The Zen of Python: Bootstrapping Your Local Python Environment

Developers of all skill levels often forget about the journey — and the troubles — they had when first installing Python on their machines. Established, senior developers might be able to install Python easily, but are they following the Zen of Python when it comes to best practices for environment settings and versioning? 

Calvin Hendryx-Parker, Six Feet Up’s CTO and AWS Community Hero, recommends that everyone — both developers and non-developers — follow the Zen of Python in their daily lives. “Print the Zen of Python out,” said Calvin. “Find a nice frame. Hang it up in your bathroom. Every day, when you’re brushing your teeth, read through it.” 

In his talk, “Bootstrapping your Local Python Environment,” Calvin discusses how to optimize system setups. “There are some simple, yet crucial, reminders that can differentiate an expert developer from a hobbyist,” said Calvin. 

In the presentation, Calvin highlights:

• the importance of ensuring your system is in “good health,”
• how to spend less time setting up and more time having fun with the code, and
• why developers should rarely — if ever — use sudo.

Watch the presentation:

Links and Resources to Get Started:

• pyenv setup documentation: https://github.com/pyenv/pyenv#installation‍
• pipx setup documentation: https://pypi.org/project/pipx/‍
• pip-tools setup documentation: https://pypi.org/project/pip-tools/‍
• Docker’s Python integration documentation: https://hub.docker.com/_/python/‍
• Calvin Hendryx-Parker’s talk slides for “Bootstrapping Your Local Python Environment:” https://github.com/calvinhp/2021_IndyPyChiPy_BootstrappingyourLocalPythonEnvironment