DHI / DHI/python-package-development
Module 02: cover the underscore-prefix 'private/internal' convention
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Description
Module 02 (`02_function_classes.qmd`) teaches Python naming conventions but does not cover the leading-underscore convention for internal/private names. This came up in practice: a user upgraded a dependency, found that several `_`-prefixed functions had been removed, and was upset — not realising those were never part of the public API.
The breaking-changes slide in [`07_packaging.qmd`](../blob/main/07_packaging.qmd) (Removing a function / Renaming / Changing signature → bump major) is the counterpart to this: removing a `_private` function is **not** a breaking change. Worth a forward reference between the two modules.
### Suggested content for module 02
Add a slide near the existing naming-conventions section (around `02_function_classes.qmd:802`) covering:
- `_foo` signals **internal** — not part of the public API
- Consumers who import underscore-prefixed names do so at their own risk
- Maintainers may change/remove them without bumping the major version
- `__all__` in `__init__.py` to declare the public surface
- Re-exporting internals into the package namespace (the existing `mikeio.pfs._pfssection.PfsSection` example at `02_function_classes.qmd:795` is a natural lead-in)
- Double-underscore (`__name`) name mangling is a separate thing — mention briefly to avoid confusion
### Cross-reference
Update the "Breaking changes" slide in `07_packaging.qmd` to note that the rules apply to the **public** API only, with a pointer back to module 02.
See [PEP 8 — Naming Conventions / Public and internal interfaces](https://peps.python.org/pep-0008/#naming-conventions).
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