Python for Software Development: Everything You Need to Know

The Stack Overflow Survey 2022 says that Python along with JavaScript are the two most popular languages developers choose. They choose Python to learn programming and build software. Python’s popularity stems from its capabilities including simple syntax and its short learning curve.  Moreover, as a programming language, Python requires fewer lines of code relative to others. This is one of the reasons a Python development company is always eager to build your solution with this language.  Building software with Python means not only are they easy to build, but the code is also easier to debug, read, and scale. Let’s find out why Python is an ideal choice for software development.

Must Read: How to Hire the Best Software Development Company, Without Fail?

Choosing the Best Python Development Company

For effective software built on Python, you also need to choose the best Python development company. However, choosing the best from thousands of eligible agencies is easier said than done.  There is no point in going through every potential company, hence we have a better solution. Follow the process listed below to find the most eligible Python software development company for your job. 

Understanding the Role of a Python Development Company

Python is an ideal choice for any business to build their rapport online. So, the choice of the company you want for your project must also be dictated by a strategic process. 

• Understand the Role of a Python Software Development Company

  A Python development company is tasked with strategizing, designing, developing, testing, and deploying digital solutions. Software comes under the purview of a digital solution, hence the process to build and deploy software is similar to other solutions.  The role of the company you hire can vary according to your requirements. Given the circumstances, you can choose a company for all of the steps in the development lifecycle or just one.  Before you hire software development company with experience and expertise in Python, check the following;

  • Expertise in Python: You must be sure of the fact that the company you hire is good at using Python for development purposes. One of the ways to do this is to check their services, portfolio, and past record.  For expertise, check whether they know about Django, AWS, Machine Learning, Linux, Docker, API integration, REST, Flask, React, and DevOps plus Microservices. All these technologies and systems will be used in developing software with Python. So, any Python development company not having the requisite experience in these technologies and tools may not be an ideal choice. 
  • Experience in Python Development: Experienced developers are much better than inexperienced ones as they have weathered several storms along the way. Their learnings and experiences have made them familiar with day-to-day issues. They harness this understanding to build better solutions at a greater speed. 
  • Successful Projects: Always ask the potential Python development company for their past work experience and portfolio. Seeing their work, you will be able to assess their work quality. Using the previous work as a benchmark, you can also build your expectations from the company. 
  • Review and Testimonials: Check the company ratings and reviews they have received from previous clients. For this part, you should not always rely on the company’s website as there the reviews can be tailored to look good. Instead, check third-party review websites like Clutch or check the company’s LinkedIn page for a better understanding. 

• Choosing the Right Python Development Company for Your Project

  Choosing the right partner for your Python project requires first understanding your requirements. Based on your requirements you can search for potential Python development companies. Ask for recommendations from your network and hire the best development company for the project.  You must be crystal clear about your requirements as it will directly impact which type of Python development company you will hire. To help you better understand the process behind developing software with Python, check out the next section. 

Python Software Development: Process and Best Practices

Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) is the process developers use to create the best quality of software at optimized costs. It includes creating structured development phases allowing developers to create the requisite software.  Every product of the SDLC is well-tested and well-curated helping businesses harness the true potential of their software. Developers often choose between the waterfall, spiral, and agile development methods.  An ideal SDLC process means building higher-quality solutions while optimizing the costs and time. Using this approach, developers can easily remove any obstacles in the development exercise. For the challenges they do face while developing, finding an amicable solution is easier.  This is because the SDLC approach begins by assessing the existing system’s deficiencies and aims to build a better one. Moreover, as it reduces redundant work, the development speed increases.  Here’s a glimpse of how the SDLC Process;

• Requirements Gathering and Analysis

  Gathering the project requirements is the first major step in the SDLC process. This is where the senior development team members take the lead to understand the project requirements.  Based on the requirements, the development team identifies the key aspects of the project. They understand the target audience (people who will be using the software).  For this purpose, the business analysts and project managers are tasked to create a buyer persona. They understand the product, its relevance, and its relevance in the market vis-a-vis the competition. 

• Design and Planning

  The second phase in SDLC is where the software engineers work on the software design. According to contemporary standards, the design of software must be aesthetically appealing and intuitive.  Hence, the engineers must build a design that is good to look at and also enhances the customer experience. Within this phase, they also have to make choices for integrating modules, features, and APIs for the software’s functionality.  Furthermore, this is the phase where the team will also select the best technologies and tools required to build the software. 

• Development and Coding

  Next up is the development phase, wherein the developers write the code of the software. For this part, we are using Python, hence the coding syntax and structure might change according to the programming language.  As working with Python is easy, courtesy of the;

  • English syntax 
  • Open source community and extensive support
  • Available of several fantastic libraries, frameworks, and tools. 
  • Object-oriented programming
  • Seamless portability

  Using these advantages, the Python development team can create bespoke software boasting the top features and functions. The Python code is easy to read, which further makes it easier to customize the solutions built on it.  For this part to be completed successfully, it is essential that developers stick to the blueprint agreed upon initially. Developers must follow all the guidelines set before the development stage begins.  Keeping in line with the best practices of an SDLC, their development speed will also increase and the result will be better. 

• Testing and Quality Assurance

  The testing stage is necessary as this is where you will be sure about the product you have built. Code testing is done from multiple aspects to check the software’s security, performance, capabilities, and uniformity.  The testing team will process automated and manual testing to test the software and most probably check its bandwidth from all aspects. They also scan the codebase for any errors and bugs.  The motive of the testing stage is to ensure that the software works seamlessly. As a result, the testing team will make sure that the software can meet the customers expectations. 

• Deployment and Maintenance

  The deployment part of the SDLC process can be completed in two ways; where you have the production environment and build environment. The production environment is the software that your customers are using at present.  While they are using one software, you are making it better in the build environment. This helps make sure that your customers continue to use the software even while a new and better version of the same is in the development and testing process.  However, if you are making new software from scratch, the deployment exercise includes launching it according to the set guidelines and practices. You have to comply with the rules and regulations set by the authorities in your country.  In addition to deployment, the SDLC process also includes software maintenance. Maintenance includes helping customers with having a seamless user experience and troubleshooting any sort of performance and other issues with the software.  In essence, the SDLC is never complete because of the maintenance and updates. As the development team continues to fix issues or add new features to the software their work is never complete. 

Best Practices in Python Software Development

Developing software with Python is indeed relatively easier than other programming languages. Still, for a custom software development service, you will need to follow some best development practices to build a better overall solution.  These best practices are meant to help developers optimize how they build the software and create a user-friendly product. Here are the best practices to follow for Python software development.

• Following Coding Standards and Guidelines

  Python has a special coding standard and guide, PEP 8. This guide contains all the best practices leading the developers to write error-free, readable, testable, and scalable code.  Today this guide is akin to a holy scripture for Python developers and using its knowledge, Python developers become better in their craft. So, for every Python project, following the PEP-8 guide is mandatory for developers. 

• Utilizing Version Control Systems

  Version control systems are used to record all the changes made while generating the code and files. Keeping a record of all the modifications and changes implemented provides better collaboration.  This is essential because as several people work together on a project, knowing what changes are made, when, and in which order is useful. So, the version control system is software in itself, which helps developers communicate and manage plus track all the work done on the software conveniently.  In this system, a new branch sprouts whenever a contributor, who can be anyone, from a developer to a designer makes changes to the original code. As these changes are recorded, the new contributor will exactly know how to move forward without disturbing the changes done already. 

• Conducting Regular Code Reviews

  Reviewing the codebase is important from the perspective of creating well-structured, secure, and performance software. Code reviewing allows developers to get familiar with the code base.  Because knowing the codebase thoroughly is vital to make changes according to the requirements. The top software development company working with Python has a guaranteed code review system.  Because such organizations are more familiar with their codebase, they will naturally create better solutions. In code review, the following aspects are checked;

  • Etiquettes
  • Syntax
  • Functionality
  • Design
  • Readability
  • Documentation
  • Security
  • Scalability

  For every pointer above, there is a detailed list of things you need to check. We will share a dedicated article on these factors later. 

• Writing Unit Tests for Reliable Code

  You must check the reliability of the code at scale. This means that the code must be reliable or businesses can trust the codebase not to crack down under pressure and when they want to scale the software.  Adding new features must be seamless and fruitful for the developers who will be working on the software at a later stage. Unit tests are conducted to test the code scripts related to a typical function or method. The single function that is put under the scanner is called a unit.  Unit tests help ensure that the code scripts of the software work as intended. Furthermore, it helps catch software bugs quickly. 

• Emphasizing Security and Data Protection

  Every top software development company has a set policy for ensuring the security of the code they are writing. The developers work to build a secure codebase, which boasts all the data protection features. So, some of the best practices targeted toward code safety and security are;

  • Code scanning
  • Using the latest version of Python for development
  • Deserializing the code cautiously
  • Usage of Python type annotations
  • Meticulously executing string formatting. 
  • Implementing DEBUG = False in production

Here too, each of the above pointers required a detailed discussion. We will share a separate article for the same later. But take this as a ground rule that in today’s environment, the codebase for the software must include all the data protection features. 

Conclusion

Creating the best Python software requires following the best development practices, crafting an intelligent design, testing the codebase thoroughly, and deploying it for the right audience. But what’s equally important is hiring the best Python development company for the job.  For a business to build Python software that operates exceptionally and creates a positive rapport for your business while improving conversions, contact Mobmaxime. We have an in-house Python development team boasting seasoned professionals with extensive expertise in this field.