Who Can Make Use of the Program?
Different people with a broad variety of backgrounds, ages, and educational levels are involved in Python development today. You can become one of them, no matter whether you are a student, a computer designer, a housewife, or a retiree. There is always some thorough instructions to make your introduction into the matter easier, and your success more sustainable. You can find a lot of them on the Internet. Here, you may just get acquainted with some starting points and stepping stones of the process.
The First Steps
To begin with, you will need to download the Python source and its code. For better source control, the development team applies the Subversion of the most updated modification of every file in the project. The free online book entitled “Version Control with Subversion” will help you to get more detailed information on the Subversion.
If you want to start Python development on Windows, also download Microsoft Studio 2008, or just its free version called Express. If you use UNIX-like systems (Mac, Linux or others), you will have to install some special tools through your package manager. To start running Python, you will need to identify the type of the platform to be able to invoke the interpreter in different manners. After the process of complete installation is finished, you may start working.
What Do You Need to Know?
Use PEP-7 and PEP-8 tools as useful guides for the Python codebase to ensure you are on the same page with anybody else. Always test your work when you change the code. You may find appropriate tests for each module in the test directory. As many people are working together with you simultaneously, they can see your stages of development. So, consider code reviews and comments a helpful means for writing better code. This will also encourage you to stay away from bugs.
The most interesting thing in the whole process of Python development is its new features. They should be available with the corresponding documentation and code explanations. Try to write as much useful information as it is possible. Even if you don’t feel comfortable with the Python documentation, there is always a person who will be able to help you with the format. Always test new features before you get your work accepted. Creating a patch is the next step to make your feature available for the core development team. You may use the “diff” command in your Subversion to generate this patch.
Read also: Why Python Technology is the preferred platform for Application Development?
How to Promote Your Achievements?
If you want everybody to know what you have done, write a good comment on an issue, or upload the patch. There are different fields within which you may classify your patches to attract different groups of people. Sometimes, it takes weeks to months for the issue to be understood by core developers. Just one person needs to review the codes of the patches to make sure of the codebase quality. Try to be available for comments or even for some criticism about your work. It is likely to be accepted quicker if you can react fast and openly to possible suggestions.
In fact, Python development is a sort of education and rewarding experience as well as the way to expand some knowledge while providing the community with service. We hope that this small piece of advice will help you to make as much contribution to your social environment as possible.
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