I dislike the term “magic” methods. There’s nothing magic about them. They’re more like Python’s plumbing. But “plumbing methods” won’t catch on! Let’s stick to “special” or “dunder” methods, then…

One day I’ll dive down the rabbit hole of metaclasses in Python. But not today. When it happens, I’ll finally know what came first, the chicken or the egg…

What’s The Point of `itemgetter()` in Python? This is what I asked myself the first time I came across `itemgetter()`. But now I love to use this function… [The Club post $$] www.thepythoncodingstack.com/p/whats-the-...

You can only have one `.__init__()` method in a class But it doesn’t mean that you can only have one route to create an instance One of the solutions: alternative constructors using class methods www.thepythoncodingstack.com/p/python-alt...

Alternative constructors using class methods come to the rescue to help my family meal plan for the week www.thepythoncodingstack.com/p/python-alt...

You get the idea… …readers love The Python Coding Book thepythoncodingplace.com/the-python-c...

Things I think about when writing about Python or teaching Python… …and why Here's a short video on why I often decide to swap the order of words or parts of sentences around when writing. It's all about making things easier for your reader. youtu.be/bG1nUfJZtao More at stephengruppetta.com

You can only have one `.__init__()` method in a class But it doesn’t mean that you can only have one route to create an instance One of the solutions: alternative constructors using class methods www.thepythoncodingstack.com/p/python-alt...

Things I think about when writing about Python or teaching Python… …and why Here's a short video on why I often decide to swap the order of words or parts of sentences around when writing. It's all about making things easier for your reader. youtu.be/bG1nUfJZtao More at stephengruppetta.com

Starts in 20 mins…

Do you write technical articles? For your own benefit or for others? >> Free session starts in a few hours << Join me as I go through some of the things I look out for when I write and edit tutorials and other technical texts It may help you write more clearly… Starts Soon… luma.com/5z418e58

Alternative constructors using class methods come to the rescue to help my family meal plan for the week www.thepythoncodingstack.com/p/python-alt...

Still time to sign up for this. A live edit of a Python technical article…

"iter" is the Latin word for journey or path. So, an iter-able is something that's "able to go on the journey, follow the path" And an iter-ator is something that does what's needed to deal with the journey Use "calculate" as a model: /1

We need to think about this. It's not a 'now' problem, but a future one Up to now, programmers mastered the details of what makes programs great and robust through experience, through going though the various stages of learning and expertise, learning from more experienced colleagues… /1

I'll go through my thought processes when writing and editing, discuss what matters to me and why I think it makes a difference, I'll go through my priorities to ensure communication is always clear, accessible. luma.com/5z418e58 [Free event]

Clear Technical Communication It’s important to communicate with others It’s important to communicate with LLMs It’s more important than ever Thoughts?

"iter" is the Latin word for journey or path. So, an iter-able is something that's "able to go on the journey, follow the path" And an iter-ator is something that does what's needed to deal with the journey Use "calculate" as a model: /1

Heard about __new__, the constructor in #Python? You can basically forget about it. It's for advanced, unusual cases. Just use __init__! It runs automatically on every new instance. __init__ is for assigning attributes to self (what other languages call "instance variables").

Python Tip #26 (of 365): When opening a file, use a "with" block... especially for writing! 🧵 Closing files once you're done with them is a good practice in general. And using a "with" block to open a file will close it automatically when the "with" block exits. #Python #DailyPythonTip

Your call… There’s • a super-personalised one-to-one 6-month mentoring option $ 4,750 • individual one-to-one sessions $ 125 • a self-led route with access to 60+ hrs of exceptional video courses and a support forum $ 400 Which The Python Coding Place student are you? thepythoncodingplace.com

And now for something completely different. I don't only write about #Python I have also started writing about one of my silly hobbies: reviewing root beers and related drinks. Feel free to follow along if you like that sort of thing: www.rootbrewreview.com/

Here's the plan for this free session… • I send a draft article (a Python article) so you can read through it • On a live Zoom session, we go through the article as if we're editing it I hope to make this a regular event - see link in quoted post. Sign up now…

Help me crowd-source the Python Index (I'll come up with a better name at some point…) • How easy does Python make it to write good code? • How hard does Python make it to write bad code? The ideal programming language scores (1, 1) Where would you place Python?

Help me crowd-source the Python Index (I'll come up with a better name at some point…) • How easy does Python make it to write good code? • How hard does Python make it to write bad code? The ideal programming language scores (1, 1) Where would you place Python?

Here's the plan for this free session… • I send a draft article (a Python article) so you can read through it • On a live Zoom session, we go through the article as if we're editing it I hope to make this a regular event - see link in quoted post. Sign up now…

Let's try this. Join me on this Live Editing Session • Clear Technical Communication. Here's the plan: [see next post] Let's try this out. If it works, we'll do more of them… luma.com/5z418e58 [Free event]

Stuff is only truly free if it doesn’t cost you any money or time. Lots of stuff doesn’t cost money, but it costs you lots of time. Sometimes (many times?), paying money is cheaper than getting the free option… […and this is true for learning Python–don’t waste time, it’s too precious]

It's always been about communication. Now that computers talk like humans, those who know how to communicate are in a better position than those who know how to write x64 assembler.

This.

Let's try this. Join me on this Live Editing Session • Clear Technical Communication. Here's the plan: [see next post] Let's try this out. If it works, we'll do more of them… luma.com/5z418e58 [Free event]

Clear Technical Communication It’s important to communicate with others It’s important to communicate with LLMs It’s more important than ever Thoughts?

An orchestra conductor doesn't play any instrument during a performance, but they need to know music exceptionally well. The same is true for programming, especially in this new era of AI www.thepythoncodingstack.com/p/the-orches...

Stuff is only truly free if it doesn’t cost you any money or time. Lots of stuff doesn’t cost money, but it costs you lots of time. Sometimes (many times?), paying money is cheaper than getting the free option… […and this is true for learning Python–don’t waste time, it’s too precious]

Did you ever notice that you do _this_ each time you start walking? Another section in my sprinting biomechanics series… backonthetrack.substack.com/p/13-you-pus...

`.__george__()` In a recent course, a student asked my whether it's possible to create new special methods by using leading and trailing double underscores in the name. No. But you can* define a method with leading and trailing double underscores if you want * you can…but you shouldn't /1

Spotted a video of Macron wearing aviator sunglasses while giving a speech. I, of course, assumed it was AI- generated It wasn’t. The calibration of what’s real and what isn’t is still going on…

`.__george__()` In a recent course, a student asked my whether it's possible to create new special methods by using leading and trailing double underscores in the name. No. But you can* define a method with leading and trailing double underscores if you want * you can…but you shouldn't /1

Need leading zeros to display your secret agent codes? No worries…Python's f-strings got you covered ``` >>> agent_id = 7 >>> agent_name = "James Bond" >>> f"Agent {agent_id:03}: {agent_name}" 'Agent 007: James Bond' ``` Note the format specifier `:03`

You cannot change the value of a class attribute through an instance. It may _appear_ that you can, but don't be fooled ``` class Post platform = "Bluesky" def __init__(self): # some code ... ``` /1

No coding knowledge = Little benefit from AI Little coding knowledge = Intermediate benefit from AI Intermediate coding knowledge = Great benefit from AI Great coding knowledge = Superpower-like benefit from AI

Did you ever notice that you do _this_ each time you start walking? Another section in my sprinting biomechanics series… backonthetrack.substack.com/p/13-you-pus...

I write about Python And I write about technical writing The two are linked but distinct But AI is bringing them closer Technical writing relies on finding a way to clarify your ideas and to convey them accurately to your audience When your audience is an LLM, the same principles apply…

Let's see…I'll try to publish two articles this weekend: one for The Python Coding Stack and the other for Back on the Track. Not sure I'll manage, but I'll try…

No coding knowledge = Little benefit from AI Little coding knowledge = Intermediate benefit from AI Intermediate coding knowledge = Great benefit from AI Great coding knowledge = Superpower-like benefit from AI

I still find for..else weird. I use it occasionally. I get it. But I can’t see it as “normal” yet

Understanding the behind the scenes of Python coding is more important now than it ever was. Understanding ‘why’ things are the way they are and not just ‘how’ to write them was always essential for learning. …

I have a new metric to quantify how tired I am (as an average over several days): My @chess.com rating. Although the general trend is (very slowly) upwards, the troughs correspond to periods when I’m particularly tired…

What's better than a thorough, relaxed, and friendly Python course? 12 of them (plus a bit more, too), all in one bundle, all for just $400 …and yes, you get access to a forum where you can ask questions, too The only risk is in missing out… thepythoncodingplace.thinkific.com/bundles/the-...

Understanding the behind the scenes of Python coding is more important now than it ever was. Understanding ‘why’ things are the way they are and not just ‘how’ to write them was always essential for learning. …