Talk Python To Me #14: Moving from PHP to Python 3 with Patreon
Jun 30, 2015
Albert Hsu, a developer at Patreon, shares his insights on leading the transition from PHP to Python 3. He reflects on the journey from C++ to Python, highlighting scalability and maintainability benefits. The discussion covers practical tools like Flask and SQLAlchemy used during migration. Hsu emphasizes the strategic approach taken to manage risks and ensure developer satisfaction. He also mentions the growing impact of Python in data science, showcasing its essential libraries and accessibility for new engineers.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Early PHP Origin And Maintainability Pain
- Patreon started in PHP to ship fast in early stages of the product.
- As the team grew, PHP's quick-and-dirty patterns made maintainability harder.
Python 3 Was A Practical, Future-Proof Choice
- Choosing Python 3 made the codebase future-proof and matched ecosystem needs.
- The only missing piece was a MySQL DB driver, making the migration practical.
Python As A Safe, Pragmatic Team Choice
- Python is a pragmatic team choice because engineers with different backgrounds learn it quickly.
- Its broad ecosystem and hiring advantages outweighed choosing a team favorite language.