The Zen of Python: 20 aphorisms, 19 written

PEP 20 says Tim Peters put Python's guiding principles into 20 aphorisms, and that only 19 of them were written down. The easter egg still works: import this prints them.

Check yourself

What's number 20? Answer: nobody can tell you, because the PEP never states it. That's the whole gag.

And since we're on names: the Python FAQ says Guido van Rossum was reading the scripts of Monty Python's Flying Circus and wanted something short, unique and slightly mysterious. Do you have to like the show? The FAQ's answer: no, but it helps.

Important

An unwritten rule makes a nice joke in a PEP. In a team it makes a bad afternoon. If a decision matters, it goes on paper with a date.

After your next design talk

• ☐ Write the decision in one line
• ☐ Add the date
• ☐ Name the owner
• ☐ List what was rejected

Meeting minutes template — write down number 20 →

Source: peps.python.org, PEP 20; docs.python.org, General Python FAQ.