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How to Slice a Generator with islice in Python
Use itertools.islice to take the first n items from any iterable without materializing the whole sequence into a list.
from itertools import islice
def first_n(iterable, n):
"""Return the first n items from an iterable."""
return list(islice(iterable, n))
if __name__ == "__main__":
numbers = range(10, 100) # large iterable
result = first_n(numbers, 5)
print(result) # [10, 11, 12, 13, 14]
How to Use starmap() to Unpack Tuple Arguments in Python
Use itertools.starmap to apply a function to each tuple in an iterable, unpacking tuple elements as separate arguments and returning an iterator of results.
from itertools import starmap
def multiply(a, b):
return a * b
if __name__ == "__main__":
pairs = [(2, 3), (4, 5), (6, 7), (8, 9)]
results = list(starmap(multiply, pairs))
print(results)
How to filter a generator with a predicate function in Python
This code defines a generator function that yields only items from an iterable that satisfy a given predicate, then tests it with even and positive number filters.
def filter_gen(predicate, iterable):
for item in iterable:
if predicate(item):
yield item
def is_even(num):
return num % 2 == 0
def is_positive(num):
return num > 0
if __name__ == "__main__":
numbers = range(-5, 10)
even_numbers = list(filter_gen(is_even, numbers))
p…
How to generate combinations in Python with itertools
Generate all unique combinations of r items from a given list using itertools.combinations.
import itertools
def combinations_generator(items, r):
return list(itertools.combinations(items, r))
if __name__ == "__main__":
items = ['A', 'B', 'C', 'D']
r = 2
result = combinations_generator(items, r)
for combo in result:
print(combo)
print(f"Total: {len(result)} combinations of {…
How to skip items until a condition is met in Python
Use itertools.dropwhile to skip leading elements while a predicate returns true, then yield the rest of the sequence unchanged.
def is_negative(x):
return x < 0
numbers = [-3, -1, 0, 5, 2, -8, 7]
result = list(itertools.dropwhile(is_negative, numbers))
print(f"Original: {numbers}")
print(f"After dropwhile: {result}")
List Comprehension to Filter Even Numbers in Python
Creates a new list containing only the even numbers from an existing list using a list comprehension with a condition.
numbers = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10]
even_numbers = [n for n in numbers if n % 2 == 0]
print(f"Original: {numbers}")
print(f"Even numbers: {even_numbers}")
Merge Sorted Iterators with a Heap Generator in Python
Merge multiple sorted iterators into a single sorted stream using a heap and generator, yielding values lazily in order.
import heapq
def merge_sorted_iterators(*iterators):
heap = []
for idx, iterator in enumerate(iterators):
try:
value = next(iterator)
heapq.heappush(heap, (value, idx, iterator))
except StopIteration:
continue
while heap:
value, idx, iterator = …
Python Comprehensions and Generators for Beginners
Learn list, dict, and set comprehensions plus generator expressions and generator functions with clear, runnable examples.
# Demonstrates list comprehensions, dict comprehensions, set comprehensions, and generators
def demonstrate_comprehensions():
# List comprehension: squares of even numbers
numbers = range(1, 11)
even_squares = [n ** 2 for n in numbers if n % 2 == 0]
# Dict comprehension: number to its factorial
…
Take n items from an infinite Python generator
Uses itertools.islice to lazily take exactly n items from an infinite generator without exhausting it.
from itertools import islice
def count_up_from(start=0):
n = start
while True:
yield n
n += 1
def take_n(generator, count):
return list(islice(generator, count))
if __name__ == "__main__":
gen = count_up_from(10)
result = take_n(gen, 5)
print(result)
How to Build an Agent Loop with Plan, Act, Observe in Python
Implements a simple plan-act-observe loop that an AI agent uses to iteratively complete a task in an environment while storing observations in memory.
class Agent:
def __init__(self, name):
self.name = name
self.memory = {}
def plan(self, task):
return f"Plan for {task}: step 1, step 2, step 3"
def act(self, plan, environment):
return f"Executing {plan} in {environment}"
def observe(self, action_result):
sel…
How to Create a Mock LLM Judge Rubric Score in Python
Scores a response against a rubric by counting keyword matches, returning total, percentage, and per-criterion feedback.
def judge_score(response, rubric):
"""Mock LLM judge that scores a response against a rubric."""
total = 0
max_total = 0
feedback = []
for criterion, rubric_item in rubric.items():
max_points = rubric_item["max"]
description = rubric_item["description"]
# Simple mock scori…
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 a Token Bucket Rate Limiter with asyncio in Python
This code implements a thread-safe token bucket rate limiter for asyncio, allowing you to limit the rate of async tasks or API calls.
import asyncio
import time
class TokenBucket:
def __init__(self, rate_per_second, capacity):
self.rate = rate_per_second
self.capacity = capacity
self.tokens = capacity
self.last_refill = time.monotonic()
self.lock = asyncio.Lock()
async def acquire(self):
asy…
How to Use multiprocessing Pool map and starmap in Python
Parallelize functions over iterables with Pool.map, and unpack multiple arguments via Pool.starmap.
from multiprocessing import Pool
def square(x):
return x * x
def add_and_multiply(a, b, c):
return (a + b) * c
if __name__ == "__main__":
numbers = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
with Pool(processes=2) as pool:
squares = pool.map(square, numbers)
print(f"squares: {squares}")
starmap_arg…
Design Data Helpers with Python TypedDict and Literal
Use TypedDict, Literal, and Union to define typed data shapes and parse values in Python.
from typing import TypedDict, Literal, Optional, Union, List
class User(TypedDict):
name: str
age: int
role: Literal["admin", "user", "guest"]
def describeUser(data: User) -> str:
return f"{data['name']} ({data['age']}) — {data['role']}"
def parse_value(item: Union[int, str, None]) -> str:
if it…
How to Use Literal Type Hints in Python
Use typing.Literal to restrict a function parameter to specific allowed string values and get static type checking.
from typing import Literal
def get_status_message(status: Literal["active", "inactive", "pending"]) -> str:
"""Return a message based on the status value."""
if status == "active":
return "Account is active"
elif status == "inactive":
return "Account is inactive"
else:
return "…
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…
Simulate a Leaky Bucket Rate Limiter in Python
This code implements a leaky bucket rate limiter that drains at a fixed rate and accepts or rejects incoming requests based on capacity.
import time
from collections import deque
class LeakyBucket:
"""Simulates a leaky bucket rate limiter with a fixed drain rate."""
def __init__(self, capacity, drain_rate_per_sec):
self.capacity = capacity
self.drain_rate = drain_rate_per_sec
self.water = 0.0
self.last_refill =…
How to Iterate Redis Keys with SCAN in Python
Iterate all Redis keys matching a pattern using the SCAN command with a mock client to simulate pagination.
import redis
def scan_keys(client, pattern="*", count=10):
keys = []
cursor = 0
while True:
cursor, batch = client.scan(cursor=cursor, match=pattern, count=count)
keys.extend(batch)
if cursor == 0:
break
return keys
if __name__ == "__main__":
# Mock Redis clien…
How to implement a token bucket rate limiter in Python
A thread-safe in-memory token bucket rate limiter that tracks per-key tokens with refill logic, including a usage example after a timed refill.
import time
import threading
class TokenBucketRateLimiter:
def __init__(self, capacity, refill_rate):
self.capacity = capacity
self.refill_rate = refill_rate
self.tokens = capacity
self.last_refill_time = time.time()
self.lock = threading.Lock()
def allow_request(self,…
Redis Leaky Bucket Rate Limiting Mock in Python
Simulates a Redis-backed leaky bucket rate limiter using a local class with continuous leaking and token capacity checks.
import time
from collections import deque
class LeakyBucket:
def __init__(self, capacity, leak_rate):
self.capacity = capacity
self.leak_rate = leak_rate
self.water = 0.0
self.timestamp = time.time()
self.history = deque()
def allow(self):
current = time.time(…
Redis-inspired sliding window rate limiter in Python
A pure-Python sliding window rate limiter using a deque of timestamps, mock-ready for Redis-backed production limits.
import time
from collections import deque
class SlidingWindowRateLimiter:
def __init__(self, max_requests: int, window_seconds: int) -> None:
self.max_requests = max_requests
self.window_seconds = window_seconds
self.requests: dict[str, deque] = {}
def is_allowed(self, client_id: str…
Build a Rate Limiter Decorator in Python
This code defines a reusable rate limiter decorator that caps function calls within a sliding time window using a deque and monotonic time.
import time
from collections import deque
def rate_limiter(max_calls: int, period: float):
calls = deque()
def decorator(func):
def wrapper(*args, **kwargs):
now = time.monotonic()
while calls and now - calls[0] >= period:
calls.popleft()
if len(ca…
Fixed Window Counter Rate Limiting in Python
A simple fixed window counter rate limiter that allows a maximum number of requests per 60-second window, with a mock time simulation.
from collections import deque
from time import time
class FixedWindowCounter:
def __init__(self, max_requests):
self.max_requests = max_requests
self.window_start = int(time())
self.window_count = 0
def allow_request(self):
current_time = int(time())
if current_time >=…
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