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If your functions accept five dictionaries, your architecture already has a problem.

Your code works. But it’s slowly turning into an untyped, undocumented mess.

Aashish Kumar

3 min read

·

6 days ago

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You’ve seen it. Maybe you’ve written it.

def process_user(data):
    name = data["name"]
    age = data["age"]
    email = data["email"]
    is_active = data.get("is_active", False)
    ...

Then somewhere else:

user_data = {
    "name": "Aashish",
    "age": 27,
    "email": "aashish@example.com",
    "is_active": True
}

process_user(user_data)

Seems harmless.

Until six months later when someone adds "phone_number" in one place but forgets to update three others.

Now your “flexible” dictionary has become a liability.

Let’s talk about why passing dictionaries everywhere is hurting your Python code — and what to do instead.

The Hidden Cost of “Just Use a Dict”

Dictionaries feel convenient because they’re:

• Flexible
• Easy to create