Have you started to use generators in Python? Are you unsure why you would even use one over a regular function? How do you use the special “send” method and the “yield from” syntax? This week on the show, we have Reuven Lerner to talk about his PyCon Africa 2020 talk titled “Generators, coroutines, and nanoservices.”

Reuven helps developers around the world become more fluent in Python. We talk about some of his teaching techniques and also how he continues to learn. Reuven is a believer in the continued practice of Python through exercises. We discuss his book “Python Workout” and his Weekly Python Exercise courses.

Course Spotlight: Python Generators 101

In this step-by-step course, you’ll learn about generators and yielding in Python. You’ll create generator functions and generator expressions using multiple Python yield statements. You’ll also learn how to build data pipelines that take advantage of these Pythonic tools.

Topics:

00:00:00 – Introduction
00:01:38 – Reuven’s web site: Teaching Python and Data Science around the world
00:03:39 – Training remotely and screen-time overload
00:07:03 – Info-tainment and sparking engagement
00:11:05 – PyCon Africa 2020 - Generators, Coroutines, and Nanoservices
00:13:34 – Using dis() - disassembler for Python bytecode
00:15:09 – Exceptions as signals, not exclusively for errors
00:17:39 – What makes generator functions different?
00:22:05 – Using .send() and creating a coroutine
00:23:39 – Sponsor: Scout APM
00:24:40 – Stopping the generator with .throw()
00:26:28 – Additional uses for generators
00:30:03 – Python Workout: 50 ten-minute exercises
00:34:22 – A combination of techniques and sources for continued learning
00:40:15 – Weekly Python Exercise
00:42:02 – Video Course Spotlight
00:43:08 – Bachelor degree in CS, but a Doctorate in learning sciences
00:48:26 – What are additional techniques you use to keep learning?
00:50:18 – Teaching is a great way to keep learning
00:51:28 – What areas of data science are you focusing on?
00:53:22 – The Business of Freelancing: podcast
00:56:26 – What is something you thought you knew about Python, but were wrong about?
00:59:24 – What is something you are excited about in the world of Python?
01:02:18 – Conferences and user groups
01:05:03 – Thanks and goodbye

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