Question

        if(i-words < 0):
            start_point = 0
        else:
            start_point = i - words

Or is this the easiest way using min/max? This is for lists splicing.

I want start_point to always be 0 or above.

Answer 1

Better is to make the limiting more obvious

start_point = max(i - words, 0)

This way, anyone reading can see that you’re limiting a value.

Using any form of if has the disadvantage that you compute twice i - words. Using a temporary for this will make more code bloat.

So, use max and min in these cases.