New Features in Python 3.8: A Comprehensive User Guide

Read Time:4 Minute, 33 Second

Python is the recent version of the popular programming language covering different domains like scripting, automation, machine learning as well as web development. Recently, the nascent beta version is launched. You can find this on the official website. It comes with different slick syntax modifications, sharing of memory, refurbishing dictionaries, deserialization, etc.

Python 3.8 comes with different performance improvements process as well. The overall productivity leads to a faster, precise, and smart implementation of technology. Therefore, follow this resourceful user guide with rapt attention to know the new features in Python 3.8 version.

Notable Features to Know Beforehand

Go through the below features to know the details before you move ahead.

Use of Assignment Expressions

The most notable change in Python 3.8 is the use of assignment expressions. This is known as a walrus operator. It generally comes with a value allocated to a particular variable. A variable can’t exist with them in the framework of expression. Rather you can use it as a stand-alone statement.

Assignment expressions generally encompass the age-old methodology of comprehensible terseness in Python comprising of list comprehensions. With the latest release, you can reduce some of the difficult boilerplates which you may encounter in different programming pattern of Python. Since the syntax is not that complex, normally you have to write two or three lines of code.

Positional Only Parameters

With the usage of Positional only parameters, the developer force certain arguments to become positional. This eliminates the basic obscurity about the different arguments in the definition of a function. Now you can easily differentiate between positional and keyword arguments.

Through the positional-only parameters, Python 3.8 gives you the scope to define scenarios. Suppose a function can receive both keyword argument as well as one or more positionals. This takes place due to Python built-ins. Therefore, providing the Python developers a chance to do this imbibes a solid consistency in the programming language.

In Python 3.8, you will see that the / command segregates the positional from the keyword arguments. However, in this regard, it is needless to say that each and every argument are positional. In earlier versions, you have seen that z happens to be a keyword argument.

F-String Debug Support

The f-string format comes with a more convenient and easy-to-do approach to print text and other computed values in a particular expression. Have a look at the example given below.

x = 3

print(f'{x+1}’)

The will give the result 4.

Incorporating an = to the closure of the f-string helps in printing the text of the f-string. This will take you to the next step mentioned below.

x = 3

print (f'{x+1=}’)

The result will be 4.

Multi-Process of Shared Memory

With the ushering of Python 3.8, the multiprocessing module comes with a separate SharedMemory class that permits certain area for the memory and distribution among various processes of Python.

You might have seen that in the earlier versions, data could be shared between the processes only if you jot it down in a file. Also, you can transmit the same over a network socket or serialize it with the help of Python’s pickle module features. Shared memory facilitates a faster path for traversing the data between processes. As a result, Python has the authority to implement multiple processors as well as the processor cores.

Python comes with shared memory segments which can be placed as the raw regions of the byte. Also, they can use ineradicable list-like objects in order to store a small subset of Python objects comprising strings, bytes, objects, numeric types, etc.

Improvement in Typing Module

Python is available with dynamic typing. Alongside, it supports the usage of type hints through the typing module that permits the third party tool to examine the Python programs. This latest version also incorporates new elements to typing. Therefore, robust checks are possible through this.

The final decorator and the Final type annotation signifies the decorated, as well as the annotated objects, should not be overruled, subcategorized, or reassigned to any point.
The Literal type limits the use of expressions to a specific value or enlisted values. However, the type may differ.

New Version of Pickle Protocols

Python’s pickle module comes with the provision of serializing and deserializing. It permits a dictionary to save just like a file and reload it later. Several version of Python comes with different types of pickle protocols. With the advent of the latest versions, there are additional features which bolsters a wider range of capabilities and more effective serialization.

Reversible Dictionaries

Dictionaries in Python 3.6 format was written using the new implementation. Apart from faster and more compact effect, dictionaries come with inherent ordering for their elements in 3.8 version. Python 3.8 implements reversed() used in the dictionaries.

Wrapping Things Up

This article covers the new features of Python 3.8 which you should know before you embark into the new journey into the world of programming and software. In the latest version, huge changes are done in the CAPI. This is basically the reference implementation of Python. You will get to know all these features along with vivid description if you follow this article.

Apart from this, if you have any new information you can provide that in the comment section.