PYTHON PROGRAMMING
Should we use type hints in data-science projects realized in Python?
Need a disclaimer? Here you’re: It depends. In Proof-of-Concept sorts of projects, it’s often unnecessary. In production projects, at the least in 2023, it somewhat is. But again, that depends.
I’ll attempt to be as concise as possible, and get to the purpose as fast as possible. I don’t wish to spend hours on considering all pros and cons, for the straightforward reason that the data-science market has quite clear expectations of our work. My goal is to present these expectations to you, not to debate them intimately.
Let’s start by stating the plain. To begin with, type hints in Python are optional. Optional like in you don’t need to use type hints in Python. In that case, there’s just one answer to our principal query: You’ll be able to but no, you don’t need to use type hints in data science projects!
So… that’s it? Are we done here?
Wait a second. We did state the plain, but we didn’t touch upon anything beyond the plain.
Should we use type hints in data-science projects realized in Python? It depends. In Proof-of-Concept sorts of projects, it’s not vital. In production projects, at the least in 2023, it somewhat is.
An example. Imagine you’re a Python developer working for a personal company. The corporate has its own rules and suggestions for Python development. One among the principles is: Use type hints. That’s it — regardless of what you like, you’ve got to make use of them. Had this been a advice, you wouldn’t have had to make use of them. Nevertheless, since it is a rule, you’ve got to make use of optional type hints.
Okay, good point. But we’re talking about type hints in data science projects generally, not in a selected company. So, optional, right? You don’t need to use them?