[Python] How can I improve the storeinROM method for safer and more efficient variable storage...

I’m working on an advanced Python calculator project for general and college-level math. It’s structured as a Calculator class with many math operations and a storeinROM method for saving variables to a text file (vars.txt).

Here’s a simplified version of the relevant part:

python Copy Edit class Calculator: def storeinROM(self, name, value: int): """Stores your variable in memory (ROM).""" with open("vars.txt", "a") as f: f.write(f'{name}={value}\n')

def get_variable(self, name: str, onlyreturnvalue: bool = True, clearmemoryafteroutput=False):
with open('vars.txt', "r") as f:
varslist = f.readlines()
for var in varslist:
if name in var:
if clearmemoryafteroutput:
self.clearmemory()
if onlyreturnvalue:
return int(var[len(name)+1:len(var)-1])
return var

def clearmemory(self):
with open("vars.txt", "w") as f:
f.write("")


The full version of the calculator class can be seen here on my blog for reference.

Currently, storeinROM simply appends each variable as name=value to vars.txt. This works, but I want to make it more robust and safe.

Specifically: 1️⃣ How can I prevent duplicate keys when storing a variable? 2️⃣ How can I update an existing key’s value instead of just adding another line? 3️⃣ Is there a better way to handle reading/writing variables — for example, should I use JSON instead of plain text? 4️⃣ How can I make this method thread-safe if multiple functions call it?

I’m using Python 3.7+. Any suggestions for improving this method’s design or making it more efficient and error-resistant would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

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