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Implement circuit breaker open after failures demo in Python
A minimal CircuitBreaker class that calls a function and automatically 'opens' after a set number of consecutive failures, blocking further calls with a RuntimeError.
import time
from datetime import datetime
class CircuitBreaker:
def __init__(self, threshold=3):
self.threshold = threshold
self.failure_count = 0
self.is_open = False
def call(self, func, *args, **kwargs):
if self.is_open:
raise RuntimeError("Circuit is OPEN")
…
How to Load Pickle Files Safely in Python
This code demonstrates how to load pickle files safely in Python by using a restricted unpickler that only allows specific, trusted classes, preventing arbitrary code execution from untrusted pickles.
import pickle
# Default pickle.load is unsafe: it executes arbitrary code when unpickling.
class Unsafe:
def __reduce__(self):
return (eval, ("open('/tmp/pickle_demo.txt', 'w').write('pwned')",))
# Create a malicious payload (simulating untrusted source)
malicious_data = pickle.dumps(Unsafe())
# Safe ap…
How to Memory Map Large Files Read-Only in Python
This code demonstrates reading only the tail of a large file using a read-only memory map (mmap) to avoid loading the entire file into memory.
import mmap
import os
def read_tail_with_mmap(filepath, bytes_from_end=64):
"""Read the last bytes of a large file using a read-only mmap."""
file_size = os.path.getsize(filepath)
start = max(0, file_size - bytes_from_end)
with open(filepath, "rb") as f:
with mmap.mmap(f.fileno(), length=0, a…
How to Use fcntl for Exclusive File Locking in Python
This code demonstrates how to acquire an exclusive advisory lock on a file using fcntl.flock with a non-blocking flag, simulate work, then release the lock.
import fcntl
import os
import tempfile
import time
def acquire_exclusive_lock(filepath):
fd = os.open(filepath, os.O_RDWR | os.O_CREAT)
try:
fcntl.flock(fd, fcntl.LOCK_EX | fcntl.LOCK_NB)
print(f"Exclusive lock acquired on {filepath}")
time.sleep(1) # Simulate work while holding the l…
How to Create a Data Splitter Class in Python
This code defines a DataSplitter class that splits data by index, into chunks, or by a predicate, demonstrating OOP principles in Python.
class DataSplitter:
def __init__(self, data):
self.data = list(data)
def split_by_index(self, index):
return self.data[:index], self.data[index:]
def split_into_chunks(self, chunk_size):
return [self.data[i:i + chunk_size] for i in range(0, len(self.data), chunk_size)]
…
How to Implement the Command Pattern with Undo in Python
Python code demonstrating the Command design pattern with undo and redo support using action objects and a history manager.
class Command:
def execute(self):
raise NotImplementedError
def undo(self):
raise NotImplementedError
class AddTextCommand(Command):
def __init__(self, document, text):
self.document = document
self.text = text
def execute(self):
self.document.append(self.tex…
Memento Pattern in Python: Save and Restore Object State
Implement the Memento design pattern to snapshot and restore an object's state, demonstrated with a text editor undo feature.
class TextEditor:
def __init__(self, text="", cursor_pos=0):
self.text = text
self.cursor_pos = cursor_pos
def type_text(self, new_text):
self.text += new_text
self.cursor_pos += len(new_text)
def move_cursor(self, pos):
self.cursor_pos = max(0, min(pos, len(self.t…
Understanding Multiple Inheritance Method Resolution Order in Python
This code demonstrates how Python's MRO determines which greet method is called in a diamond inheritance scenario, and prints the full MRO for class D.
class A:
def greet(self):
return "Hello from A"
class B(A):
def greet(self):
return "Hello from B"
class C(A):
def greet(self):
return "Hello from C"
class D(B, C):
pass
if __name__ == "__main__":
d = D()
print(d.greet())
print(D.__mro__)
Visitor Pattern in Python: Double Dispatch Demo
Demonstrates the Visitor design pattern with double dispatch so operations on Dog and Cat objects are selected at runtime without modifying their classes.
class Animal:
def accept(self, visitor):
visitor.visit(self)
class Dog(Animal):
def speak(self):
return "Woof!"
class Cat(Animal):
def speak(self):
return "Meow!"
class SoundVisitor:
def visit(self, animal):
if isinstance(animal, Dog):
return self.visit_do…
How to Find Four Sum Quadruplets in Python (Sorted Demo)
Find all unique quadruplets in a sorted array that sum to a target, with duplicate skipping.
def four_sum(nums, target):
nums.sort()
result = []
n = len(nums)
for i in range(n - 3):
if i > 0 and nums[i] == nums[i - 1]:
continue
for j in range(i + 1, n - 2):
if j > i + 1 and nums[j] == nums[j - 1]:
continue
left, right = j + 1…
How to Find the n Smallest Items in a Large List with heapq in Python
This code demonstrates how to efficiently extract the n smallest items from a large list using Python's heapq module and a manual max-heap approach.
import heapq
def n_smallest_iterable(data, n):
"""Return the n smallest items without loading the whole list."""
if n <= 0:
return []
return heapq.nsmallest(n, data)
def n_smallest_manual(data, n):
"""Return the n smallest using a heap, O(n log k) time."""
if n <= 0:
return []
…
Set Matrix Zeroes in Python: Markers List Grid Demo
Given a matrix, this code finds all rows and columns that contain a zero and sets every element in those rows and columns to zero, using boolean marker arrays.
def set_zeroes(matrix):
rows, cols = len(matrix), len(matrix[0])
row_markers = [False] * rows
col_markers = [False] * cols
# First pass: record which rows and columns contain zeros
for i in range(rows):
for j in range(cols):
if matrix[i][j] == 0:
row_markers[i] …
How to Build a Backpressure Generator Pause Producer Demo in Python
Demonstrates a producer–consumer pattern with a fixed-size buffer that pauses production when full, simulating backpressure.
import time
import collections
def producer(buffer, max_size, items):
"""Adds items to the buffer until full, then pauses."""
for item in items:
while len(buffer) >= max_size:
print(f"Buffer full ({len(buffer)}/{max_size}) — producer paused")
time.sleep(0.1)
buffer.appe…
How to Throw an Exception into a Python Generator
This code demonstrates how to use the .throw() method on a generator to inject an exception at its current yield point and let it recover gracefully.
def demo_throw_into_generator():
"""Demonstrate throwing an exception into a running generator."""
def counter():
"""Generator that counts until interrupted."""
try:
i = 0
while True:
yield i
i += 1
except ValueError as e:
…
How to stream parse JSON arrays in Python
This code demonstrates two generators: one that streams a JSON array as individual chunks, and another that incrementally parses those chunks into Python objects using json.JSONDecoder.
import json
def json_array_stream(items):
"""Generator that yields JSON-encoded values one at a time."""
yield "["
for i, item in enumerate(items):
if i > 0:
yield ","
yield json.dumps(item)
yield "]"
def parse_json_stream(stream):
"""Consumes a stream of JSON fragme…
How to Retry LLM Calls on Rate Limit Errors in Python
Implement a retry mechanism with exponential backoff for LLM API calls that raises a custom RateLimitError, using a mock function to demonstrate the pattern.
import time
import random
def mock_llm_call():
"""Simulates an LLM API call that may raise a rate limit error."""
if random.random() < 0.4: # 40% chance of rate limit
raise RateLimitError("Rate limit exceeded. Try again later.")
return {"response": "Hello world from mock LLM"}
class RateLimitE…
How to implement exponential backoff for LLM API calls in Python
A decorator that retries flaky LLM API calls with exponential delay, using a mock client to demonstrate the pattern.
import time
import random
class MockLLM:
def call(self, prompt):
if random.random() < 0.7: # 70% chance of transient failure
raise ConnectionError("API unavailable")
return f"LLM response for: {prompt}"
def with_exponential_backoff(max_retries=5, base_delay=0.1):
def decorator(fu…
Exponential Backoff with Jitter for Cloud API Calls in Python
A Python snippet demonstrating exponential backoff with jitter for retrying transient cloud API failures, using a simulated client that has a configurable success rate.
import random
import time
def exponential_backoff_with_jitter(retries=5, base_delay=0.5, max_delay=4.0, jitter_factor=0.3):
for attempt in range(1, retries + 1):
delay = min(max_delay, base_delay * (2 ** (attempt - 1)))
jitter = delay * random.uniform(-jitter_factor, jitter_factor)
effect…
Mock Route53 change_resource_record_sets in Python
This code demonstrates how to mock AWS Route53 change_resource_record_sets API calls using the botocore Stubber, allowing you to test DNS update logic without touching real infrastructure.
import boto3
from botocore.exceptions import ClientError
def mock_change_resource_record_sets():
"""Demonstrates Route53 change_resource_record_sets with a mock client."""
# Create a mock Route53 client
route53 = boto3.client('route53', region_name='us-east-1',
aws_access_key_id…
How to set up mypy strict mode in Python
Demonstrates how to configure and run mypy in strict mode to enforce full type annotation coverage across a Python project.
from typing import Dict, Optional
def describe_user(name: str, age: int, email: Optional[str] = None) -> Dict[str, object]:
"""Build a user description dictionary with strict type annotations."""
user: Dict[str, object] = {"name": name, "age": age}
if email is not None:
user["email"] = email
…
How to Demonstrate the GIL with Python Threads vs Processes
Measure and compare wall-clock time for CPU-bound work using Python threads (limited by the GIL) versus multiprocessing (which bypasses the GIL).
import threading
import multiprocessing
import time
import os
def cpu_heavy(n):
return sum(i * i for i in range(n))
def run_threads(n):
threads = [threading.Thread(target=cpu_heavy, args=(n,)) for _ in range(2)]
start = time.perf_counter()
for t in threads:
t.start()
for t in threads:
…
How to Mock anyio.run Backends (asyncio vs trio) in Python
Demonstrates how to mock anyio.run to verify backend selection (asyncio or trio) without actually running the event loop.
import anyio
from unittest.mock import Mock, patch
async def fetch_data():
await anyio.sleep(0.1)
return {"data": 42}
def run_with_backend(backend: str):
async def main():
result = await fetch_data()
print(f"[{backend}] Result: {result}")
anyio.run(main, backend=backend)
if __nam…
How to Reduce Instance Memory with __slots__ in Python
Demonstrates that classes with __slots__ use less memory per instance than regular classes because they skip the instance __dict__.
class SlottedPoint:
__slots__ = ('x', 'y', 'z')
def __init__(self, x, y, z):
self.x = x
self.y = y
self.z = z
class RegularPoint:
def __init__(self, x, y, z):
self.x = x
self.y = y
self.z = z
if __name__ == "__main__":
regular = RegularPoint(1, 2, 3)…
How to Share a Dict and List Between Processes with multiprocessing Manager in Python
This code demonstrates how to share a dictionary and a list between multiple processes using multiprocessing.Manager, enabling safe concurrent updates.
import multiprocessing as mp
def worker(shared_dict, shared_list, name):
shared_dict[name] = name.upper()
shared_list.append(name)
print(f"{name} added to shared structures")
def main():
with mp.Manager() as manager:
shared_dict = manager.dict()
shared_list = manager.list()
…
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