

Python Bytes
Michael Kennedy and Brian Okken
Python Bytes is a weekly podcast hosted by Michael Kennedy and Brian Okken. The show is a short discussion on the headlines and noteworthy news in the Python, developer, and data science space.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Oct 9, 2025 • 41min
#452 pi py-day (or is it py pi-day?)
Discover the latest in Python with highlights from the recent release of Python 3.14, including template string literals and improved REPL features. Learn about a tool that checks library compatibility for free-threaded Python, making life easier for developers. Hear insights on the Claude Sonnet 4.5 and the new lazy imports proposal that could speed up your code! Plus, enjoy some laughter with humorous takes on project time estimates. A delightful blend of tech updates and light-hearted fun!

29 snips
Sep 29, 2025 • 24min
#451 Databases are a Fad
PostgreSQL 18 is here, boasting faster text handling and smoother upgrades! Testing skills are revealed to be more critical than data structures for most jobs. Discover Pyrefly's cool new features for better code navigation. Brian shares joyful pytest and Playwright techniques that are game-changers for debugging. Plus, a dive into the upcoming Python 3.14 release and Django 6 alpha features. Finally, enjoy a funny joke about a database mishap that didn't go quite as planned!

24 snips
Sep 22, 2025 • 33min
#450 At-Cost Agentic IDE Tooling
Discover the exciting new pd.col expressions coming to pandas, designed to simplify dataframe contexts! Dive into Cline, a free agentic IDE tooling that enhances your coding experience across various platforms, including VS Code and JetBrains. Plus, enjoy Rodrigo's compact uv cheatsheet for managing projects and dependencies effortlessly. The hosts also touch on the innovative Ducky network UI and delve into the latest changes in static site hosting with Netlify. Tune in for tech insights and a sprinkle of humor!

18 snips
Sep 15, 2025 • 31min
#449 Suggestive Trove Classifiers
Discover how a recent antitrust ruling ensures Mozilla's financial future while shaking up its historic ties with Google. Dive into the innovative troml tool that optimizes trove classifiers for Python projects, making package management easier. Learn about the advantages of Parquet files over traditional formats for handling complex datasets. Plus, catch a glimpse of exciting developments coming with Python 3.14 and get ready for the upcoming PyBay conference, where tech meets fun!

Sep 8, 2025 • 39min
#448 I'm Getting the BIOS Flavor
Discover the innovative tool, prek, a Rust alternative to pre-commit that boosts efficiency without the hassle of Python installations. Explore TinyIO, a lightweight async approach simplifying concurrency in Python. Dive into the power of Python's print function and the crucial responsibility developers have when using AI. Laugh along as the hosts discuss a major AI settlement and the humorous mishaps that come with tech. And don't miss their playful banter on Slurpee flavors and the quirks of AI communication!

Sep 2, 2025 • 36min
#447 Going down a rat hole
Discover the benefits of a lightweight reverse proxy tool called rathole, designed for seamless access to local web applications. Learn how to optimize server resources and enhance tool installations with pre-commit and UV integration. Dive into the exciting features of Python 3.14, especially functools placeholders, and hear about the challenges of migrating old blog content using AI. Plus, explore innovative podcasting techniques and the fun of dynamic QR codes while reminiscing about movie nights and coding mishaps.

36 snips
Aug 25, 2025 • 31min
#446 State of Python 2025
Discover the thrilling resurgence of pypistats.org, which now features a CLI tool to check Python package download stats. Dive into the evolving Python landscape, focusing on trends in data science and the significance of using updated versions. Explore the functionalities of the wrapt module for decorators and monkey patching, ensuring code integrity. Get insights into performance tools like PySentry, while enjoying humorous takes on summer heat and a playful critique of JavaScript's reign in web development.

25 snips
Aug 18, 2025 • 30min
#445 Auto-activate Python virtual environments for any project
Discover the new PYX middleware tool designed to enhance package installations in Python. Explore Litestar, a flexible framework that simplifies app scaling without pydantic. Learn about Django remake migrations for better migration management and the benefits of django-chronos for performance tracking. The discussion also touches on the significance of error monitoring and the growing trends in Python development, including insights on virtual environments and running OpenAI models locally. Plus, enjoy a lighthearted joke to wrap it all up!

14 snips
Aug 11, 2025 • 26min
#444 Begone Python of Yore!
Discover the fascinating world of regex pragmas in coverage.py, allowing for smarter code management. The importance of high code coverage is emphasized, along with tools for handling legacy Python compatibility. Dive into the implications of Pydantic deprecations and how they shape the future of development. Learn about the Nox testing tool for multi-version testing and efficient Django database migrations. Explore performance optimization strategies for SQLite and get updates on exciting new courses aimed at data scientists!

23 snips
Aug 4, 2025 • 26min
#443 Patching Multiprocessing
Discover rumdl, a super-fast Markdown linter built in Rust that helps with common formatting issues. Learn about the latest updates in the coverage tool, including improvements for subprocess handling. Dive into AIO Boto3, which makes AWS operations asynchronous for better real-time data management. Explore Python best practices that might make you rethink the necessity of classes. Enjoy a humorous comparison of Visual Studio and VS Code, highlighting their unique strengths.