python-patterns

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name: python-patterns description: "Python development principles and decision-making. Framework selection, async patterns, type hints, project structure. Teaches thinking, not copying." risk: critical source: community date_added: "2026-02-27"

Python Patterns

Python development principles and decision-making for 2025. Learn to THINK, not memorize patterns.

When to Use

Use this skill when making Python architecture decisions, choosing frameworks, designing async patterns, or structuring Python projects.

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⚠️ How to Use This Skill

This skill teaches decision-making principles, not fixed code to copy.

• ASK user for framework preference when unclear
• Choose async vs sync based on CONTEXT
• Don't default to same framework every time

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1. Framework Selection (2025)

Decision Tree

What are you building?
│
├── API-first / Microservices
│   └── FastAPI (async, modern, fast)
│
├── Full-stack web / CMS / Admin
│   └── Django (batteries-included)
│
├── Simple / Script / Learning
│   └── Flask (minimal, flexible)
│
├── AI/ML API serving
│   └── FastAPI (Pydantic, async, uvicorn)
│
└── Background workers
    └── Celery + any framework

Comparison Principles

Factor	FastAPI	Django	Flask
Best for	APIs, microservices	Full-stack, CMS	Simple, learning
Async	Native	Django 5.0+	Via extensions
Admin	Manual	Built-in	Via extensions
ORM	Choose your own	Django ORM	Choose your own
Learning curve	Low	Medium	Low

Selection Questions to Ask:

1. Is this API-only or full-stack?
2. Need admin interface?
3. Team familiar with async?
4. Existing infrastructure?

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2. Async vs Sync Decision

When to Use Async

async def is better when:
├── I/O-bound operations (database, HTTP, file)
├── Many concurrent connections
├── Real-time features
├── Microservices communication
└── FastAPI/Starlette/Django ASGI

def (sync) is better when:
├── CPU-bound operations
├── Simple scripts
├── Legacy codebase
├── Team unfamiliar with async
└── Blocking libraries (no async version)

The Golden Rule

I/O-bound → async (waiting for external)
CPU-bound → sync + multiprocessing (computing)

Don't:
├── Mix sync and async carelessly
├── Use sync libraries in async code
└── Force async for CPU work

Async Library Selection

Need	Async Library
HTTP client	httpx
PostgreSQL	asyncpg
Redis	aioredis / redis-py async
File I/O	aiofiles
Database ORM	SQLAlchemy 2.0 async, Tortoise

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3. Type Hints Strategy

When to Type

Always type:
├── Function parameters
├── Return types
├── Class attributes
├── Public APIs

Can skip:
├── Local variables (let inference work)
├── One-off scripts
├── Tests (usually)

Common Type Patterns

# These are patterns, understand them:

# Optional → might be None
from typing import Optional
def find_user(id: int) -> Optional[User]: ...

# Union → one of multiple types
def process(data: str | dict) -> None: ...

# Generic collections
def get_items() -> list[Item]: ...
def get_mapping() -> dict[str, int]: ...

# Callable
from typing import Callable
def apply(fn: Callable[[int], str]) -> str: ...

Pydantic for Validation

When to use Pydantic:
├── API request/response models
├── Configuration/settings
├── Data validation
├── Serialization

Benefits:
├── Runtime validation
├── Auto-generated JSON schema
├── Works with FastAPI natively
└── Clear error messages

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4. Project Structure Principles

Structure Selection

Small project / Script:
├── main.py
├── utils.py
└── requirements.txt

Medium API:
├── app/
│   ├── __init__.py
│   ├── main.py
│   ├── models/
│   ├── routes/
│   ├── services/
│   └── schemas/
├── tests/
└── pyproject.toml

Large application:
├── src/
│   └── myapp/
│       ├── core/
│       ├── api/
│       ├── services/
│       ├── models/
│       └── ...
├── tests/
└── pyproject.toml

FastAPI Structure Principles

Organize by feature or layer:

By layer:
├── routes/ (API endpoints)
├── services/ (business logic)
├── models/ (database models)
├── schemas/ (Pydantic models)
└── dependencies/ (shared deps)

By feature:
├── users/
│   ├── routes.py
│   ├── service.py
│   └── schemas.py
└── products/
    └── ...

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5. Django Principles (2025)

Django Async (Django 5.0+)

Django supports async:
├── Async views
├── Async middleware
├── Async ORM (limited)
└── ASGI deployment

When to use async in Django:
├── External API calls
├── WebSocket (Channels)
├── High-concurrency views
└── Background task triggering

Django Best Practices

Model design:
├── Fat models, thin views
├── Use managers for common queries
├── Abstract base classes for shared fields

Views:
├── Class-based for complex CRUD
├── Function-based for simple endpoints
├── Use viewsets with DRF

Queries:
├── select_related() for FKs
├── prefetch_related() for M2M
├── Avoid N+1 queries
└── Use .only() for specific fields

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6. FastAPI Principles

async def vs def in FastAPI

Use async def when:
├── Using async database drivers
├── Making async HTTP calls
├── I/O-bound operations
└── Want to handle concurrency

Use def when:
├── Blocking operations
├── Sync database drivers
├── CPU-bound work
└── FastAPI runs in threadpool automatically

Dependency Injection

Use dependencies for:
├── Database sessions
├── Current user / Auth
├── Configuration
├── Shared resources

Benefits:
├── Testability (mock dependencies)
├── Clean separation
├── Automatic cleanup (yield)

Pydantic v2 Integration

# FastAPI + Pydantic are tightly integrated:

# Request validation
@app.post("/users")
async def create(user: UserCreate) -> UserResponse:
    # user is already validated
    ...

# Response serialization
# Return type becomes response schema

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7. Background Tasks

Selection Guide

Solution	Best For
BackgroundTasks	Simple, in-process tasks
Celery	Distributed, complex workflows
ARQ	Async, Redis-based
RQ	Simple Redis queue
Dramatiq	Actor-based, simpler than Celery

When to Use Each

FastAPI BackgroundTasks:
├── Quick operations
├── No persistence needed
├── Fire-and-forget
└── Same process

Celery/ARQ:
├── Long-running tasks
├── Need retry logic
├── Distributed workers
├── Persistent queue
└── Complex workflows

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8. Error Handling Principles

Exception Strategy

In FastAPI:
├── Create custom exception classes
├── Register exception handlers
├── Return consistent error format
└── Log without exposing internals

Pattern:
├── Raise domain exceptions in services
├── Catch and transform in handlers
└── Client gets clean error response

Error Response Philosophy

Include:
├── Error code (programmatic)
├── Message (human readable)
├── Details (field-level when applicable)
└── NOT stack traces (security)

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9. Testing Principles

Testing Strategy

Type	Purpose	Tools
Unit	Business logic	pytest
Integration	API endpoints	pytest + httpx/TestClient
E2E	Full workflows	pytest + DB

Async Testing

# Use pytest-asyncio for async tests

import pytest
from httpx import AsyncClient

@pytest.mark.asyncio
async def test_endpoint():
    async with AsyncClient(app=app, base_url="http://test") as client:
        response = await client.get("/users")
        assert response.status_code == 200

Fixtures Strategy

Common fixtures:
├── db_session → Database connection
├── client → Test client
├── authenticated_user → User with token
└── sample_data → Test data setup

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10. Decision Checklist

Before implementing:

• Asked user about framework preference?
• Chosen framework for THIS context? (not just default)
• Decided async vs sync?
• Planned type hint strategy?
• Defined project structure?
• Planned error handling?
• Considered background tasks?

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11. Anti-Patterns to Avoid

❌ DON'T:

• Default to Django for simple APIs (FastAPI may be better)
• Use sync libraries in async code
• Skip type hints for public APIs
• Put business logic in routes/views
• Ignore N+1 queries
• Mix async and sync carelessly

✅ DO:

• Choose framework based on context
• Ask about async requirements
• Use Pydantic for validation
• Separate concerns (routes → services → repos)
• Test critical paths

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Remember: Python patterns are about decision-making for YOUR specific context. Don't copy code—think about what serves your application best.

Limitations

• Use this skill only when the task clearly matches the scope described above.
• Do not treat the output as a substitute for environment-specific validation, testing, or expert review.
• Stop and ask for clarification if required inputs, permissions, safety boundaries, or success criteria are missing.