Project Structure

Proper project structure is essential for maintainable, scalable Python applications. A well-organized project typically includes: source code in a package directory, tests in a separate directory, documentation, configuration files, and setup scripts. Common patterns include: the src layout (source code in src/package_name), package-based layout (source code in package_name), and module-based layout for simple projects. Key files include: README.md (project documentation), requirements.txt or pyproject.toml (dependencies), setup.py or setup.cfg (packaging), .gitignore (version control exclusions), and configuration files for testing, linting, and formatting. Understanding project structure helps with: easier navigation, better separation of concerns, simplified testing, easier packaging and distribution, and smoother collaboration. Tools like Cookiecutter can generate project templates with best practices already configured.