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Brief Introduction
Date of recording – May 4th, 2015Hosts – Tobias Macey and Chris PattiOverview – Interview with Ned BatchelderFollow us on iTunes, Stitcher or TuneInGive us feedback! (iTunes, Twitter, email, Disqus comments)You can donate (if you want)!Interview with Ned Batchelder
IntroductionsHow did you get introduced to Python?Zope… Implemented in PythonHow did you get started as the organizer for Boston Python Meetup? History is long and varied (Why is this switching to numbers?Started – 6 people sitting around a coffee table5 or 6 yearsCo-organizer Jessica McKellerBuilt structures to help keep the community goingrPeople ‘adjacent’ to the male members – wives, mothers, etc.“What comes next” from weekend workshops – became Project Night
How much of your time ends up being dedicated to the Python community? Also maitainer of coverage.pyActive on Freenode IRC #python20 hours a weekWhat are your goals for the Boston Python community? Continue to growMore events, different events?chipy – Chicago UG very active – 1 on 1 mentoring programSmaller events – 5 person events – study groupsAll levels not just beginnersComputational Biologists – study genomicsThree user groupsPyladies BostonDJango BostonBoston Python Meetup
What do you find to be the most important thing(s) for building a healthy community (particularly in reference to programming)? Consistency – good to know what to expectPick a cadence – don’t burn outSpeakers aren’t superheroes, they’re just people. ‘Everyone has at least one talk in them’.
Value in having a blog, twitter stream – people talk back to you and by correcting your mistakes everyone benefits.
How do you keep people engaged outside of the monthly meetings? Meetup.com – requires moderationpython.org mailing lists – unmoderated – low trafficNeed to do more in that regardWhat do you like the most/least about the Python community? Communities can improve – IRC has gotten betterTurmoil on PSF mailing list over election for directorsHow do you strike a balance between sponsors and the rest of the community? Do you have policies around sponsored presentations / talks? Tend not to do sponsored talksMicrosoft NERD – great benefit to Boston PythonProvides monthly space for the group1 minute slots for sponsorsNo sales pitchesWhat are the steps I can take to start my own tech community? How can you get the word out?Meetup.com is usefulPeople like free food and beer Be predictable. Pick something sustainableWhat is the State of Python, from your perspective? No signs of slowing downRuby people are moving to other environmentsPython people are still using PythonPython 2 to 3 conflict is unfortunate – transition could have been handled more smoothlyPython 3 ecosystem is getting much betterNext big drama – type hinting proposalAppears to be contrary to one of the basics tenets of the language at first blushDo you feel that Boston will ever have its own regional Python conference? Toyed with bid to bring Pycon to BostonWould require someone stepping up to do itNot sure how a regional conference ‘feels’ as a local eventTry to have Boston Python be like a year long conference all year longHuge undertakingPicks
TobiasScribdKonchDupeGuruThe River CafePythonistaRototo – IOS GameStone Brewing Arrogant BastardToxPythonzSpell TowerRichard Feynman’s Cornell LecturesKeep in Touch
Twitter: @nedbat and @bostonpythonIRC: nedbatnedbatchelder.combostonpython.com
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