No Vague Python Requests

How to effectively ask for help with your Python code

Imagine messaging a senior dev with "got a sec?" and then waiting for them to respond before explaining your issue...

Don't Do This

Hey, got that script?

Which script?

The one for the API

The data processing one or the authentication one?

The data processing one

Here you go:

def process_data(data):
    # ... process it

Why This Doesn't Work

This conversation wastes time. The helper had to stop their work and become an interrogator just to figure out what the initial request was about.

When you ask vague questions, you force the other person to drop their context and spend mental energy on your problem before you've even stated it.

Do This Instead

Hi! I'm getting a `KeyError` processing API data when a 'user' field is missing. Could you share your function that safely extracts nested data from the JSON response?

Sure! I use `.get()` to avoid that. Here's the function:

def get_user_email(data):
    user = data.get('user', {})
    return user.get('email')

Thanks! That's perfect.

Why This Works Better

By providing full context upfront, you respect the other person's time and make it trivial for them to help you. It's a "fire-and-forget" request.

They immediately understand the problem (`KeyError`), the context (API data), and the specific solution needed (safe data extraction).

Format Code in Discord

Hey, I'm having trouble with my script. Here's the relevant code:

```python
for item in data:
    print(item['name'])
```

That will throw a `KeyError` if 'name' is missing. Try using `.get()`:

```python
for item in data:
    print(item.get('name', 'N/A'))
```

Why Formatting Matters

When you format Python code correctly in Discord using code blocks (```python), you make it much easier for others to help you.

Properly formatted code has syntax highlighting, is easier to read, and maintains crucial indentation for Python.

by mineogo.