Python and C++ have different principles. C++ and Java are quite “static” and have lots of compile time checks, so you should exploit them when using C++ and Java: public vs. private, const-correctness, etc. Plus they don't have properties, so if you find that you should do some parameter validation, you cannot easily convert a public member variable into a getter–setter pair without changing syntax and breaking existing code. Python, on the other hand, is a dynamic language that allows everybody to do everything: you can override every variable from every module, encapsulation cannot be enforced, there are no static type checks, etc. Python people tend to say “we’re all adults,” and that you should not rely on undocumented behavior and use unit tests instead of compile-time checks. I’m not in the position to judge what is better, but generally you should stick to the established conventions of your language.
