Check python for the whole repository and improve docs (#813)

docs/sourcetree.md

@@ -79,3 +79,61 @@ Helpers for exposing Prometheus metrics from the server.
 `/zenith_utils`:
 
 Helpers that are shared between other crates in this repository.
+
+## Using Python
+Note that Debian/Ubuntu Python packages are stale, as it commonly happens,
+so manual installation of dependencies is not recommended.
+
+A single virtual environment with all dependencies is described in the single `Pipfile`.
+
+### Prerequisites
+- Install Python 3.7 (the minimal supported version)
+    - Later version (e.g. 3.8) is ok if you don't write Python code
+    - You can install Python 3.7 separately, e.g.:
+      ```bash
+      # In Ubuntu
+      sudo add-apt-repository ppa:deadsnakes/ppa
+      sudo apt update
+      sudo apt install python3.7
+      ```
+- Install `pipenv`
+    - Exact version of `pipenv` is not important, you can use Debian/Ubuntu package `pipenv`.
+- Install dependencies via either
+  * `pipenv --python 3.7 install --dev` if you will write Python code, or
+  * `pipenv install` if you only want to run Python scripts and don't have Python 3.7.
+
+Run `pipenv shell` to activate the virtual environment.
+Alternatively, use `pipenv run` to run a single command in the venv, e.g. `pipenv run pytest`.
+
+### Obligatory checks
+We force code formatting via `yapf` and type hints via `mypy`.
+Run the following commands in the repository's root (next to `setup.cfg`):
+
+```bash
+pipenv run yapf -ri .  # All code is reformatted
+pipenv run mypy .  # Ensure there are no typing errors
+```
+
+**WARNING**: do not run `mypy` from a directory other than the root of the repository.
+Otherwise it will not find its configuration.
+
+Also consider:
+
+* Running `flake8` (or a linter of your choice, e.g. `pycodestyle`) and fixing possible defects, if any.
+* Adding more type hints to your code to avoid `Any`.
+
+### Changing dependencies
+You have to update `Pipfile.lock` if you have changed `Pipfile`:
+
+```bash
+pipenv --python 3.7 install --dev  # Re-create venv for Python 3.7 and install recent pipenv inside
+pipenv run pipenv --version  # Should be at least 2021.5.29
+pipenv run pipenv lock  # Regenerate Pipfile.lock
+```
+
+As the minimal supported version is Python 3.7 and we use it in CI,
+you have to use a Python 3.7 environment when updating `Pipfile.lock`.
+Otherwise some back-compatibility packages will be missing.
+
+It is also important to run recent `pipenv`.
+Older versions remove markers from `Pipfile.lock`.