Is there a way around coding in Python without the tab, indent & whitespace criteria?

Question

I want to start using Python for small projects but the fact that a misplaced tab or indent can throw a compile error is really getting on my nerves. Is there some type of s

Answer 1

No, there isn't. Indentation is syntax for Python. You can:

1. Use tabnanny.py to check your code
2. Use a syntax-aware editor that highlights such mistakes (vi does that, emacs I bet it does, and then, most IDEs do too)
3. (far-fetched) write a preprocessor of your own to convert braces (or whatever block delimiters you love) into indentation

Answer 2

You should disable tab characters in your editor when you're working with Python (always, actually, IMHO, but especially when you're working with Python). Look for an option like "Use spaces for tabs": any decent editor should have one.

Answer 3

Yes, there is a way. I hate these "no way" answers, there is no way until you discover one.

And in that case, whatever it is worth, there is one.

I read once about a guy who designed a way to code so that a simple script could re-indent the code properly. I didn't managed to find any links today, though, but I swear I read it.

The main tricks are to always use return at the end of a function, always use pass at the end of an if or at the end of a class definition, and always use continue at the end of a while. Of course, any other no-effect instruction would fit the purpose.

Then, a simple awk script can take your code and detect the end of block by reading pass/continue/return instructions, and the start of code with if/def/while/... instructions.

Of course, because you'll develop your indenting script, you'll see that you don't have to use continue after a return inside the if, because the return will trigger the indent-back mechanism. The same applies for other situations. Just get use to it.

If you are diligent, you'll be able to cut/paste and add/remove if and correct the indentations automagically. And incidentally, pasting code from the web will require you to understand a bit of it so that you can adapt it to that "non-classical" setting.

Answer 4

Tabs and spaces confusion can be fixed by setting your editor to use spaces instead of tabs.

To make whitespace completely intuitive, you can use a stronger code editor or an IDE (though you don't need a full-blown IDE if all you need is proper automatic code indenting).

A list of editors can be found in the Python wiki, though that one is a bit too exhausting: - http://wiki.python.org/moin/PythonEditors

There's already a question in here which tries to slim that down a bit:

• https://stackoverflow.com/questions/60784/poll-which-python-ideeditor-is-the-best

Maybe you should add a more specific question on that: "Which Python editor or IDE do you prefer on Windows - and why?"

Answer 5

Any decent programming editor will reduce this annoyance to nil. I see Notepad++ has syntax highlighting, it's likely you just need to set your preferences appropriately for auto-indenting and such.