Eric Matthes

Eric Matthes, an expert in teaching Python, shares 10 tips for going from Python beginner to expert. Topics include transitioning from beginner to expert in Python programming, setting goals for learning, motivations for learning programming and career transitions, challenges of simulating CI/CD, Django Simple Deploy and FastAPI, knowing your tools as a programmer, and networking/connecting with the Python community.

django-simple-deployPython Crash Course recommended readingsPython Crash Course book Python on Azure 4-Part Series with CarltonLocust.io: Open source load testing toolSupport the ShowThis podcast does not have any ads or sponsors. To support the show, please consider purchasing a book, signing up for Button, or reading the Django News newsletter.

In this conversation with Eric Matthes, educator and author of Python Crash Course, listeners are introduced to Django Simple Deploy—a tool that streamlines the deployment of Django apps. Eric discusses the challenges developers face when going live, and how his project eliminates boilerplate tasks. They explore diverse hosting platforms and the evolution of deployment strategies, including the benefits of Docker and edge-based solutions. Eric emphasizes resource exploration and community engagement for developers of all skill levels.

How much Python do you need to learn to start creating projects? What’s a good balance of information and hands-on practice? This week on the show, Eric Matthes is here to discuss his book Python Crash Course. As a former high school science, math, and programming teacher, Eric saw something missing in the programming publishing landscape. We discuss the guiding questions that inspired the book’s development and the title. Eric covers how the crash course takes readers through a fast-paced introduction to Python that culminates in three unique projects. We also discuss Eric’s blog, Mostly Python, where he digs deeper into technical subjects. He also occasionally shares more topical posts and includes many exercises. Course Spotlight: Plot With pandas: Python Data Visualization Basics In this course, you’ll get to know the basic plotting possibilities that Python provides in the popular data analysis library pandas. You’ll learn about the different kinds of plots that pandas offers, how to use them for data exploration, and which types of plots are best for certain use cases. Topics: 00:00:00 – Introduction 00:02:04 – Why Alaska? 00:05:33 – What do you like about Python? 00:06:40 – Becoming an author & the intended reader 00:15:56 – History of programming books 00:17:39 – Having a purpose for learning 00:20:22 – Exercising as you go 00:24:45 – Including projects in the book 00:26:32 – Is the “crash course” a book model? 00:29:20 – Video Course Spotlight 00:30:29 – How much of a topic to reveal 00:35:08 – Guiding questions 00:42:43 – Moving from functions to testing in four chapters 00:46:21 – What were you excited to update in the book? 00:50:28 – Were there doubts about preparing readers for projects? 00:53:52 – Space invaders clone pygame project 00:55:52 – Data visualization project 01:00:38 – Django web app project 01:04:15 – Cheat sheets and additional resources 01:07:54 – Python flash cards 01:09:54 – What are you excited about in the world of Python? 01:10:54 – What do you want to learn next? 01:11:46 – How can people follow the work you do? 01:13:06 – Thanks and goodbye Show Links: Python Crash Course, 3rd Edition - No Starch Press Episode #105: Creating Better Error Messages for Python 3.10 & 3.11 – The Real Python Podcast Making Python Better One Error Message At A Time - PyCon 2022 Learning Python, 2nd Edition pytest: helps you write better programs — pytest documentation Pygame Matplotlib — Visualization with Python Plotly: Low-Code Data App Development django-simple-deploy - readthedocs.io Cheat Sheets - Python Crash Course, Third Edition Python Flash Cards - No Starch Press DjangoCon US 2023 - October 16-20, 2023 - Durham, NC United States pandas - Python Data Analysis Library Python Crash Course, Third Edition - GitHub Resources Mostly Python - Eric Matthes - Substack Eric Matthes (@ehmatthes@fosstodon.org) - Fosstodon Level up your Python skills with our expert-led courses: Testing Your Code With pytest Histogram Plotting in Python: NumPy, Matplotlib, Pandas & Seaborn Plot With pandas: Python Data Visualization Basics Support the podcast & join our community of Pythonistas

Eric Matthes, author of "Python Crash Course," dives into the nuances of software testing. He argues against always starting with unit tests, suggesting that project type and audience should dictate testing strategies. Eric highlights the benefits of integration and end-to-end tests and shares insights on using PyTest, including fixtures and effective debugging with Python's assert statement. He emphasizes the importance of thoughtful test implementation and community engagement in refining testing practices.