Python

Generic things:

The Python style guide is available in [PEP 8]

Modules

Modules need to be imported into your program by the import command.

To add the location of your own modules to the python search path put it in the PYTHONPATH variable.\

import <module>

Import everything from the module, address components as <module>.<component>.

import <module> as <short>

Calls can have the short name. E.g. numpy is often imported as np

from <module> import *

Module components can be called without the module name. Beware of duplicates.

from <module> import <component>

Import a specific component from a modules, callable by just the component name.

We try to use modules that are available by default (on linux systems). If not it will be mentioned in the article.

sys

Provides a number of system variables

sys.argv

List of everything on the commandline. sys.argv[0] is the program itself.

getopt

Module to parse the commandline arguments (sys.argv).

time

Time functions

time.sleep(3)

Sleep for 3 seconds

from time import sleep 
sleep(3)

subprocess

Module to execute shell commands

In python2

import subprocess
exitcode = subprocess.call("<any command>")
commandoutput = subprocess.check_output("<any command>")

Use ("command",shell=True) to have the call work like it would on the commandline

In python3

import subprocess
CompletedProcess = subprocess.run("<any command>")

The CompletedProcess returned has (args, returncode, stdout, stderr)

numpy

Non-default

Numpy is a module for scientific calculation. Introducing multi-dimensional arrays and more.

scipy

Non-default

Scipy is a module having more scientific functions.

pint

Non-default

Pint is a module to handle units.

Variables

Variables are always pointers to objects.

a = 2
b = 2

Both a and b point to the same object (the immutable integer '2')

Variables are local by default. If a routine has any assignment to a variable it is local. If you have defined a variable outside a routine and need assignments to it in the routine you have to declare it global explicitly.

a = 'a string'

def main():
    global a
    print(a)
    a = "This would fail with 'local variable 'a' referenced before assignment' if 'a' was not declared as global"

main()

[Geeks for Geeks] has as good page about this.