In software development, it is important to follow coding best practices to write clean, readable, and maintainable code. One common best practice is to set a maximum line length limit for your code. This helps improve code readability and avoids horizontal scrolling while reviewing or working with the code.
In this blog post, we will explore how to set the code line length limit in Python and discuss the benefits of following this practice.
Why set a code line length limit?
Setting a code line length limit has several advantages:
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Readability: Code with shorter lines is generally easier to read and understand at a glance. Long, convoluted lines can make it difficult for developers to grasp the code’s purpose or follow the logic.
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Maintainability: When code lines are limited in length, it becomes easier to make changes or refactor the code without introducing new bugs. Shorter lines make it simpler to understand the code’s flow and make modifications when necessary.
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Collaboration: When working on a shared codebase with other developers, adhering to a line length limit ensures consistency across the code. It allows team members to read and understand each other’s code more effectively, leading to smoother collaboration.
How to set the code line length limit in Python
In Python, the recommended code line length limit is 79 characters, as defined in PEP 8.
To enforce this limit, you can use various code editors or integrated development environments (IDEs) that provide features for code formatting and linting. Some popular options include Visual Studio Code, PyCharm, and Atom.
Alternatively, you can use linting tools like flake8 or pylint to perform static code analysis and check for violations of the line length limit.
Here’s an example configuration for flake8 in a .flake8 file:
[flake8]
max-line-length = 79
Conclusion
Setting a code line length limit is a simple yet effective practice that can greatly improve the readability and maintainability of your Python code. By following this guideline, you ensure that your code is easier to understand, collaborate on, and modify in the future.
Remember to configure your code editor or make use of linting tools to enforce the line length limit and catch any violations early on.
Happy coding!