Meta Tech Podcast

59: Meta ❤️ Python 3.12

Jan 31, 2024

Discussing Python 3.12 new features contributed by Meta like custom JITs, type system improvements, and faster comprehensions. Exploring the challenges of upstreaming changes, including Cinder's impact on machine learning. Insights on Python performance enhancements, upcoming features, and managing API changes within tech companies.

38:13

Creator website

Episode guests

Itamar

Carl

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Meta engineers contributed performance improvements to Python 3.12, including Lazy Imports, Cinder, and type system enhancements.

Podcast discusses the process of upstreaming features to Python, covering community engagement, new syntax additions, and performance optimizations.

Deep dives

Python Development at Meta: From Usage to Development

The podcast delves into the transition from discussing Python usage at Meta in a previous episode to focusing on how Python is developed internally. Mentioning the use of a performance-oriented Python version called Cinder, which is open source. Highlighting cool features in Python 3.12 including hooks for customizations, performance improvements, and the type system. It also covers the process of upstreaming features to the C Python project, providing insights into maintaining custom features and leveraging new Python functionalities.

Introduction

2min

Python Upgrades and Continuous Integration Infrastructure at Meta

19min

Evolution of Cinder and Sky Bison at Instagram

7min

Managing Python Semantic Changes and API Breaking

2min

Exploring the Implementation of Watchers in Hooks Model for Python 3.12 Optimization

2min

Evolution of Python Performance and Proposed Changes

6min

For the second time in just a few months, we are talking Python on the Meta Tech Podcast. Python 3.12 features a whole range of new features, many of which were contributed by Meta. Carl and Itamar join Pascal to talk about their contributions to the latest release, including new hooks that allow for custom JITs like Cinder, Immortal Objects, improvements to the type system, faster comprehensions and much more. In their discussion, they talk not just about how and why those features were built but also the process of upstreaming and engaging with the community.

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