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Modern tooling

uv, ruff, pyproject.toml, packaging, and current Python project workflows.

20 matches
Modern tooling easy

Data Conversion Helper Functions in Python

A set of beginner-friendly helper functions to convert between JSON strings and Python data, parse dates, and read/write files using pathlib.

json datetime pathlib
Python
from datetime import datetime
from pathlib import Path
import json

def to_json(data, indent=2):
    """Convert Python data to pretty-printed JSON string."""
    return json.dumps(data, indent=indent, default=str)

def from_json(json_string):
    """Parse JSON string back into Python data."""
    return json.loads(jso…
13 0 Open
Modern tooling easy

How to Export a Conda Environment YAML File in Python

Generate a mock conda environment YAML export with a reusable Python function and the PyYAML library.

conda yaml environment
Python
import yaml


def conda_env_mock(name="demo_env", channels=None, packages=None):
    channels = channels or ["defaults"]
    packages = packages or [
        "python=3.11",
        "pip",
        "numpy=1.24.3",
        "pandas=2.0.3",
    ]
    env_dict = {
        "name": name,
        "channels": channels,
        …
17 0 Open
Modern tooling easy

How to Format Data with Python's datetime and JSON Helpers

A beginner-friendly set of helper functions to format dates and safely read/write JSON files in Python.

datetime json files
Python
from datetime import datetime
from pathlib import Path
import json


def format_today(pattern: str = "%Y-%m-%d") -> str:
    """Return today's date formatted with the given pattern."""
    return datetime.now().strftime(pattern)


def load_json(file_path: str) -> dict:
    """Read and parse a JSON file safely."""
    …
12 0 Open
Modern tooling easy

How to Generate a Mock devcontainer.json Config in Python

Build a reproducible devcontainer.json file with Python, composing name, image, extensions, forwarded ports, and a post-create command as a dict.

devcontainer json config
Python
import json
from pathlib import Path


def create_devcontainer_config(
    image: str = "mcr.microsoft.com/devcontainers/python:3.11",
    name: str = "python-dev-container",
    ports: list[int] | None = None,
    post_create: str | None = None,
) -> dict:
    config = {
        "name": name,
        "image": image,
…
14 0 Open
Modern tooling easy

How to List Pre-commit Hooks from YAML Config in Python

Parse a .pre-commit-config.yaml file with PyYAML and print every hook ID paired with its source repository.

pre-commit yaml pyyaml
Python
import yaml

pre_commit_config = """
repos:
  - repo: https://github.com/pre-commit/pre-commit-hooks
    rev: v4.5.0
    hooks:
      - id: trailing-whitespace
      - id: end-of-file-fixer
      - id: check-yaml
  - repo: https://github.com/psf/black
    rev: 23.11.0
    hooks:
      - id: black
"""

def list_hooks(c…
15 0 Open
Modern tooling easy

How to Load and Inspect CSV Data with a Dataclass Helper in Python

This code defines a DataHelper dataclass that reads a CSV file into a list of dictionaries and prints basic dataset information.

csv dataclass pathlib
Python
from pathlib import Path
from dataclasses import dataclass
from typing import Any


@dataclass
class DataHelper:
    """Simple helper for loading and inspecting CSV data."""
    filepath: Path

    def load_csv(self, *, delimiter: str = ",") -> list[dict[str, Any]]:
        """Read CSV into a list of dictionaries."""
…
16 0 Open
Modern tooling easy

How to Load and Inspect Data Files in Python

A beginner-friendly DataLoader dataclass that loads JSON or text files and provides methods to preview and inspect the data.

dataclasses file-io json
Python
from dataclasses import dataclass, field
from pathlib import Path
import json
from typing import Any, Dict, List


@dataclass
class DataLoader:
    """Simple helper to load and inspect data files for beginners."""
    path: Path
    data: Any = field(init=False, default=None)

    def __post_init__(self) -> None:
    …
16 0 Open
Modern tooling easy

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.

csv json file-io
Python
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(…
13 0 Open
Modern tooling easy

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.

envrc environment config
Python
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…
15 0 Open
Modern tooling easy

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.

twine testpypi mock
Python
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")):
…
12 0 Open
Modern tooling easy

How to Mock a Fast uv pip sync in Python

Simulate a fast uv pip sync by mocking file operations and subprocess calls to test dependency installation workflows.

uv mocking pip
Python
import os
import shutil
import subprocess
import sys
import tempfile
from pathlib import Path

def uv_pip_sync_fast_install_mock(requirements_text: str) -> dict:
    """Simulate a fast uv pip sync by mocking file operations and subprocess calls."""
    mock_dir = Path(tempfile.mkdtemp(prefix="uv_mock_"))
    req_lines…
14 0 Open
Modern tooling easy

How to Mock a pyenv Local Version File in Python

Read and write a mock .python-version file using the pathlib module and tempfile for isolated testing.

pyenv pathlib version-control
Python
import json
import tempfile
from pathlib import Path


def read_pyenv_local(directory: Path) -> str:
    """Read the .python-version file in the given directory."""
    version_file = directory / ".python-version"
    if not version_file.exists():
        return "no-version-file"
    return version_file.read_text().st…
12 0 Open
Modern tooling easy

How to Parse Taskfile YAML in Python

Load a Taskfile.yaml with PyYAML and simulate task execution by returning each task's commands.

yaml taskfile pyyaml
Python
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…
14 0 Open
Modern tooling easy

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.

json pathlib recursion
Python
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…
12 0 Open
Modern tooling easy

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.

vscode settings json
Python
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…
13 0 Open
Modern tooling easy

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.

json pathlib file-io
Python
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…
11 0 Open
Modern tooling easy

How to configure ruff linter rules in pyproject.toml with Python

This Python script generates a pyproject.toml file with ruff linter rules, including selected and ignored rules, per-file ignores, and complexity limits.

ruff linter pyproject
Python
from pathlib import Path

def configure_ruff_rules(project_dir: str = "my_project") -> None:
    """Create a pyproject.toml with ruff linter rules for mock usage."""
    pyproject_path = Path(project_dir) / "pyproject.toml"
    pyproject_path.parent.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)

    config = """[tool.ruff]
line-…
12 0 Open
Modern tooling easy

Lint a Dockerfile with a Mock Hadolint in Python

A lightweight Python script that simulates hadolint by scanning Dockerfile text for common lint rules and printing violations.

docker linting hadolint
Python
import subprocess
import tempfile
from pathlib import Path


def lint_dockerfile(content: str) -> list[str]:
    """Mock hadolint by checking a few rules and returning violations."""
    violations = []
    lines = content.splitlines()

    for idx, line in enumerate(lines, start=1):
        stripped = line.strip()
  …
14 0 Open
Modern tooling easy

Makefile Targets for lint, test, and build in Python

This Python script defines common Makefile targets (lint, test, build) as subprocess commands, printing each target's command and executing them with error checking.

subprocess makefile tooling
Python
import subprocess

TARGETS = {
    "lint": ["ruff", "check", "."],
    "test": ["pytest", "-q"],
    "build": ["python", "-m", "build"],
}


def run(target: str) -> None:
    if target not in TARGETS:
        raise ValueError(f"Unknown target: {target}")
    print(f"Running {target}...")
    subprocess.run(TARGETS[tar…
14 0 Open
Modern tooling easy

Mock pip-compile to Resolve Requirements in Python

A mock function that mimics pip-compile by converting a requirements.in file into pinned, locked package versions.

pip-tools requirements mock
Python
import subprocess
import tempfile
from pathlib import Path


def compile_requirements_mock(requirements_in: str) -> str:
    """Mock pip-compile: resolve a simple requirements.in into a locked format."""
    lines = [line.strip() for line in requirements_in.splitlines() if line.strip() and not line.startswith("#")]
  …
12 0 Open

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