I'm currently working on converting a linear script I wrote, which I executed manually, into something more general and reusable. It's been quite a challenge, and I know there are better ways I could have structured it from the start to simplify this process. I would love to hear any tips, strategies, or frameworks that experienced developers would recommend for this kind of task.
For context, my script scans a specified folder for GitHub repositories and checks for specific file types, mainly SQL files. It then analyzes each file for keywords related to table reads and writes. Initially, I structured the script so that different tasks were separate functions. Now, I'm attempting to refactor it so that others can easily import it and use specific functions, like checking a single file. I'm focusing on identifying which variables need to be passed as parameters when calling functions in this abstract form versus just running it in the main script. Any advice on how to transform a simple script into a reusable package would be greatly appreciated!
5 Answers
For your main function, one that takes a filepath and a regex might be essential. Then have another that searches all SQL files by scanning your directories. You can keep these in a simple Python module, like 'squealer.py', and allow people to import it easily and use those functions. That method organizes everything and keeps it clean.
It’s easier to make your script reusable if you start out with functions instead of a bunch of global variables everywhere. This way, you won’t have to clean up the entire code when you want to reuse a piece of it later on.
You should focus on creating a clear interface for your script. Decide what functionalities you want to expose for others to use. It might help to write placeholder functions first until you’re satisfied with how they fit together. Then, consider how the code flows: what’s the entry point, where can you avoid duplicating code, and what branches you need to address without overcomplicating things.
What you're experiencing is a common refactoring scenario in development. As you get more practice, you’ll get the hang of structuring your code for reuse and minimize tough restructuring down the line. Embrace the learning process!
You might want to consider turning your script into a CLI tool with arguments. Think of it from an object-oriented perspective; identify what elements you want to generalize, like the file types and locations it processes. Define those in your constructor, and design your methods to work with those attributes.
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