If have a method that matches strings to regex patterns in a dictionary and returns corresponding value. # Module foo.py class bar: def __init__(self, patterns): self._patterns = patterns def baz(self, string) for pattern, value in self._patterns: # return value if string matches pattern # In another module patterns = {...} obj = foo.bar(patterns) I want a reusable dict of patterns. Does it make sense to move it to foo.py like # foo.py default_patterns = {...} class bar: ... # In another module obj = foo.bar(foo.default_patterns) Or should i use a json file? Something like with open(filename) as file: patterns = load(file) obj = foo.bar(pattenrs) In this case where do I keep this file? Also will it make sense to keep the path in the module as some PATTERN_FILENAME variable. Continue reading...