Appion

h1. Python Coding Standards

This document is a list of python coding standards. To add a new standard copy the template below and modify it.

see also http://emg.nysbc.org/wiki/index.php/Appionscripts_formatting_rules

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h2. +Name of Coding Standard+

h3. Definition

What is the coding standard

h3. Justification

Why is the coding standard important

h3. Example

GOOD:<pre>

this is a good example code

</pre>

BAD:<pre>

this is a bad example code

</pre>

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h1. Python Coding Standards for AMI

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h2. +Use tabs instead of spaces+

h3. Definition

Use tabs instead of spaces for inline code

h3. Justification

It is important to be consistent. People like different sizes of columns, some like 8 spaces, others 4, 3, or 2. With tabs each individual can customize their viewer.

h3. Example

GOOD:<pre>

if True:

<tab>while True:

<tab><tab>print "tab"

<tab>break

</pre>

BAD:<pre>

if True:

   while True:

        print "tab"

   break

</pre>

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h2. +Checking beginning or ending of strings+

h3. Definition

Use ''.startswith() and ''.endswith() instead of string slicing to check for prefixes or suffixes.

h3. Justification

startswith() and endswith() are cleaner and less error prone.

h3. Example

GOOD:<pre>

if foo.startswith('bar'): 

</pre>

BAD:<pre>

if foo[:3] == 'bar':

</pre>

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h2. +Never use @from module import *@+

h3. Definition

Never use @from module import *@, use @import module@ instead

h3. Justification

It is hard to track where functions come from when @import *@ is used

h3. Example

GOOD:<pre>

import numpy

a = numpy.ones((3,3))

</pre>

BAD:<pre>

from numpy import *

a = ones((3,3))

</pre>

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h2. +Appion image data naming conventions+

h3. Definition

# never use 'image' or 'img'

# use 'imgdict' for image dictionaries

# use 'imgarray' for image numarrays

# use 'imgname' for image filenames

# use 'imgtree' for the main list of image dictionaries

# use 'imglist' for a list of image data 

h3. Justification

If you are consistent with your names people can read your code.

h3. Example

GOOD:<pre>

for imgdict in imgtree:

	imgarray = imgdict['image']

	imgname = imgdict['filename']

</pre>

BAD:<pre>

for image in imgs:

	array = image['image']

	name = image['filename']

</pre>

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h2. +Use descriptive variables+

h3. Definition

Use descriptive variables, @asdf@ is not a variable.

h3. Justification

No one understands shorthand variables.

h3. Example

GOOD:<pre>

imgarray = mrc.read('leginon_image.mrc')

particle1 = imgarray[47, 21]

particle1 = imgarray[10, 15]

stack = [particle1, particle2]

</pre>

BAD:<pre>

i = mrc.read('x.mrc')

prtl1 = i[47, 21]

prtl2 = i[10, 15]

s = [prtl1, prtl2]

</pre>