As we welcome 2025, it’s the perfect time to reflect on the exciting advancements the Python community made in 2024. Python 3.13 stood out as a milestone release, introducing ground-breaking experimental features like free threading and a just-in-time (JIT) compiler, both designed to boost performance.
The REPL also received an upgrade, with a modern redesign that enhances the coding experience for developers of all levels. These updates, along with other cool new features, have reinforced Python’s reputation as a continually evolving and versatile language.
Python’s influence continued to grow in 2024. It secured the top spot in IEEE Spectrum’s annual ranking of programming languages, while the 2023 Python Developers Survey further highlighted its widespread popularity and global appeal.
Other notable developments include the release of Astral’s uv project manager and major releases of both NumPy and Polars. Plus, the release of Python 3.14 Alpha 1 introduced lazy evaluation for annotations, fixing a long-standing pain point in Python’s type hinting capabilities.
Here at Real Python, we’re excited to showcase the tutorials and video courses that engaged and inspired our readers and viewers throughout 2024. From mastering Python basics to building innovative projects, sharpening data science skills, and optimizing your workflow, this list covers a wide range of topics to help you grow as a Python developer.
Take a moment to explore the highlights of the year that inspired our community to learn, create, and achieve more with Python.
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Set Up Your Work Environment
Before getting down to the business of coding, it’s important to have a well-organized workspace that boosts productivity and keeps frustrations at bay. Whether you’re customizing your code editor, setting up virtual environments, or managing project dependencies, the right tools can make all the difference.
With these resources, you can learn how to set up a Python environment that works for you:
- Customize VS Code Settings
- Python Virtual Environments: A Primer
- Using Python’s pip to Manage Your Projects’ Dependencies
By learning how to set up your Python environment correctly from the start, you’ll save time, reduce headaches, and enjoy a smoother, more pleasant coding experience.
Get Back to Basics
No matter where you are in your Python journey, revisiting the basics can sharpen your skills and improve your coding habits. Building a solid foundation in topics like dictionaries, functions, loops, lists, and tuples will give you what it takes to write clean and maintainable code.
In these exercise courses, you’ll practice Python fundamentals to help solidify your understanding:
- Python Basics Exercises: Dictionaries
- Python Basics Exercises: Functions and Loops
- Python Basics Exercises: Lists and Tuples
Working through these courses will give you the clarity you need to explore more advanced programming topics.
