Effective Python and Python at Google Scale | Real Python Podcast #3

Have you been using Python for a while, but want to be more effective with your code? This week we have Brett Slatkin on the show. We talk about the 2nd edition of his book Effective Python.

Brett talks about the revisions he made for the book, and updating it for the newest versions of Python 3. He answers questions about who is the intended developer for the book.

Brett also discusses working on Google App Engine, and what it's like to develop and maintain Python applications at Google Scale. Brett mentions a brief anecdote about working with Guido van Rossum, while they both worked at Google. He also provides advice about maintaining a large and aging Python code base.

Topics:

00:00:00 – Introduction
00:01:13 – Brett Slatkin - Programming background
00:02:00 – Python background and start at Google
00:03:22 – Working on Google infrastructure
00:05:36 – Is Python a good tool for infrastructure?
00:07:28 – PubSubHubbub
00:09:06 – Lobste.rs
00:10:03 – Starting to write Effective Python
00:11:12 – Who is the intended developer for the book?
00:12:45 – About the Effective series book structure
00:14:39 – What were the sections you were excited to rewrite?
00:18:41 – Moving away from Metaclasses in modern Python
00:20:43 – Python 3.8 in the book
00:21:03 – Using the walrus operator to build a switch/case statement
00:23:22 – Why did you feel Python made you a more productive developer?
00:28:02 – Working with Guido van Rossum
00:31:15 – What's it like to work on the same code base for years?
00:33:35 – What is code rot?
00:35:10 – What would you put in a book about refactoring?
00:37:06 – What's something you thought you knew about Python, but were wrong?
00:38:42 – What are you excited about in the world of Python?
00:40:24 – Do you listen to music when you code?
00:42:00 – End Credits

?Links from the show: https://realpython.com/podcasts/rpp/3/