Contributing to the SDK

Note: The SDK currently works with Python versions 3.6 through 3.8.x. Python 3.9 is not yet supported.

Setting up Prereqs

If poetry and pipx are not already installed:

pip3 install pipx
pipx ensurepath
pipx install poetry

Now you can use Poetry to install package dependencies:

cd sdk

# Install package and dependencies:
poetry install
# OR install in editable mode:
poetry install --no-root

Local Developer Setup

First clone, then…

  1. If you are using VS Code, make sure you have also installed the Python extension.

  2. Ensure you have the correct test library, formatters, and linters installed:

    • poetry install

  3. Configure Linting and Formatting Settings:

    • We use pytest for testing (poetry run pytest).

    • We use black, flake8, mypy, and pydocstyle as CI linting tests.

    • We use coverage for code coverage metrics.

    • The project-wide max line length is 89.

    • The project has pre-commit hooks. Just run pre-commit install and the next time you make a commit, the changes will be linted.

  4. Set interpreter to match poetry’s virtualenv:

    • In VS Code, run Python: Select interpreter and select the poetry interpreter.

Testing Locally

To run tests and gather coverage metrics:

poetry run pytest

To run tests while gathering coverage metrics:

poetry run coverage run -m pytest

To view the code coverage report:

# CLI output
poetry run coverage report

# Or html output:
poetry run coverage html && open ./htmlcov/index.html

To run all tests:

poetry run tox

Testing Updates to Docs

Documentation runs on Sphinx, a using ReadtheDocs style template, and hosting from ReadtheDocs.org. When a push is detected by readthedocs.org, they automatically rebuild and republish the docs. ReadtheDocs is also version aware, so it retains prior and unreleased versions of the docs for us.

First, make sure your virtual env has all the right tools and versions:

poetry install

To build the docs:

cd docs
# Build docs
poetry run make html
# Open in the local browser:
open _build/html/index.html

To build missing stubs:

cd docs
poetry run sphinx-autogen -o classes *.rst

Workspace Development Strategies for the SDK

Universal Code Formatting

  • From the Black website:

    By using Black, you agree to cede control over minutiae of hand-formatting. In return, Black gives you speed, determinism, and freedom from pycodestyle nagging about formatting. You will save time and mental energy for more important matters. Black makes code review faster by producing the smallest diffs possible. Blackened code looks the same regardless of the project you’re reading. Formatting becomes transparent after a while and you can focus on the content instead.

Pervasive Python Type Hints

Type hints allow us to spend less time reading documentation. Public modules are checked in CI for type annotations on all methods and functions.

Docstring convention

All public modules in the SDK are checked for the presence of docstrings in classes and functions. We follow the Google Style convention for Python docstrings so functions are required to have a description of every argument and the return value, if applicable.

What is Poetry and why do we need it?

For more info on Poetry and Pipx, please see the topic in our python tips guide.