I am working on a python project that doesn't have too much cross use of functions in different files. I also don't have cases where a file is needing to use something in a different folder than the one it is in.
Is it bad practise for me not to have any __init__.py files in the project at the moment. I don't fully understand the benefit of adding them in?
An __init__.py file makes Python treat a folder as a module, so you can import foldername. It is commonly used for large modules.
If you're not doing that, you don't need an __init__.py file.
From the docs: "The init.py files are required to make Python treat directories containing the file as packages. This prevents directories with a common name, such as string , unintentionally hiding valid modules that occur later on the module search path."
So you need it to import scripts.
importyour code without them. If everything works as-is without them, then you don't need them. It's not a "is this good practice?" thing, it's a "what do you need to do to to make your code work at all?" thing.