#133: Github sponsors - The model open source has been waiting for?

Sponsored by DigitalOcean: pythonbytes.fm/digitalocean

Brian #1: Python built-ins worth learning

• Trey Hunner
• “I estimate most Python developers will only ever need about 30 built-in functions, but which 30 depends on what you’re actually doing with Python.”
• “I recommend triaging your knowledge:
  • Things I should memorize such that I know them well
  • Things I should know about so I can look them up more effectively later
  • Things I shouldn’t bother with at all until/unless I need them one day”
• all 69 built-in functions, split into
  • commonly known
  • overlooked by beginners
  • learn it later
  • maybe learn it eventually
  • you likely don’t need these
• Highlighting some:
  • overlooked by beginners
    • sum, enumerate, zip, bool, reversed, sorted, min, max, any, all
  • know it’s there, but learn it later:
    • open, input, repr, super, property, issubclass, isinstance, hasattr, getattr, setattr, delattr, classmethod, staticmethod, next
• my notes
  • I think getattr should be learned early on, because it’s default behavior is so useful. But can’t use it for dicts. Use mydict.get(key, default) for dictionaries.

Michael #2: Github sponsors and match

• Like Patreon but for GitHub projects
• 2x your sponsorship: Github matches! To boost community funding, we'll match contributions up to $5,000 during a developer’s first year in GitHub Sponsors with the GitHub Sponsors Matching Fund.
• 100% to developers, Zero fees: GitHub will not charge fees for GitHub Sponsors.
• Anyone who contributes to open source—whether through code, documentation, leadership, mentorship, design, or beyond—is eligible for sponsorship.

Brian #3: Build a REST API in 30 minutes with Django REST Framework

• Bennett Garner
• Very fast intro including:
  • Set up Django
  • Create a model in the database that the Django ORM will manage
  • Set up the Django REST Framework
  • Serialize the model from step 2
  • Create the URI endpoints to view the serialized data
• Example is a simple hero db with hero name and alias.

Michael #4: Dependabot has been acquired by GitHub

• Automated dependency updates: Dependabot creates pull requests to keep your dependencies secure and up-to-date.
• I personally use and recommend PyUP: https://pyup.io/
• How it works:
  • Dependabot checks for updates: Dependabot pulls down your dependency files and looks for any outdated or insecure requirements.
  • Dependabot opens pull requests: If any of your dependencies are out-of-date, Dependabot opens individual pull requests to update each one.
  • You review and merge: You check that your tests pass, scan the included changelog and release notes, then hit merge with confidence.
• Here's what you need to know:
  • We're integrating Dependabot directly into GitHub, starting with security fix PRs 👮‍♂️
  • You can still install Dependabot from the GitHub Marketplace whilst we integrate it into GitHub, but it's now free of charge 🎁
  • We've doubled the size of Dependabot's team; expect lots of great improvements over the coming months 👩‍💻👨‍💻👩‍💻👨‍💻👩‍💻👨‍💻
• Paid accounts are now free, automatically.

Brian #5: spoof “New features planned for Python 4.0”

• Charles Leifer - also known for Peewee ORM
• This is funny, but painful. Is it too soon to joke about the pain of 2 to 3?
• A few of my favorites
  • PEP8 will be updated. Line lengths will be increased to 89.5 characters. (compromise between 79 and 100)
  • All new libraries and standard lib modules must include the phrase "for humans" somewhere in their title.
  • Type-hinting has been extended to provide even fewer tangible benefits and will be called type whispering.
  • You can make stuff go faster by adding async before every other keyword.
  • Notable items left out of 4.0
    • Still no switch statement.
    • No improvements to packaging.

Michael #6: BlackSheep web framework

• Fast HTTP Server/Client microframework for Python asyncio, using Cython, uvloop, and httptools.
• Very Flask-like API. Interesting to consider the “popularity” of Flask vs Django in this context.
• Objectives
  • Clean architecture and source code, following SOLID principles
  • Intelligible and easy to learn API, similar to those of many Python web frameworks
  • Keep the core package minimal and focused, as much as possible, on features defined in HTTP and HTML standards
  • Targeting stateless applications to be deployed in the cloud
  • High performance, see results from TechEmpower benchmarks (links in Wiki page)
• Also has an async client much like aiohttp.

Extras

Michael:

• Free courses in the Training mobile apps
• Upcoming webcast: 10 Tools and Techniques Python Web Developers Should Explore
• 2019 PSF Board Elections
• Get PyCharm, Support Python
  • Until June 1st, get PyCharm at 30% OFF All the money raised will go toward the Python Software Foundation

Jokes

• How do you generate a random string? Put a first year Computer Science student in Vim and ask them to save and exit.
• Waiter: He's choking! Is anyone a doctor? Programmer: I'm a Vim user.