Did you know that you can customize the Python debugger (PDB) by creating custom aliases within a .pdbrc file in your home directory or Python’s current working directory?
I recently learned this and I’d like to share a few helpful aliases that I now...
I’ve had many conversations over the past year with friends and colleagues about LLMs.
Some conversations have focused on their uses and misuses and some have focused on big picture concerns.
There are many reasons to be concerned about LLMs: job...
I read 41 books this year, all via audiobook. Below are my reviews for my 13 favorite reads out of the 41 books I read.
If you enjoy audobooks, I recommend switching from Audible to Libro.fm (that’s a referral link). Audible has some pretty slimy...
Here are my default apps of 2025. My 2024 list is here.
The Libro, YNAB, SavvyCal, and GLM links below are referral links. You can find more of my referral links here.
I’d love a free audiobook if you end up switching from Audible to Libro.fm (you...
It’s time for some discounted Python-related skill-building.
This is my eighth annual compilation of Python learning-related Black Friday & Cyber Monday deals.
If you find a Python-related deal in the next week that isn’t on this list, please...
If you code in Python regularly, you’re already learning new things everyday.
You hit a wall, or something breaks. Then you search around, spend some hours on Stack Overflow, and eventually, you figure it out.
But this kind of learning is...
I find myself in the Python REPL a lot.
I open up the REPL to play with an idea, to use Python as a calculator or quick and dirty text parsing tool, to record a screencast, to come up with a code example for an article, and (most importantly for me)...
Did you know that Python 3.14 will include syntax highlighting in the REPL?
Python 3.14 is due to be officially released in about a month.
I recommended tweaking your Python setup now so you’ll have your ideal color scheme on release day.
But… what...
I’m pretty much fully back to normal life after PyCon US 2025.
I started writing this post shortly after PyCon, got side-tracked, and now I’m finally publishing it.
My very quick recap: I spent a ton of time at PyCon chatting with folks and I really...
Those with kidney failure need dialysis.
Dialysis is expensive.
Dialysis care in the United States accounts for 7% of Medicare’s budget and nearly 1% of the entire federal budget (yes, really).
Dialysis is should be a stop gap measure.
Ideally,...
All writers need a cutting room floor.
I have never written a book, an academic paper, or a journal article.
And yet I do write.
I write emails, I write blog posts, I write screencast scripts, I journal, I write talks, and I write curriculum for my...
You’ve submitted a tutorial to PyCon and it was accepted.
Now what?
In this post I’ll be sharing my thoughts on giving a great PyCon tutorial.
Screen readability 👓
Be sure to consider readability when teaching a tutorial.
Talks usually involve slides...
Last year I updated my having a great first PyCon post to note that Mastodon would likely be more popular than Twitter at PyCon.
My guess was correct.
During PyCon US 2024, Mastodon overtook Twitter for the most posts on the #PyConUS hashtag.
In the...
Have you ever wished that Django’s include template tag could accept blocks of content?
I have.
Unfortunately, Django’s {% include %} tag doesn’t accept blocks of text.
Let’s look at a few possible solutions to this problem.
The Problem: Hack Include...
Here are my default apps of 2024… in 2025.
Inspired by Jeff’s list.
You can find my referral links here for Libro, YNAB, or SavvyCal.
I’d love a free audiobook if you end up switching from Audible to Libro.fm. 💗
🌐 Browser: Vivaldi
🔍 Search: Kagi...
I listen to many audiobooks every year.
I wrote recaps of my favorites in 2014, 2015, and 2016 and then I stopped doing annual recaps.
After a 7 year hiatus, I’m attempting to start this annual habit again, starting with audiobooks I read in 2024.
But...
I frequently find myself writing my own short command-line scripts in Python that help me with day-to-day tasks.
It’s so easy to throw together a single-file Python command-line script and throw it in my ~/bin directory!
Well… it’s easy, unless the...
I’ve just recently launched a self-paced introduction to Python that is extremely hands-on.
It’s called Python Jumpstart and it’s based on introductory Python curriculum that I have been iterating on for years.
Learn Python by writing Python code ✍
We...
Ready for some Python skill-building sales?
This is my seventh annual compilation of Python learning deals.
Lots of Python sales
Here are Python-related sales that are live right now:
Python Jumpstart with Python Morsels: 50% off my brand new Python...
I talked about the new Python 3.13 REPL a few months ago and after 3.13 was released.
I think it’s awesome.
I’d like to share a secret feature within the Python 3.13 REPL which I’ve been finding useful recently: adding custom keyboard shortcuts.
This...