How to use Python well?

[Kurt Smith]

On Wed, Feb 16, 2011 at 12:35 PM, snorble <snorble at hotmail.com> wrote:
> I use Python a lot, but not well. I usually start by writing a small
> script, no classes or modules. Then I add more content to the loops,
> and repeat. It's a bit of a trial and error learning phase, making
> sure I'm using the third party modules correctly, and so on. I end up
> with a working script, but by the end it looks messy, unorganized, and
> feels hacked together. I feel like in order to reuse it or expand it
> in the future, I need to take what I learned and rewrite it from
> scratch.
>
> If I peeked over a Python expert's shoulder while they developed
> something new, how would their habits differ? Do they start with
> classes from the start?
>
> I guess I'm looking for something similar to "Large Scale C++ Software
> Design" for Python. Or even just a walkthrough of someone competent
> writing something from scratch. I'm not necessarily looking for a
> finished product that is well written. I'm more interested in, "I have
> an idea for a script/program, and here is how I get from point A to
> point B."
>
> Or maybe I'm looking for is best practices for how to organize the
> structure of a Python program. I love Python and I just want to be
> able to use it well.

Try this:

http://www.refactoring.com/

Not a silver bullet, but a good place to start.