PSF Survey in Review

Episode Deep Dive

Guests Background

Brett Cannon:
- Leads Python experience for VS Code at Microsoft
- CPython core developer for 19 years and member of the Python Steering Council
- Passionate about improving Python’s developer experience

Jay Miller:
- Senior Cloud Advocate at Microsoft focusing on Python advocacy
- Enjoys automating processes and enabling others to discover Python’s power

Tanya Sims:
- Python Developer Advocate at Deepgram, an AI speech-to-text company
- Former professional athlete who discovered a love for technology and Python

Emily Morehouse:
- Director of Engineering at Cuttlesoft, CPython core developer, and former PyCon US chair
- Focuses on software architecture, community events, and tooling in Python

Paul Everett:
- Developer Advocate at JetBrains and long-time Python community member
- Known for telling stories of Python’s history and championing modern Python tooling

Gina Häußge:
- Creator and maintainer of OctoPrint, a leading 3D printer management software
- Self-taught Python developer, active in maker communities with a background in system administration

What to Know If You're New to Python

If you're brand new to Python, this panel’s discussion offers a broad perspective on how Python is used in the real world: everything from web development to data analysis, DevOps, and scientific computing. The guests emphasize the simplicity of Python’s syntax, its extensive libraries, and the community's welcoming nature. Below are a few starting points to help you follow along:

• Python’s popularity: It’s used widely for web apps, data science, and automation, so try to learn the basic syntax along with an area that interests you.
• Python 3 over Python 2: All new Python projects today should use Python 3 (preferably versions 3.7 or later).
• Picking an editor or environment: VS Code and PyCharm are popular, but don’t hesitate to try a simple online environment or other editors if you’re just getting started.

Key Points and Takeaways

1. Annual PSF + JetBrains Python Survey Context
   This episode revolves around the results of the 2021 Python Developer Survey conducted by the Python Software Foundation and JetBrains. The survey provides detailed insight into Python usage, adoption trends, and community demographics. The panelists discuss the ways the survey helps shape decisions, address the community’s needs, and highlight ongoing adoption of Python across industries.

   • Links and Tools:
     • PSF (Python Software Foundation)
     • JetBrains (creators of PyCharm and co-organizers of the survey)

2. Python’s Broad Usage Across Roles
   The survey shows that many respondents use Python as their main language, covering web development, data science, DevOps, and more. It also captures those who use Python secondarily for smaller tasks or scripting. This highlights Python’s flexibility in allowing people from diverse industries (like scientific research, finance, and web apps) to share the same ecosystem.

   • Links and Tools:
     • OctoPrint (Gina’s 3D printer management project)
     • Deepgram (Tanya’s speech-to-text work)

3. Interplay with Other Languages (JavaScript, C++, Rust, etc.)
   Python often appears alongside JavaScript for front-end web development, along with technologies like Bash for automation or SQL for database queries. Some domain-specific fields, like game or graphics development, still rely on C++ or have slow transitions, but Python usage continues to grow. This underscores Python’s interoperability and the necessity for complementary skills in multiple languages.

4. Python 3 Adoption and End of Python 2
   A major highlight is the near-complete shift to Python 3, with Python 2 usage dropping steadily. The panelists acknowledge that some industries like film, gaming, or specialized hardware are still stuck on older Python versions. Yet overall, the community celebrates how far Python 3 has come and how minimal the disruption is today for new releases.

   • Links and Tools:
     • Python 3.11 Announcement
     • Python 2 Sunset

5. Why Data Science Dominates but Not Everyone Feels Like a “Data Scientist”
   Survey results show half the respondents do data analysis or machine learning, but only a smaller fraction explicitly label themselves “data scientists.” Many people use Python for data processing, light analytics, or reporting, indicating Python’s broad acceptance beyond pure data science roles.

   • Links and Tools:
     • pandas
     • NumPy

6. Editors and IDE Choices
   VS Code and PyCharm lead the pack, with a steep drop-off to other tools such as Vim, Emacs, and Notepad++. Panelists credit this to improved smart editing features, the growing popularity of typed Python, and strong support for code completion and debugging.

   • Links and Tools:
     • VS Code (Visual Studio Code)
     • PyCharm

7. Python’s Community-First Culture
   Multiple guests stress they “came for the language and stayed for the community.” The acceptance and willingness to help newcomers stand out as a major reason people stick with Python. The conversation points out how supportive local PyCons, user groups, and open-source communities continue to be.

8. New Features and Smooth Upgrades
   With Python 3.8, 3.9, and 3.10, the team has prioritized backward compatibility and introduced stable, incremental improvements (e.g., the Walrus operator, pattern matching). This fosters a culture of consistent upgrading, as opposed to the bumpy Python 2 to Python 3 transition from the past.

   • Links and Tools:
     • Python’s Walrus Operator (PEP 572)
     • Structural Pattern Matching (PEP 634)

9. Performance Gains in Python 3.11
   Panelists express excitement about Python 3.11’s significant speed boosts in various benchmarks. Companies or teams that manage high-traffic Python services can use these enhancements to justify adopting the latest version more quickly, offering a real cost-saving advantage.

10. Future Directions: WebAssembly, PyScript, and Beyond
    There’s an optimistic tone about Python’s next frontiers, such as running Python in the browser with PyScript or WebAssembly. This opens opportunities for interactive learning, data visualization, or even turning Python into a “universal language” for app development. As the ecosystem expands, more collaboration among toolmakers, educators, and the community is expected.

• Links and Tools:
  • PyScript
  • WebAssembly

Interesting Quotes and Stories

• Brett Cannon on community motivation: “I came for the language, but I stayed for the community.”
• Jay Miller highlighted the transition to a full-time Python role: “It took me seven years to go from, ‘This looks cool’ to fully focusing on Python at work.”
• Gina Häußge recalled dropping Python 2 support in OctoPrint and the challenges of plugin compatibility: “I do not control the Python environment it’s running in, so dropping Python 2 was a long, hard journey.”
• Paul Everett reflecting on Python 3’s early doubts: referencing a Zed Shaw quote about Python 3 “killing” Python but ultimately seeing it thrive.

Key Definitions and Terms

• PSF (Python Software Foundation): A nonprofit organization managing Python’s open-source license and supporting its community.
• CPython: The reference (and most commonly used) Python implementation in C.
• WebAssembly: A low-level bytecode that allows high-performance execution of languages like C, C++, Rust, and now Python, on the web.
• PyScript: A framework for running Python directly in the browser using WebAssembly and related technologies.
• Walrus Operator: A Python assignment operator (:=) introduced in Python 3.8 allowing assignment expressions inside larger statements.

Learning Resources

Here are some resources if you’d like to deepen your Python skills based on the topics discussed in this episode:

• Python for Absolute Beginners: A foundational course to help new developers learn core Python concepts and set the stage for more advanced topics.
• Python 3.11: A Guided Tour Through Code: If you want to explore Python 3.11’s new features and performance gains in detail.

Overall Takeaway

The Python landscape is diverse and thriving. From data science to web apps to hardware integrations, Python’s accessibility and welcoming community continue to drive its steady growth. The PSF and JetBrains survey underscores both the language’s wide reach and the collaborative effort behind it. Whether you’re just starting or have been coding in Python for years, there’s a place for you in the community, and the future of Python—from performance enhancements in 3.11 to new frontiers like WebAssembly and PyScript—remains bright and full of possibilities.