Real Python Podcast Episode #126 Title Artwork

Episode 126: Python as an Efficiency Tool for Non-Developers

The Real Python Podcast

Sep 23, 2022 1h 10m

Josh Burnett
Guest

Are you interested in using Python in an industry outside of software development? Would adding a few custom software tools increase efficiency and make your coworkers’ jobs easier? This week on the show, Josh Burnett talks about using Python as a mechanical engineer.

I met Josh at PyCon US 2022 in Salt Lake City, which he attended for the first time with several coworkers. He suggested we do an episode to shed some light on ways that Python is being used professionally by people who aren’t primarily programming for a living.

Josh works as a mechanical engineer for an equipment manufacturer, where he needs to perform repetitive tasks and generate copious logs. He explains how he moved his team away from MATLAB and toward Python.

We discuss his progression from writing scripts to developing packages and eventually hosting his work on PyPI. He also shares his explorations with CircuitPython for personal and professional projects.

Course Spotlight: Building Python Project Documentation With MkDocs

In this video course, you’ll learn how to build professional documentation for a Python package using MkDocs and mkdocstrings. These tools allow you to generate nice-looking and modern documentation from Markdown files and, more importantly, from your code’s docstrings.

Topics:

00:00:00 – Introduction
00:02:10 – Meeting at PyCon US 2022
00:04:32 – Bringing members of team to PyCon
00:05:30 – What are next generation instrumentation platforms?
00:06:35 – What is the lifespan of a platform?
00:09:26 – Has interconnectivity affected upgrades?
00:10:57 – Programming and Python background
00:12:13 – Introduction to MATLAB at university
00:15:18 – Moving away from MATLAB to Python
00:19:39 – How was your transition from Python 2 to 3?
00:21:19 – Debugging methods and logging
00:22:27 – Why did you choose Python?
00:24:26 – Sponsor: Deepgram
00:25:12 – Promoting more use of Python in the organization
00:33:07 – Selling the idea of Python training in the organization
00:37:16 – Moving from scripts to building packages
00:43:48 – From personal project to critical package on PyPI
00:44:29 – Using PyPI or in-house package repository
00:46:27 – Experience with modern packaging tools
00:48:16 – Video Course Spotlight
00:49:32 – Using CircuitPython for personal and work projects
00:56:09 – Use of 3D printing and machining
00:57:33 – Josh’s projects on PyPI
01:02:57 – What are you excited about in the world of Python?
01:05:23 – What do you want to learn next?
01:08:46 – How can people follow your work?
01:09:07 – Thanks and goodbye

Show Links:

Level Up Your Python Skills With These Courses:

How to Publish an Open-Source Python Package to PyPI

How to Publish Your Own Python Package to PyPI

Python Modules and Packages: An Introduction

Build Your Python Project Documentation With MkDocs

Building Python Project Documentation With MkDocs

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