I think isinstance() should be used here instread of the type != type.

ALso the getattr() will raise an AttributeError if you dont pass in a default and the attribute is not found.

if not isinstance(getattr(config, key, None), type(getattr(config_template, key, None))) and getattr(config_template, key, None) is not None:

would be more pythonic and remove the AttributeError issue.

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Am I missing something? The first IF checks if the config item exists at all, the second IF under the ELSE (item must exist) you've called out here is specifically to identify incorrect types based on the example config type.

Ah right I see.

I still think using isinstnace and using is to compare NoneType values is the pythonic way to go.

if not isinstance(getattr(config, key), type(getattr(config_template, key))) and getattr(config_template, key) is not None:

if not isinstance(getattr(config, key), type(getattr(config_template, key))) and getattr(config_template, key) is not None:
    ...

(forgot to format it in my previous comment)

converts to review comment