."""
path = Path(filepath)
if not path.exists():
raise FileNotFoundError(f"File not f…
How to Read the Python Path from VS Code settings.json in Python
This code loads VS Code's settings.json file and extracts the python.defaultInterpreterPath value, with a mock demonstration for testing.
import json
from pathlib import Path
from unittest.mock import patch
def read_vscode_python_path(settings_path: Path) -> str:
"""Extract python.defaultInterpreterPath from VS Code settings.json."""
with open(settings_path, "r") as f:
settings = json.load(f)
return settings.get("python", {}).get("d…
How to Save and Load JSON Files in Python
Create a simple data helper to save Python dictionaries as pretty-printed JSON files and load them back reliably using pathlib and the stdlib json module.
import json
from pathlib import Path
from typing import Any
def save_json(data: Any, filename: str) -> None:
"""Save data as pretty-printed JSON to the current directory."""
path = Path(filename)
with path.open("w", encoding="utf-8") as f:
json.dump(data, f, indent=2, ensure_ascii=False)
def lo…
Mock pdm build and publish in Python
Simulate pdm build and publish commands with unittest.mock to test packaging workflows without triggering real builds or uploads.
from unittest.mock import Mock, patch
import pdm
def build_package() -> str:
"""Simulate building a package with pdm."""
build_mock = Mock(return_value="dist/mypackage-0.1.0-py3-none-any.whl")
with patch.object(pdm, "build", build_mock):
result = pdm.build()
return result
def publish_packa…
Create a Data Helper Class in Python
A reusable DataHelper class that saves and loads JSON and CSV files from a configurable base directory, with automatic header detection for CSV.
import json
import csv
from pathlib import Path
class DataHelper:
def __init__(self, base_path="."):
self.base_path = Path(base_path)
self.base_path.mkdir(exist_ok=True)
def save_json(self, data, filename):
path = self.base_path / filename
with open(path, "w") as f:
…
How to Build a Weighted Random Load Balancer in Python
A Python load balancer mock that distributes requests across servers based on configurable weights using a cumulative weighted random selection algorithm.
import random
from collections import Counter
SERVERS = {
"server-a": 50,
"server-b": 30,
"server-c": 20,
}
def weighted_random_server(servers: dict[str, int]) -> str:
"""Select a server based on its weight (higher weight = more likely)."""
total_weight = sum(servers.values())
rand = random.…
Round Robin Load Balancer in Python
This code simulates round robin load balancing by distributing a list of requests evenly across a list of servers.
def round_robin_servers(requests: list[str], servers: list[str]) -> dict[str, list[str]]:
assignments = {server: [] for server in servers}
for idx, request in enumerate(requests):
server = servers[idx % len(servers)]
assignments[server].append(request)
return assignments
if __name__ == "_…
How to Mock Content-Disposition and Extract Filename in Python
Parse and mock Content-Disposition headers in Python to extract filenames, handling both plain and RFC 5987 encoded values.
import os
from pathlib import Path
import re
from unittest.mock import patch
def get_filename_from_content_disposition(header_value):
"""
Extract filename from a Content-Disposition header value.
Supports both filename and filename* parameters (RFC 5987).
"""
if not header_value:
return No…
How to Validate Data in Python for Beginners
A beginner-friendly Python class for validating required fields, types, ranges, and allowed choices in dict payloads.
import json
from typing import Any, Dict, List, Optional, Union
class Validator:
"""A simple validate data helper designed for beginners."""
def __init__(self, data: Union[Dict[str, Any], List[Any]]):
self.data = data
self.errors: Dict[str, str] = {}
def validate_required(self, field: s…
How to Build a Mock Change Data Capture Event Stream in Python
Generate a deterministic list of mock CDC events with event IDs, stream positions, payloads, and timestamps for testing streaming pipelines.
from itertools import count
from random import choice, randint, seed
from datetime import datetime, timedelta
seed(42) # Make output deterministic
event_types = ["INSERT", "UPDATE", "DELETE"]
table_names = ["users", "orders", "products", "payments"]
counter = count(1)
def mock_cdc_event(stream_index: int) -> dict:
…
How to Serialize and Deserialize JSON Event Payloads in Python
Define an EventPayload class with custom to_json and from_json methods to convert event objects to JSON strings and back, using datetime parsing.
import json
from datetime import datetime
class EventPayload:
def __init__(self, event_id, event_type, timestamp, data):
self.event_id = event_id
self.event_type = event_type
self.timestamp = timestamp
self.data = data
def to_json(self):
return json.dumps({
…
Mock NATS queue group load balancing in Python
Simulates a NATS queue group where each message is delivered to exactly one subscriber using random selection with a lightweight mock.
import random
import time
from collections import defaultdict
class MockQueueGroup:
"""Mock a NATS queue group: each message is delivered to exactly one subscriber."""
def __init__(self, subscribers):
self.subscribers = subscribers
def publish(self, message):
receiver = random.choice(se…
Cache Asides in Python with a Read-Through Loader
Implements a cache-aside pattern with a read-through loader that fetches missing keys from a backing data store and caches them.
class DataStore:
"""Mock database with a few records."""
def __init__(self):
self.data = {1: "Alice", 2: "Bob", 3: "Charlie"}
def get(self, key):
print(f"Loading key {key} from database")
return self.data.get(key)
class CacheAsideLoader:
"""Cache-aside pattern with a read-thr…
Cache Warming with Python: Preload Hot Keys
Demonstrates a simple LRU-like cache with a warm method that preloads hot keys with mock values using OrderedDict.
import time
from collections import OrderedDict
class CacheWarm:
def __init__(self, capacity=3):
self.capacity = capacity
self.cache = OrderedDict()
self.hot_keys = []
def warm(self, keys):
"""Preload hot keys into cache with mock values."""
for key in keys:
…
Rate Limiting with Queue Rejection in Python
Simulates a load shed pattern that rejects tasks when a queue fills up.
from collections import deque
import time
class RateLimiter:
def __init__(self, max_queue_size=3):
self.queue = deque()
self.max_queue_size = max_queue_size
self.rejected_count = 0
def submit(self, task_name):
if len(self.queue) >= self.max_queue_size:
self.reject…
BFF aggregation pattern: combine multiple service responses in Python
Mock three backend services and aggregate their responses into one unified payload — the BFF pattern every Python microservice gateway relies on.
from dataclasses import dataclass
from typing import Any
@dataclass
class Service:
name: str
data: dict[str, Any]
def get_user_service() -> Service:
return Service("user", {"id": 1, "name": "Alice"})
def get_orders_service() -> Service:
return Service("orders", {"total": 299.99, "count": 2})
de…
Cache-Aside Pattern in Python: Per-Service Mock
A Python mock of the cache-aside pattern for a single microservice—lazy-load from a database into an in-memory cache and invalidate on updates.
class ServiceCache:
def __init__(self):
self.database = {"user:1": "Alice", "user:2": "Bob", "user:3": "Charlie"}
self.cache = {}
def get_user(self, user_id):
cache_key = f"user:{user_id}"
if cache_key in self.cache:
print(f"CACHE HIT: {cache_key}")
retu…
How to Mock a Server-Side Load Balancer in Python
A simple Python class that mimics a server-side load balancer with round-robin, random, and least-connections selection strategies.
import itertools
import random
class LoadBalancer:
def __init__(self, servers=None):
self.servers = servers if servers else ["server1", "server2", "server3"]
self.counter = itertools.count(1)
def round_robin(self):
return next(self.counter) % len(self.servers)
def random_selectio…
How to implement round-robin load balancing in Python
Implement a client-side round-robin load balancer that distributes requests sequentially across a list of mock servers using itertools.cycle.
import itertools
import random
class MockServer:
def __init__(self, name):
self.name = name
def handle_request(self, request_id):
return f"Server {self.name} handled request #{request_id}"
class RoundRobinLoadBalancer:
def __init__(self, servers):
self.servers = servers
…
How to mock a SPIFFE workload identity in Python
Generate a mock SPIFFE ID and token for a workload using a trust domain, namespace, and service account.
import hashlib
import json
from dataclasses import dataclass, asdict
@dataclass
class SPIFFEIdentity:
trust_domain: str
namespace: str
service_account: str
@property
def id(self) -> str:
return f"spiffe://{self.trust_domain}/ns/{self.namespace}/sa/{self.service_account}"
def mock_workl…
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