Elena's friendly, candid and subjective introduction to python for people who haven’t really heard of it before.

1. Welcome!
Python
Friendly, Candid and Subjective Presentation for
People Who Haven’t Really Heard of it Before
http://anu.python.social.org.au

2. Who am I?
Elena Williams
Master ITS student
Make websites (since 2001)
Python (since 2008)
(Django)
Kitesurfing
Python/PyLadies
twitter/@elequ
I’m not really particularly special or official :)
http://anu.python.social.org.au

3. Why?
No existing python group
in Canberra
(that I could find)
Proven:
~ learn faster
~ better work is done with
other people
Make cool stuff!
Share the love working
on cool projects!
http://anu.python.social.org.au

4. What Is Python?
python.org
Python, an interpreted, interactive, object-oriented, extensible programming
language.
Python runs on Windows, Linux/Unix, Mac OS X, and has been ported to the
Java and .NET virtual machines.
wikipedia
Python is a general-purpose, high-level programming language whose design
philosophy emphasizes code readability.
Python claims to “[combine] remarkable power with very clear syntax”, and its
standard library is large and comprehensive.
Its use of indentation for block delimiters is unique among popular
programming languages.
Open Source!
http://anu.python.social.org.au

5. Background
C
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6. Background
Java
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7. Background
Python
http://anu.python.social.org.au

8. Background: BDFL
Guido Van Rossum
late 80s in Netherlands
BDFL
(Benevolent Dictator for Life)
http://mar.gy/UvET
•Avoid platform ties, but not religiously
•Don’t bother the user with details
•Discourage but allow coding to the platform
•Offer multiple levels of extensibility
•Errors should not be fatal, if possible
•Errors should never pass silently
•Don’t blame the user for bugs in Python
http://anu.python.social.org.au

9. Background: Zen
>> import this “... doesn’t matter what
design philosophy a
Beautiful is better than ugly. programming language
Explicit is better than implicit. has, so long as it has one
Simple is better than complex. that everyone can follow”
Complex is better than complicated.
Flat is better than nested.
Sparse is better than dense.
Readability counts.
Special cases aren't special enough to break the rules.
Although practicality beats purity.
Errors should never pass silently.
Unless explicitly silenced.
In the face of ambiguity, refuse the temptation to guess.
There should be one -- and preferably only one --obvious way to do it.
Although that way may not be obvious at first unless you're Dutch.
Now is better than never.
Although never is often better than *right* now.
If the implementation is hard to explain, it's a bad idea.
If the implementation is easy to explain, it may be a good idea.
Namespaces are one honking great idea -- let's do more of those!
http://anu.python.social.org.au

10. Who Uses It Professionally?
Most major organisations that have a number programmers and
problems to solve.
Big list of names +many many more:
Disney, Pixar, Dreamworks, Weta Digital
Lucas: Lucasfilms, ILM, LucasArts
VMware, Broadcom, QNX
Evite, Eventbrite, Justin.tv
Yelp, TripIt, Zillow, Netflix
Red Hat, Ubutnut/Canonical, OLPC
NASA, NOAA (NWS), NSA
http://anu.python.social.org.au

11. Who Else Uses It?
Most Python users are self-taught. No one can be embarrassed.
Computer Science
Science
Engineering
Journalism
Philosophy
...
(accounting)
MIT first undergraduate course is now Python.
Popular with start-ups because you can develop fast. Get your product to market first.
A word on anti-marketing: a lot more people and projects have used python than anyone
will ever know! Python folk prefer to use their energy coding than marketing themselves.
http://anu.python.social.org.au

12. Uses of Python
do things
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13. Uses of Python
do things
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14. Uses of Python
do things
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15. Uses of Python
do things make things
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16. Uses of Python
hardware networking
Arduino board using python to
send gmail to a display.
Laser physics: cover of Nature
-- this experiement run using
python.
Quantum physics: graphically
analysing Bose-Einstein
Condensation using python.
analysis domain logic
http://anu.python.social.org.au

17. Real Life Helpful Uses of Python
Map sparse galaxies
Analyse weather systems
Control underwater robots
Damaged music scores
from the 19thC
Emergency services
http://anu.python.social.org.au

18. Real Life Helpful Uses of Python
- great calculator
- scraping internet
- any file processing
- any repetitive task
quick easy programs!
... anyone?
http://anu.python.social.org.au

19. Real Life Helpful Uses of Python
$$$
IT Salaries are up
Python is 4th top growing skill in past 3 months
Average starting Python programmer salary
USD70k+
http://anu.python.social.org.au

20. Python Love
Community!
Open and welcoming!
New or refugees, we’re very friendly!
Know our flaws, happy to talk about them.
Conferences/hackathons/sprints are
friendly, welcoming and supportive.
Record numbers of presenters/trainers saying “I love python”
(hoping to make a mash-up video of this one day).
http://anu.python.social.org.au

21. Questions? Contact me If you have any
questions about:
~ Django
~ production Python websites
Thank you! ~ PyLadies
~ Kitesurfing
Come again any time! ~ subdomain on social.org.au
http://anu.python.social.org.au