Lessons Learned From Four Years Programming With Python | Real Python Podcast #150

What are the core lessons you've learned along your Python development journey? What are key takeaways you would share with new users of the language? This week on the show, Duarte Oliveira e Carmo is here to discuss his recent talk, "Four Years of Python."

? Links from the show: https://realpython.com/podcasts/rpp/150/

Duarte works at the crossroads of machine learning, data science, and software engineering. He began using Python in his graduate studies and never looked back. In 2021, he wrote a blog post about some of the valuable lessons he's learned. Then he decided the lessons and concepts in the post might make a good conference talk.

We cover the steps in his process of crafting the presentation, practicing it at a smaller conference, and finally presenting it at PyCon Italia last year.
We also dig into the four major themes of the talk. Along the way, we share a collection of resources to help you continue learning on your Python journey.

Topics:

- 00:00:00 -- Introduction
- 00:02:38 -- Four years of Python
- 00:04:18 -- Why did you create a blog?
- 00:06:19 -- A singular vs wide focus for the blog
- 00:09:19 -- Pitching the talk to conferences
- 00:13:02 -- Resources for preparing your talk
- 00:16:03 -- What was your programming and Python background?
- 00:19:00 -- Sponsor: InfluxData
- 00:19:47 -- Reading is better than Googling
- 00:26:23 -- What are some of your favorite docs?
- 00:28:48 -- Thoughts on GPT and Copilot
- 00:31:45 -- Keep it stupid simple
- 00:36:07 -- What's extensible code?
- 00:38:29 -- Video Course Spotlight
- 00:39:54 -- Learning testing techniques & testing data science code
- 00:46:05 -- Continuous learning
- 00:51:46 -- What do you use for RSS?
- 00:53:06 -- Resources for machine learning
- 00:57:20 -- What are you excited about in the world of Python?
- 00:58:57 -- What do you want to learn next?
- 01:00:55 -- How can people follow the work you do?
- 01:01:20 -- Thanks and goodbye

? Links from the show: https://realpython.com/podcasts/rpp/150/