The Real Python Podcast

Travis Oliphant: SciPy, NumPy, and Fostering Scientific Python


Listen Later

What went into developing the open-source Python tools data scientists use every day? This week on the show, we talk with Travis Oliphant about his work on SciPy, NumPy, Numba, and many other contributions to the Python scientific community.

Travis discusses his initial involvement in the open-source community and how he discovered Python while working in biomedical imaging. He was trying to find ways to manage large sets of numerical data, which led to his initial contributions and collaborations in building scientific libraries.

His appearance on the show coincides with the release of the Python documentary, in which he’s featured. We discuss the myriad organizations Travis founded, including Quansight, OpenTeams, and Anaconda. We dig into his underlying mission to continue fostering the growth of the open-source scientific computing community.

This episode is sponsored by InfluxData.

Course Spotlight: NumPy Techniques and Practical Examples

In this video course, you’ll learn how to use NumPy by exploring several interesting examples. You’ll read data from a file into an array and analyze structured arrays to perform a reconciliation. You’ll also learn how to quickly chart an analysis and turn a custom function into a vectorized function.

Topics:

  • 00:00:00 – Introduction
  • 00:02:41 – Python documentary
  • 00:07:44 – Getting involved in open source
  • 00:12:04 – Numeric Python
  • 00:15:36 – SciPy and the SciPy community
  • 00:17:35 – Starting to think about entrepreneurship
  • 00:18:16 – NumPy evolving from the work of Numeric
  • 00:22:01 – Sponsor: InfluxData
  • 00:22:53 – Python as controlling code for lower-level libraries
  • 00:23:37 – Numba open-source JIT compiler
  • 00:30:09 – Starting to build in Python before learning it all
  • 00:34:45 – Python as the language AI generates
  • 00:36:31 – Guilds and sharing knowledge
  • 00:40:15 – More NumPy backstory
  • 00:46:36 – Contributing to Python
  • 00:48:24 – Video Course Spotlight
  • 00:49:41 – The investment of companies in Python
  • 00:51:22 – Quansight and businesses in open source
  • 00:53:09 – Open Teams and Quansight details
  • 00:57:14 – NumFOCUS and Anaconda
  • 00:58:51 – FairOSS
  • 01:02:36 – Documenting these efforts
  • 01:05:37 – What are you excited about in the world of Python?
  • 01:07:12 – What do you want to learn next?
  • 01:08:10 – How can people follow your work online?
  • 01:10:03 – Thanks and goodbye
  • Show Links:

    • Python: The Documentary - OFFICIAL TRAILER - Coming August 28 - YouTube
    • The Python Matrix Object: Extending Python for Numerical Computation
    • Jim Fulton
    • Jim Hugunin - Home
    • History of SciPy - SciPy wiki dump
    • SciPy
    • NumPy
    • Numba: A High Performance Python Compiler
    • LPython - High performance typed Python compiler
    • OpenTeams: Open SaaS AI Solutions
    • Quansight Consulting
    • OpenTeams Incubator
    • NumFOCUS: A Nonprofit Supporting Open Code for Better Science
    • Anaconda
    • FairOSS
    • faster-cpython
    • Travis Oliphant (@teoliphant) / X
    • Travis Oliphant - LinkedIn
    • Level up your Python skills with our expert-led courses:

      • Data Cleaning With pandas and NumPy
      • Stacks and Queues: Selecting the Ideal Data Structure
      • NumPy Techniques and Practical Examples
      • Support the podcast & join our community of Pythonistas

        ...more
        View all episodesView all episodes
        Download on the App Store

        The Real Python PodcastBy Real Python

        • 4.7
        • 4.7
        • 4.7
        • 4.7
        • 4.7

        4.7

        139 ratings


        More shows like The Real Python Podcast

        View all
        The Changelog: Software Development, Open Source by Changelog Media

        The Changelog: Software Development, Open Source

        288 Listeners

        Software Engineering Daily by Software Engineering Daily

        Software Engineering Daily

        625 Listeners

        Talk Python To Me by Michael Kennedy

        Talk Python To Me

        579 Listeners

        Soft Skills Engineering by Jamison Dance and Dave Smith

        Soft Skills Engineering

        289 Listeners

        Super Data Science: ML & AI Podcast with Jon Krohn by Jon Krohn

        Super Data Science: ML & AI Podcast with Jon Krohn

        303 Listeners

        Python Bytes by Michael Kennedy and Brian Okken

        Python Bytes

        213 Listeners

        Syntax - Tasty Web Development Treats by Wes Bos & Scott Tolinski - Full Stack JavaScript Web Developers

        Syntax - Tasty Web Development Treats

        988 Listeners

        Darknet Diaries by Jack Rhysider

        Darknet Diaries

        8,087 Listeners

        Tech Brew Ride Home by Morning Brew

        Tech Brew Ride Home

        967 Listeners

        Practical AI by Practical AI LLC

        Practical AI

        197 Listeners

        AWS Podcast by Amazon Web Services

        AWS Podcast

        207 Listeners

        Django Chat by William Vincent and Carlton Gibson

        Django Chat

        75 Listeners

        Last Week in AI by Skynet Today

        Last Week in AI

        311 Listeners

        Machine Learning Street Talk (MLST) by Machine Learning Street Talk (MLST)

        Machine Learning Street Talk (MLST)

        100 Listeners

        The Pragmatic Engineer by Gergely Orosz

        The Pragmatic Engineer

        70 Listeners