For an advanced programmer new to Python, understanding Python's unique idioms, "Pythonic" ways, and potential gotchas is essential to write efficient, readable, and Pythonic code. Here's a compiled list of Pythonisms, idioms, and gotchas to look out for: ### Pythonisms and Idioms 1. **List Comprehensions**: Compact way to process all or part of the elements in a sequence and return a list with the results. ```python squares = [x**2 for x in range(10)] ``` 2. **Dictionary Comprehensions**: Similar to list comprehensions but for dictionaries. ```python square_dict = {x: x**2 for x in range(10)} ``` 3. **Using Underscore for Unused Variables**: It's a Pythonic way to indicate that a variable is intentionally unused. ```python for _ in range(10): do_something() ``` 4. **Unpacking**: A way to unpack values from a sequence or iterable into variables. ```python a, b, *rest = range(10) ``` 5. **The Zen of Python**: Accessible by typing `import this`, it's a collection of Python's design principles. 6. **Using `enumerate()` for Loops**: To get both the index and the value of an item in a list. ```python for index, value in enumerate(my_list): print(index, value) ``` 7. **Function Arguments**: Python supports default, keyword, positional, and arbitrary arguments. ```python def func(a, b, c=5, *args, **kwargs): pass ``` 8. **The Walrus Operator (`:=`)**: Introduced in Python 3.8, allows you to assign values to variables as part of an expression. ```python if (n := len(a)) > 10: print(f"List is too long ({n} elements)") ``` ### Gotchas 1. **Mutable Default Arguments**: Default argument values are evaluated only once at function definition time, which means that modifying a default argument will affect all subsequent calls to the function. ```python def append_to(element, to=[]): to.append(element) return to ``` 2. **Dynamic Typing**: While flexible, it can lead to unexpected behaviors if not carefully managed, especially when coming from statically-typed languages. 3. **Indentation**: Python uses indentation to define blocks, making code readability a part of the syntax. However, incorrect indentation can lead to `IndentationError` or unexpected behavior. 4. **`==` vs `is`**: `==` checks for equality, while `is` checks for identity. This distinction is crucial for understanding mutable and immutable objects. ```python a = [1, 2, 3] b = a print(a == b) # True print(a is b) # True c = a.copy() print(a == c) # True print(a is c) # False ``` 5. **Looping Pitfalls**: Modifying a list while iterating over it can lead to unexpected behavior. Use slicing or create a new list instead. 6. **Global vs Local Variables**: Variables declared inside a function are local unless explicitly declared global. 7. **Floating Point Arithmetic**: Like many languages, Python's floating-point numbers can have rounding errors. ```python print(0.1 + 0.2 == 0.3) # False ``` 8. **GIL (Global Interpreter Lock)**: Python's GIL means that only one thread can execute Python bytecodes at a time. This can be a gotcha for CPU-bound multithreading applications. Understanding these Python-specific idioms and gotchas is crucial for leveraging Python's strengths while avoiding common pitfalls, ensuring your transition to Python is smooth and productive.