Picking Packages

How to choose a Python Package

Caution

• Use a package only when needed
  • The more packages we use the more things we must maintain and keep up to date with
  • More packages gives more chances for security vulnerabilities and overall issues

How to Choose

• If we need to use a package, try to use one that is more popular
  • Native Python packages are best because they have the most support and least chances of breaking
  • The more popular a package is the easier it will be to find answers about it online The more stackoverflow tickets it will have, which means easier development and maintenance for us
  • The more chance we have that it will be around, and the project will not just be abandoned in a few years

Importance of Choosing a Popular Package

• Community support

  • If we bump into an error, there is a higher chance that there will be a big community of users that can point us in the right direction.

• Reliability and stability

  • Widely popular packages are often extensively tested and used in a wide range of projects. They have undergone rigorous testing, bug fixes, and improvements over time, making them more reliable and stable compared to less popular or newly developed packages. This can reduce the risk of encountering critical issues or unexpected behavior in your project.

• Documentation and learning resources

  • Popular Python packages tend to have better documentation which leads to easier and faster development. Additionally, widely used packages often have a wealth of learning resources available, such as tutorials, videos, blog posts, and online courses, which can help team members quickly get up to speed on using the package.

• Security and maintenance

  • Widely popular packages receive regular updates, including security patches, bug fixes, and performance improvements. The active development and maintenance of these packages ensure that they stay up-to-date with the latest security best practices, reducing the risk of vulnerabilities in your project.

• Popular packages are less likely to become abandoned or unsupported over time, ensuring ongoing maintenance and long-term support.

  • The last thing we’d want is a package that we are using to be abandoned.

• Integration

  • Popular packages are easier to integrate with other packages and often have a lot more built out.