[Biopython-dev] Using .format() method of strings in Biopython?

[Peter Cock]

Dear Biopythoneers,

As part of https://github.com/biopython/biopython/pull/635
Carlos is suggesting replacing some of the % string formatting
(which is like the C sprintf function) with the Python string .format()
method.

e.g.

"Codon '%s' is invalid" % codon

becomes:

"Codon '{0}' is invalid".format(codon)

https://pyformat.info/
https://docs.python.org/2/library/string.html#formatstrings
https://docs.python.org/2/library/stdtypes.html#string-formatting

Note the later says the following about the .format method:

"This method of string formatting is the new standard in Python 3"

We don't have anything explicit about this on our current short
coding conventions entry on the wiki:

http://biopython.org/wiki/Contributing#Coding_conventions

Right now usage of the format method is rare (e.g. Bio.codonalign
and Bio.motifs.jaspar)

Should we be encouraging more use of the format method?

Is there a more explicit PEP standard we can cite for this
preference?

Peter