Writing good code

Coding guidelines:

• Divide the program into functions
• Write short docstrings for all functions.
• Use reasonable variable names.
• Use reasonable function names starting with a verb.
• Don't re-invent the wheel, using libraries makes your code shorter and easier to maintain.
• Writing test functions saves lots of time on a long term.

The Dogma of Programming

• First, make it work.
• Second, make it nice.
• Third, and only if it is really neccessary, make it fast.

Code formatting conventions:

• Use spaces instead of tabs (or use an editor that converts them automatically.
• Keep lines less than 80 characters long.
• Separate functions with two blank lines.
• Separate logical chunks of long functions with a single blank line.
• Variables and function names in lowercase.