python-show-qa

How did you get into programming?

• I programmed in Basic on Commodore 64 in the early 80s
• Didn't really think about computers for about 10 years
• Until I just happened to walk past the UNIX lab at Loyola University in MD in 1994
• Saw people working on Digital DECStations with 20 inch monitors
• Immediately switched my major from accounting to computer science
• Never looked back

What are your favorite Python packages or modules?

• Django
  • The web framework for perfectionists with deadlines
  • https://www.djangoproject.com/
• Wagtail
  • Create content that soars
  • https://wagtail.org/
• Faker
  • Faker is a Python package that generates fake data for you
  • https://github.com/joke2k/faker
• django-allauth
  • A free, secure, well integrated, reusable authentication solution for the Django framework, covering all functionality related to local and social user accounts, multi-factor authentication, in various configurations, with flows that just work
  • https://allauth.org/
• django-extensions
  • Django Extensions is a collection of custom extensions for the Django Framework
  • https://github.com/django-extensions/django-extensions
• django-sql-explorer
  • SQL Reporting that Just Works. Fast, simple, and confusion-free. Write queries in a delightful SQL editor, with AI assistance. Just works, no surprises.
  • https://www.sqlexplorer.io/
• logfire
  • Uncomplicated observability. From the team behind Pydantic, Logfire is a new type of observability platform built on the same belief as our open source library — that the most powerful tools can be easy to use.
  • https://pydantic.dev/logfire

How did Pillow come about?

• https://mail.python.org/pipermail/image-sig/2010-July/006423.html
• python-pillow/Pillow#35 (2013)
• python-pillow/Pillow#3469 (late 2018)

What are some lessons you’ve learned while creating and maintaining Pillow?

• Open source does not have to be stressful, Pillow is one of the least stressful open source projects I've ever worked on
• There is a tremendous need to "pay the maintainers" and as such I am now a Tidelift Lifter Advocate in addition to being a paid Lifter
• Image processing!
  • https://github.com/python-pillow/pillow-demo

Are there any surprising use cases you have seen Pillow used for? Examples?

• https://www.jeremykun.com/2012/01/01/random-psychedelic-art/
• python-pillow/Pillow#1888
• https://github.com/readme/featured/nasa-ingenuity-helicopter

Do you think AI will replace Pillow? Why or why not?

• No
• I think AI can already write Python code that uses Pillow to do image processing
• I think if prompted, AI could also write code for Pillow development
• Beyond that, I think AGI could have some impact on Pillow but I don't know what it is. Maybe something to do with "human" tasks like scheduling releases, reacting to world events in realtime e.g. xz

What non-technical hobbies do you enjoy?

• https://headstraightband.com
• Spotify, 0 monthly subscribers
• iTunes