New Years Python Meme 2011
Posted December 22, 2011
Thanks to Tarek Ziade for kicking off this meme. It's neat to see people list out what they did in the old year and their plans for the new one.
1. What’s the coolest Python application, framework or library you have discovered in 2011?
Qtile, although I technically discovered it sometime in 2010. I initially ran into installation issues and gave up, but Matt Harrison's excellent PyCon 2011 Qtile Lightning Talk gave me the motivation to give it another go, and I've been using it since.
I also have to mention Heroku, which I recently started deploying Django sites on. Although I've run into a couple issues, it's been really nice to work with overall. I think it's going to be my preferred deployment platform from now on.
2. What new programming technique did you learn in 2011?
Unit testing. I wrote more -- though not enough by far -- tests this year. I definitely see the value of testing to prove that the code works, but I'm still not sold on TDD.
Not really a programming technique, but I'm pretty stoked that I put my first packages onto PyPI this year (opposed to just throwing them up onto Github).
3. What’s the name of the open source project you contributed the most in 2011? What did you do?
Most of my open source contributions were through my own projects (everything on that page was released in 2011). I also made small contributions to Qtile, django-reportengine, and django-activitysync.
4. What was the Python blog or website you read the most in 2011?
Everyone mentions Planet Python, which holds true for me as well. Django Community also adds a lot to my reader, and I spent a bit of time lurking in r/Python and r/Django.
5. What are the three top things you want to learn in 2012?
- Redis -- I've toyed around with it, but I want to use it for something serious.
- CraftyJS -- I've always wanted to try my hand at game development, and this looks like it could be fun.
- Android -- I built my first Android app this year, and I'd like to do more.
6. What are the top software, app or lib you wish someone would write in 2012?
Glyph Lefkowitz gave this years Why I Hate Django talk at DjangoCon (you should watch it, it's most excellent). He argues that Python should be a bigger part of your infrastructure (even in places where it may not be the best solution) for a more cohesive architectural design.
In the same vein, I want to see a dead-simple continuous integration server with git/hg/svn support and nice Github/Bitbucket integration. Essentially something like Integrity, but in Python and I want it to catch on in the community.
(I realize that CI servers built in Python exist, but I haven't found one that meets all my requirements.)
Want to do your own list? Here’s how:
- Copy-paste the questions and answer to them in your blog
- Tweet it with the #2012pythonmeme hashtag
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