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Python Code Samples

Medium snippets you can copy, study, and run in the browser editor.

51 matches
Errors & debugging medium

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.

circuit-breaker resilience error-handling
Python
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")
  …
12 0 Open
Files & data medium

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.

pickle security serialization
Python
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…
14 0 Open
Files & data medium

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.

mmap file-io memory-efficient
Python
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…
12 0 Open
Files & data medium

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.

fcntl file-locking flock
Python
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…
12 0 Open
OOP & classes medium

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 data-splitting slicing
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)]
   …
13 0 Open
OOP & classes medium

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.

command-pattern design-patterns oop
Python
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…
13 0 Open
OOP & classes medium

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.

memento design-pattern undo
Python
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…
14 0 Open
OOP & classes medium

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.

multiple inheritance mro inheritance
Python
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__)
12 0 Open
OOP & classes medium

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.

visitor-pattern design-patterns double-dispatch
Python
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…
11 0 Open
Algorithms & data structures medium

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.

two-pointers sorting four-sum
Python
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…
13 0 Open
Algorithms & data structures medium

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.

heapq heaps large data
Python
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 []
   …
13 0 Open
Algorithms & data structures medium

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.

matrix arrays algorithm
Python
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] …
14 0 Open
Comprehensions & generators medium

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.

backpressure producer-consumer deque
Python
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…
14 0 Open
Comprehensions & generators medium

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.

generator throw exception
Python
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:
        …
12 0 Open
Comprehensions & generators medium

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.

json generator streaming
Python
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…
14 0 Open
AI & LLM integration patterns medium

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.

llm retry rate-limit
Python
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…
15 0 Open
AI & LLM integration patterns medium

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.

exponential-backoff retries llm
Python
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…
14 0 Open
Cloud + Python medium

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.

retry backoff jitter
Python
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…
18 0 Open
Cloud + Python medium

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.

aws route53 boto3
Python
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…
14 0 Open
Modern tooling medium

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.

mypy type-hints strict-mode
Python
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
    …
14 0 Open
Concurrency & performance medium

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).

gil threading multiprocessing
Python
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:
 …
11 0 Open
Concurrency & performance medium

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.

anyio async testing
Python
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…
13 0 Open
Concurrency & performance medium

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__.

__slots__ memory performance
Python
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)…
11 0 Open
Concurrency & performance medium

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.

multiprocessing manager shared-state
Python
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()

       …
13 0 Open

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