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How to Use a Weakref Cache to Avoid Memory Leaks in Python
This code demonstrates building a value cache with weakref.WeakValueDictionary so objects can be garbage collected when no longer referenced, preventing memory leaks.
import weakref
import gc
class ExpensiveObject:
def __init__(self, name):
self.name = name
def __repr__(self):
return f"ExpensiveObject('{self.name}')"
class ObjectCache:
def __init__(self):
self._cache = weakref.WeakValueDictionary()
def get_or_create(self, name):
…
How to Use asyncio Lock to Protect a Shared Counter in Python
This code demonstrates how to use an asyncio.Lock to safely increment a shared counter from multiple concurrent coroutines.
import asyncio
async def increment(counter, lock, increments):
for _ in range(increments):
async with lock:
counter[0] += 1
async def main():
counter = [0]
lock = asyncio.Lock()
tasks = [
increment(counter, lock, 1000)
for _ in range(5)
]
await asyncio.gath…
How to Use threading.RLock in Python
Demonstrates threading.RLock, a reentrant lock that allows the same thread to acquire it multiple times without deadlocking — essential for recursive functions sharing state across threads.
import threading
import time
lock = threading.RLock()
shared_counter = 0
def recursive_increment(value, depth):
global shared_counter
with lock:
shared_counter += 1
print(f"Depth {depth}: counter = {shared_counter}")
if depth > 1:
recursive_increment(value, depth - 1)
def…
How to Mock and Stub API Calls in Playwright E2E Tests with Python
This code demonstrates how to mock and stub API responses in Playwright end-to-end tests using Python's unittest.mock patch and Playwright's APIRequestContext.
import re
from unittest.mock import patch
from playwright.sync_api import sync_playwright
def verify_api_mock(page, mock_url, mock_response):
with patch("playwright.sync_api.APIRequestContext.get") as mock_get:
mock_get.return_value.json.return_value = mock_response
mock_get.return_value.status_co…
How to Use Mock Flip Mutation Testing in Python
Demonstrates how mutation testing tools flip Boolean literals (mock flip) in Python source to verify test suite effectiveness in catching logic changes.
import random
# In mutation testing, a "mock flip" intentionally changes a Boolean
# constant to False (or True) to see if the test suite catches it.
# This is a common "constant mutation" applied to a source file's literals.
def is_even(n: int) -> bool:
"""Return True if n is even. Contains a Boolean literal us…
Domain Driven Design Aggregate Root Example in Python
Model an Order as an aggregate root with invariants enforced through methods, demonstrating DDD principles in Python.
from __future__ import annotations
from dataclasses import dataclass
from typing import List, Optional
from uuid import uuid4
class Money:
def __init__(self, amount: float, currency: str = "USD"):
self.amount = amount
self.currency = currency
def __add__(self, other: Money) -> Money:
…
Facade Pattern in Python with Mock Simplification
This code demonstrates the Facade pattern by hiding complex subsystem interactions behind a simple start/stop interface, and adds a MockFacade for testing failure scenarios.
class SubsystemA:
def operation_a(self):
return "Subsystem A: ready"
class SubsystemB:
def operation_b(self):
return "Subsystem B: ready"
class SubsystemC:
def operation_c(self):
return "Subsystem C: ready"
class Facade:
def __init__(self):
self._a = SubsystemA()
…
How to Apply the Clean Architecture Dependency Rule in Python
Demonstrates the dependency rule with a Protocol repository, a use case, and a presenter wired together at a composition root.
from dataclasses import dataclass
from typing import List, Protocol
class Repository(Protocol):
def get_items(self) -> List[str]:
...
@dataclass
class InMemoryRepository:
items: List[str]
def get_items(self) -> List[str]:
return self.items
class UseCase:
"""Application layer depends…
How to Implement Retry with Exponential Backoff and Jitter in Python
This code demonstrates a retry mechanism with exponential backoff and optional full jitter, using a flaky mock network call for testing.
import random
import time
def retry_with_backoff(func, max_attempts=5, base_delay=0.1, jitter=True):
"""
Retry a function with exponential backoff and optional full jitter.
"""
for attempt in range(max_attempts):
try:
return func()
except Exception as e:
if att…
How to Implement the Strategy Pattern in Python
This Python code demonstrates the Strategy design pattern using interchangeable sorting algorithms (bubble sort and quick sort) that can be swapped at runtime.
class SortingStrategy:
def sort(self, data):
raise NotImplementedError
class BubbleSort(SortingStrategy):
def sort(self, data):
result = data.copy()
n = len(result)
for i in range(n):
for j in range(0, n - i - 1):
if result[j] > result[j + 1]:
…
How to Mock a Timeout per Dependency Call in Python
This code demonstrates how to simulate and test per-call timeouts for external dependencies using Python's unittest.mock and a simple timing wrapper.
```python
import time
from unittest.mock import Mock, patch
def call_dependency(dependency, timeout):
start = time.time()
result = dependency.call()
elapsed = time.time() - start
if elapsed > timeout:
raise TimeoutError(f"Dependency call took {elapsed:.2f}s, exceeding timeout {timeout}s")
…
Singleton Config Loader in Python with Caution
Implements a singleton config loader in Python that reads JSON config files, but demonstrates the hidden gotcha of shared state across instances.
import json
from pathlib import Path
class ConfigLoader:
_instance = None
def __new__(cls, *args, **kwargs):
if cls._instance is None:
cls._instance = super().__new__(cls)
return cls._instance
def __init__(self, config_file="config.json"):
if not hasattr(self, "loaded…
How to Implement At-Least-Once Delivery with Acknowledgment in Python
This code demonstrates a mock message broker with at-least-once delivery, including retry logic and acknowledgment after successful processing.
import time
import uuid
from collections import deque
class MockMessageBroker:
def __init__(self):
self.queue = deque()
self.acked = set()
def publish(self, payload: str) -> str:
msg_id = str(uuid.uuid4())
self.queue.append((msg_id, payload))
return msg_id
def po…
How to Mock Offset Commit Auto vs Manual in Python
Demonstrates a Kafka-style offset commit function with auto/manual modes and tests it using unittest.mock.patch.
from unittest.mock import Mock, patch
def commit_offsets(topic_partition_offsets, auto_commit=False):
"""Manually commit offsets or simulate auto-commit."""
if auto_commit:
print(f"Auto-committing offsets: {topic_partition_offsets}")
return {"status": "auto_committed"}
print(f"Manuall…
How to Implement Hedged Requests in Python
This code demonstrates a hedged request pattern using threading, which sends duplicate calls and returns the first result that arrives within a timeout.
import time
from unittest.mock import Mock
def hedged_request(call, timeout=0.05):
"""Execute two duplicate calls, return first result within timeout."""
result_container = {}
def run_and_store():
result_container['result'] = call()
result_container['done'] = True
# Simulate slow cal…
How to use foreachBatch with a mock sink in PySpark
Demonstrates using Spark Structured Streaming's foreachBatch sink to capture and verify streaming batches by writing them into a custom mock sink object.
from pyspark.sql import SparkSession
from pyspark.sql.functions import col, lit
class MockSink:
def __init__(self):
self.batches = []
def write_batch(self, batch_df, batch_id):
# Collect batch data as list of dicts for verification
records = batch_df.collect()
self.batches…
Skew Join Salting Key in Python (Demo)
Demonstrates skew join salting by expanding a smaller side with salt keys and matching rows on the larger side via random salt assignment.
import random
def skew_join_salting_key(left_df, right_df, salt_range=4):
"""
Demonstrates skew join salting: expand the smaller side with salt keys,
then attach a salt key to each row on the larger side.
Returns a list of (left, right, salt) tuples.
"""
skewed_left = []
for row in left_d…
How to Mock Time for Cache TTL Testing in Python
This code demonstrates how to test a cache's TTL expiration logic by mocking time.time with unittest.mock to control the passage of time.
import time
from unittest.mock import patch
class ConfigCache:
def __init__(self, ttl=60):
self.ttl = ttl
self._store = {}
self._timestamps = {}
def get(self, key):
if key not in self._store:
return None
if time.time() - self._timestamps[key] > self.ttl:
…
How to Eager Load with JOIN to Reduce N+1 Queries in Python
Demonstrates eager loading with a SQL JOIN to reduce N+1 query patterns down to a single database call when fetching related data.
import sqlite3
def eager_load_join_reduce(mock_db_path=":memory:"):
"""Demonstrate eager loading where joins reduce query count from N+1 to 1."""
conn = sqlite3.connect(mock_db_path)
cursor = conn.cursor()
cursor.executescript(
"""
CREATE TABLE authors (id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY, name TE…
How to Implement Read-After-Write Consistency Mock in Python
Simulate strong versus eventual read-after-write consistency with a primary and replica store, demonstrating the difference in data visibility over time.
import time
class MockStorage:
def __init__(self, write_delay=0.1):
self.store = {}
self.replica = {}
self.write_delay = write_delay
def write(self, key, value):
# Write to primary storage immediately
self.store[key] = value
# Simulate async replication delay
…
Offset vs Keyset Pagination in Python
Demonstrate offset-based pagination and keyset (cursor) pagination with a simple in-memory dataset, showing how each returns pages of records.
"""Demonstrate pagination using offset vs keyset (cursor) approach."""
ITEMS = [
{"id": 1, "name": "Alice"},
{"id": 2, "name": "Bob"},
{"id": 3, "name": "Carol"},
{"id": 4, "name": "David"},
{"id": 5, "name": "Eve"},
]
def offset_paginate(items, page, page_size):
"""Return a page using offset…
Two Phase Commit Cross Shard Mock in Python
Simulates a two-phase commit across shards with failure handling to demonstrate distributed transaction coordination in Python.
"""Mock cross-shard two-phase commit with caution handling."""
class Shard:
def __init__(self, name):
self.name = name
self.prepared = False
self.committed = False
self.aborted = False
def prepare(self):
# Simulate potential failure (1 in 3 chance on third shard)
…
How to Implement a Vault Dynamic Database Credentials Mock in Python
A Python dataclass-based mock of HashiCorp Vault that issues short-lived database credentials, tracks leases, and revokes them, demonstrating dynamic secrets rotation.
import time
import json
from dataclasses import dataclass, field
from typing import Dict
@dataclass
class DynamicCredential:
username: str
password: str
lease_duration: int
created_at: float = field(default_factory=time.time)
def is_valid(self) -> bool:
return time.time() - self.created_…
How to Mock HTTP Responses to Verify HSTS Headers in Python
This code demonstrates how to use unittest.mock to intercept and capture HTTP response headers, specifically the Strict-Transport-Security header, from a mocked HTTPServer handler for security validation.
from http.server import BaseHTTPRequestHandler, HTTPServer
from unittest.mock import patch
class StrictTransportMock(BaseHTTPRequestHandler):
def do_GET(self):
self.send_response(200)
self.send_header("Strict-Transport-Security", "max-age=31536000; includeSubDomains")
self.end_headers()
…
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