Podcast.init

A Quick Python Check-in With Naomi Ceder

Mar 25 '19

Summary

Naomi Ceder was fortunate enough to learn Python from Guido himself. Since then she has contributed books, code, and mentorship to the community. Currently she serves as the chair of the board to the Python Software Foundation, leads an engineering team, and has recently completed a new draft of the Quick Python Book. In this episode she shares her story, including a discussion of her experience as a technical author and a detailed account of the role that the PSF plays in supporting and growing the community.

Announcements

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Your host as usual is Tobias Macey and today I’m interviewing Naomi Ceder about her career and contributions in the Python community

Interview

Introductions
How did you get introduced to Python?
How are you using Python in your current day-to-day?
You have been working with Python for a long time at this point, and you have become very involved in supporting and growing the community. What is your motivation for dedicating so much of your time and energy into work that isn’t directly related to paying the bills?
You have been the chair of the PSF for a few years now. What are your responsibilities in that position?
What do you find to be the most under-rated, misunderstood, or overlooked activities of the PSF?
- How much of the success of the Python language and its community can be attributed to the presence and support of the PSF?
In addition to the work you do with the PSF, other community activities, and your day job, you have also written the 2nd and 3rd editions of the Quick Python Book. Can you give a synopsis of what the book covers and the audience that it is intended for?
In the process of writing the book and updating it between revisions, what are some of the features of the language or standard library that you discovered or learned more about which you have been able to use in your work?
What are some of the other language communities that you have been involved with and what lessons have you learned from them that you would like to see reflected in Python?
What are some of the other projects that you have been involved with that you are most proud of, whether technical or otherwise?
What are you most excited about in the near to medium future?