DEV Community

Cover image for Python Hacks That Actually Slay 💻🐍 (You'll Use These Every Day)
Aaron Rose
Aaron Rose

Posted on

Python Hacks That Actually Slay 💻🐍 (You'll Use These Every Day)

#python #coding #softwaredevelopment

Hey everyone! 👋 Ready to level up your Python game without the boring tutorial vibe? We’re dropping quick Python gems that are literally awesome. Let’s dive in — no fluff, just fire. 🔥

1. F-Strings Are Your New BFF 💅

Forget format() or clunky string concatenation. F-strings are clean, readable, and powerful.

name = "Shay"
vibe = "confident"
print(f"{name} is serving {vibe} realness!")  
# Output: Shay is serving confident realness!
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

You can even do math in them. The power. ✨

2. List Comprehensions = Code Glow-Up 📈

Turn basic loops into one-liners that are not only cleaner but often faster.

Before:

squares = []
for i in range(10):
    squares.append(i*i)
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

After:

squares = [i*i for i in range(10)]
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

So much cleaner — it’s giving efficiency. 💯

3. Zip() For When You’re Matching Vibes 👯

Got two lists that need to link up? zip() pairs elements into tuples—perfect for clean, parallel iteration.

names = ["Alyssa", "Bianca", "Chantel"]
scores = [88, 92, 95]

for name, score in zip(names, scores):
    print(f"{name}: {score}%")
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

Iconic duo behavior. No more messy indexing.

4. Set Defaults Like a Pro 🛋️

Using .get() with defaults in dictionaries? A total slay. Avoid KeyErrors and keep your code resilient.

user = {"name": "Devon", "pets": 1}

cat_count = user.get("cats", 0)  # No KeyError, just returns 0 if missing
print(cat_count)  # Output: 0
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

Clean, safe, and vibe-protected. 😎

5. Walrus Operator := For That Quick Flex 🦦

Assign values inside expressions. It lets you check and use a value in one move.

if (n := len([1, 2, 3, 4])) > 3:
    print(f"List has {n} elements, we love to see it!")
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

Smooth, efficient, and lowkey genius. We stan.

There you have it — Python tips that actually serve. Use these, code faster, and keep your scripts looking fresh. 😌💻

Drop your favorite Python hack in the comments! 👇

Catch you in the next post — keep coding like the main character you are. 💫

Aaron Rose is a software engineer and technology writer at tech-reader.blog and the author of Think Like a Genius.

Top comments (0)