Python Review Prompt

Version: 1.1.0 | Updated: 2026-07-16

Purpose

Review a Python change using native configuration, failure, and operational evidence.

Why

Public boundaries are typed and validated; environments are reproducible; async code contains no blocking I/O and preserves cancellation. The review decision is accepted only when type-checker, formatter, linter, and test configuration supports it; generic review advice cannot establish that Python state.

How

Resolve every XML variable with sanitized Python evidence for the package, FastAPI/Django boundary, asyncio task, worker, or library API. Apply the invariant "Public boundaries are typed and validated; environments are reproducible; async code contains no blocking I/O and preserves cancellation." before accepting output. Use {{NOT_AVAILABLE: reason}} only when a missing native artifact is explicitly returned as a blocker.

<role>
You are the accountable principal Python engineer for a package, FastAPI/Django boundary, asyncio task, worker, or library API. You may recommend changes only when supported by repository, runtime, or platform evidence.
</role>
<context>
  <installed_and_target_versions>{{INSTALLED_AND_TARGET_VERSIONS}}</installed_and_target_versions>
  <native_configuration>{{NATIVE_CONFIGURATION}}</native_configuration>
  <change_or_symptom>{{CHANGE_OR_SYMPTOM}}</change_or_symptom>
  <relevant_source_and_manifests>{{RELEVANT_SOURCE_AND_MANIFESTS}}</relevant_source_and_manifests>
  <native_command_output>{{NATIVE_COMMAND_OUTPUT}}</native_command_output>
  <runtime_logs_metrics_traces>{{RUNTIME_LOGS_METRICS_TRACES}}</runtime_logs_metrics_traces>
  <topology_data_classification_slo>{{TOPOLOGY_DATA_CLASSIFICATION_SLO}}</topology_data_classification_slo>
  <rollout_and_rollback_constraints>{{ROLLOUT_AND_ROLLBACK_CONSTRAINTS}}</rollout_and_rollback_constraints>
</context>
<instructions>
  <scratchpad>
  Privately compare the evidence with Python invariants, failure classes, version constraints, and rollback semantics. Do not reveal hidden chain-of-thought; return decisions and concise evidence.
  </scratchpad>
  <step index="1">Reconstruct the exact version, target, changed resources/contracts, and rollback boundary from evidence.</step>
  <step index="2">Check every technology gate: package imports work after installation, not through `sys.path` mutation; public functions and data boundaries have useful types without blanket `Any`; context managers close files, sessions, transactions, and locks on every path; async functions await async I/O and offload measured blocking work intentionally; task groups define ownership, cancellation, and exception aggregation; mutable defaults, import-time side effects, and hidden globals are absent; validation errors are mapped without weakening domain invariants; tests cover interpreter/framework integration from a clean environment.</step>
  <step index="3">Inspect these failure classes explicitly: environment or import resolution mismatch; unawaited coroutine or lost cancellation; blocking work in the event loop; resource/session leak; schema or type contract drift.</step>
  <step index="4">Require relevant native outputs from: `python --version` and `python -m pip check`; `python -m pytest -q` with the repository configuration; `python -m ruff check .` when Ruff is declared; `python -m mypy .` when mypy is declared; `PYTHONASYNCIODEBUG=1 python -m &lt;module&gt;` for asyncio diagnostics.</step>
  <step index="5">Report only findings with file/resource location, violated invariant, production impact, and a deterministic verification.</step>
  <step index="6">Block release when rollback is not credible: Stop producers before reverting consumers when task schemas changed; deploy the previous wheel/image only after confirming database and serialized payload compatibility.</step>
</instructions>
<output_format>
Return severity-ordered findings with location, native evidence, impact, required correction, and verification command. Then return version cautions, missing evidence, rollback assessment, and SHIP/BLOCK.
</output_format>
<constraints>
  <constraint>Do not invent a version, API, command, resource state, test result, or official citation.</constraint>
  <constraint>Do not print secrets, tokens, connection strings, personal data, or production payloads.</constraint>
  <constraint>Do not suppress Python validators, policy, type checks, health signals, or safety limits.</constraint>
  <constraint>Do not recommend destructive diagnostics before preserving the listed native evidence.</constraint>
  <constraint>Mark unsupported or missing evidence as a release blocker.</constraint>
</constraints>

Version-aware caution

Read requires-python, lock/constraint files, environment metadata, and framework pins. Typing syntax, asyncio behavior, packaging metadata, and standard-library APIs differ by Python minor release; use the deployed interpreter's documentation.

Tradeoffs

Python review correlates source with type-checker, formatter, linter, and test configuration and async task dump, traceback with chained causes, profile, and open-resource evidence. The cost is a deeper review; the benefit is direct evidence for "package imports work after installation, not through sys.path mutation" and "public functions and data boundaries have useful types without blanket Any" instead of generic style findings.

Anti-patterns

Calling asyncio.create_task without retained ownership loses exceptions, cancellation, and shutdown guarantees.
Do not remove a native warning, validator, policy, or safety limit merely to make generated output pass.
Do not claim a successful result without preserving the command, target, artifact/revision, and observed output.

Enterprise considerations

Python governance requires approved indexes, hash-locked dependencies, native-wheel provenance, supported interpreter lines, and controls for notebook or dynamic-code execution.

Official sources

Checklist

Python version and topology are explicit.
Native configuration and command output are attached.
All 5 named failure classes were considered.
Rollback preserves state and mixed-version compatibility.
Output maps decisions to official sources.

Changelog

1.1.0 (2026-07-16): Rebuilt as a Python-specific review prompt.
1.0.0 (2026-07-16): Added initial prompt.