Byte-Sized RSE: Code Style, Quality & Linting

This is a Byte-Sized RSE lesson on code style, quality & linting, part of the Byte-Sized RSE Series.

Questions

• Why does consistent code style matter in software development?
• What are some common code styling practices and conventions?
• How can poor coding style lead to bugs and maintenance issues?
• What is a linter, and how does it help improve code quality?

Learning Objectives

At the end of this lesson, learners should be able to:

• Understand why consistent code style is important for collaboration and long-term maintainability.
• Identify key code style practices and how they vary between programming languages.
• Recognise how maintaining good code style can reduce bugs and improve code quality.
• Explain what a linter is and describe its role in detecting errors and enforcing style.
• Perform automated code style checking and static code analysis with Pylint.

Slides

Slides available under CC BY 4.0 licence.

Recordings

• Recording of the "Code Style, Quality & Linting" session delivered at SSI's RSC7, 12 November 2025