#324: JSON in My DB?

Published Tue, Feb 21, 2023, recorded Tue, Feb 21, 2023

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Brian #1: Use TOML for .env files?

Brett Cannon
.env files are used to store default settings that can be overridden by environmental variables.
Possibly brought on by twelve-factor app design.
Supported by python-dotenv, which is also used by pydantic, pipenv, and others.
One issue is that it’s not a defined standard.
- from python-dotenv docs “The format is not formally specified and still improves over time. That being said, .env files should mostly look like Bash files.”
Adafruit decided that an upcoming CircuitPython will use TOML as the format for settings.toml files, which are to be used mostly how .env files are being used.
Brett notices this may fix things for Python for VS Code, and other people as well.
So… Is this a good idea? I think so.

Michael #2: Pydantic gets serious funding

via Mark Little (was on episode 285)
Sequoia backs open source data-validation framework Pydantic to commercialize with cloud services.
Pydantic Services Inc. emerges from stealth today with $4.7 million in seed funding.
Pydantic’s new commercial entity will incorporate a swath of new tools and services that are both “powered-by and inspired-by the Pydantic library”
Pydantic will start with an initial team of six, with the first three engineers based in Montana, Chicago and Berlin.
“With $4.7 million in the bank, Colvin said that they’re continuing to rewrite parts of Pydantic in Rust, with a view toward making it more efficient via a ten-fold performance improvement.”

Erin #3: JSON Fields for performance (Denormalization)

David Stokes
Using JSON fields when you design your databases is a good way to improve database query performance.

Brian #4: f-strings with pandas and Jupyter keyboard shortcuts

Kevin Markham
After a couple year break from blogging, friend of the show Kevin Markham has a couple great, short, useful posts.
How to use Python's f-strings with pandas
- My favorite bit is the part about using f-strings for dictionary keys
Fly through Jupyter with keyboard shortcuts 🚀
- I’m a sucker for a rocket emoji
- Not an overwhelming list. Just the essentials for even the casual Jupyter user.
- Examples
  - Esc and Enter for command mode/edit mode
  - a and b for creating a new cell above or below current cell.
  - m and y for changing the cell type to Markdown or code.
  - Shift+m to merge cells
  - so many more

Michael #5: BioGPT

“GPT” for biomedical text generation and mining
As motivation, let’s see what ChatGPT can do with arrow anti-patterns in Python.
Smaller models and “Large” models
Used via an API rather than chat style.
BioGPT has also been integrated into the Hugging Face transformers library too
Play with it here.

Erin #6: Code Mentorship and Communicating with Newer Devs

Sheena O’Connell
Sheena O’Connell gave a talk at DjangoCon about her work at Umuzi, training unemployed young people in underserved communities in Africa and also was on Django Chat Podcast.
Dmitriy Chukhin
Caktus Group is trying a new mentorship program for folks who don’t have the necessary training.

Extras:

Michael:

Erin:

Joke:

Full transcript