Ten smart performance hacks for faster Python

• httptap
• 10 Smart Performance Hacks For Faster Python Code
• FastRTC
• Explore Python dependencies with pipdeptree and uv pip tree
• Extras
• Joke

About the show

Sponsored by us! Support our work through:

• Our courses at Talk Python Training
• The Complete pytest Course
• Patreon Supporters

Connect with the hosts

• Michael: @mkennedy@fosstodon.org / @mkennedy.codes (bsky)
• Brian: @brianokken@fosstodon.org / @brianokken.bsky.social
• Show: @pythonbytes@fosstodon.org / @pythonbytes.fm (bsky)

Join us on YouTube at pythonbytes.fm/live to be part of the audience. Usually Monday at 10am PT. Older video versions available there too.

Finally, if you want an artisanal, hand-crafted digest of every week of the show notes in email form? Add your name and email to our friends of the show list, we'll never share it.

Michael #1: httptap

• Rich-powered CLI that breaks each HTTP request into DNS, connect, TLS, wait, and transfer phases with waterfall timelines, compact summaries, or metrics-only output.
• Features
  • Phase-by-phase timing – precise measurements built from httpcore trace hooks (with sane fallbacks when metal-level data is unavailable).
  • All HTTP methods – GET, POST, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS with request body support.
  • Request body support – send JSON, XML, or any data inline or from file with automatic Content-Type detection.
  • IPv4/IPv6 aware – the resolver and TLS inspector report both the address and its family.
  • TLS insights – certificate CN, expiry countdown, cipher suite, and protocol version are captured automatically.
  • Multiple output modes – rich waterfall view, compact single-line summaries, or -metrics-only for scripting.
  • JSON export – persist full step data (including redirect chains) for later processing.
  • Extensible – clean Protocol interfaces for DNS, TLS, timing, visualization, and export so you can plug in custom behavior.
• Example:

Brian #2: 10 Smart Performance Hacks For Faster Python Code

• Dido Grigorov
• A few from the list
  • Use math functions instead of operators
  • Avoid exception handling in hot loops
  • Use itertools for combinatorial operations - huge speedup
  • Use bisect for sorted list operations - huge speedup

Michael #3: FastRTC

• The Real-Time Communication Library for Python: Turn any python function into a real-time audio and video stream over WebRTC or WebSockets.
• Features
  • 🗣️ Automatic Voice Detection and Turn Taking built-in, only worry about the logic for responding to the user.
  • 💻 Automatic UI - Use the .ui.launch() method to launch the webRTC-enabled built-in Gradio UI.
  • 🔌 Automatic WebRTC Support - Use the .mount(app) method to mount the stream on a FastAPI app and get a webRTC endpoint for your own frontend!
  • ⚡️ Websocket Support - Use the .mount(app) method to mount the stream on a FastAPI app and get a websocket endpoint for your own frontend!
  • 📞 Automatic Telephone Support - Use the fastphone() method of the stream to launch the application and get a free temporary phone number!
  • 🤖 Completely customizable backend - A Stream can easily be mounted on a FastAPI app so you can easily extend it to fit your production application. See the Talk To Claude demo for an example of how to serve a custom JS frontend.

Brian #4: Explore Python dependencies with <code>pipdeptree</code> and <code>uv pip tree</code>

• Suggested by Nicholas Carsner
  • We have covered it, but in 2017 on episode 17.
• pipdeptree
  • Use pipdeptree --python auto to allow it to read your venv
• uv pip tree
  • Also check out uv pip tree and some useful flags
    • --show-version-specifiers to show the rules
    • --outdated notes packages that need updated

Extras

Brian:

• Lean TDD 0.1.1 includes an updated intro and another chapter, “Essential Components”
• VSCode Peacock Extension - color code your different projects

Joke: Sure Grandma