[Python Dependency Pitfalls] The Iceberg

Hey there,

The other day I read this quote from a Python developer that made me stop and think:

"As a noob with a little programming knowledge already, I've found setting up and installing things much harder than actually learning Python itself."

Isn't that surprising?

Shouldn't picking up the core language skills be much more difficult than learning the workflows AROUND the language?

I have a personal theory of why this happens:

The trouble is that the "difficulty distribution" for modern software development with Python is shaped like an iceberg.

And knowing your way around Python "the language" is just the tippy top of the iceberg.

The syntax of the language, working with the Python interpreter, where to find things in the standard library—

That's all challenging stuff for someone just starting out.

But it's also VISIBLE in plain sight.

Then there's a huge chunk of "ice" HIDDEN below the surface. A chunk that stalls the progress of many Python devs:

    - They don't know their way around standard tools like pip, virtualenv, or PyPI and it sabotages their productivity.

    - A lack of experience with the tools and the ecosystem surrounding the core language slows them down.

    - They lag behind other developers because of "re-inventing the wheel disease" and not knowing how to find and use quality Python packages.

(And there's more.)

Because these problems are invisible at first and quite counter-intuitive, many Pythonistas are missing an important part of the puzzle.

From personal experience I know it's easy to focus on the tip of the iceberg that's visible in plain sight—while completely ignoring the GIGANTIC MASS underneath.

And it makes sense—when you're learning a new skill for the first time it's impossible to "know what you don't know."

As they say, hindsight is 20/20.

And that's why focusing on the stuff that's invisible to a beginner but OBVIOUS to a more experienced dev is so powerful.

If you can focus on the hidden part of the iceberg and adopt the tools and workflows that experienced Python developers use, you'll find that you can make progress more easily…

And you'll pull ahead of your peers who are left wondering why their unsinkable "development ship" is filling up with water.

One of the easiest boosts you can get for your Python abilities is adopting the tried & tested dependency management workflows that experts use every day.

For more on how to use the Python "tools of the trade" and best practices like virtualenv, pip, and requirements files, go to:

realpython.com/products/managing-python-dependencies/

— Dan Bader

Older messages

[Sublime + Python Setup] Grumpy old greybeard with a whitespace problem

Saturday, May 7, 2022

One fateful day, the Agile Gods that be decided to “add some firepower” to my little team… And so, developer Paul joined (name changed to protect the guilty). Before I dive into this story, let me ask

[Python Dependency Pitfalls] "Re-inventing the wheel" disease

Saturday, May 7, 2022

Hey there, PyPI, the Python packaging repository, now contains more than 100000 third-party packages in total. That's an *overwhelming* number of packages to choose from... And this feeling of

[PythonistaCafe] Q&A

Friday, May 6, 2022

Hey there, At this point you should have a pretty good idea of what PythonistaCafe is about and what makes it special. In this email I want to answer some common questions that I get asked about the

[Python Dependency Pitfalls] Artisanal "from-scratch" development

Friday, May 6, 2022

Hey there, The other day I got this question from Newsletter member Newvick in my email inbox: ~~~ I'm trying to get past the beginner's stage in Python and one problem I have is: When do you

[Sublime + Python Setup] Don’t build “nag screen muscle memory”

Friday, May 6, 2022

Hey there, Once I worked with a developer who refused to buy a registered copy of Sublime for months on end, even though he *loved* Sublime. He used it as his main code editor every day and was very

You Might Also Like

From Request to Response: How APIs Work – Beginners Guide

Thursday, March 28, 2024

In the vast expanse of the digital ecosystem, APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) act as critical conduits, facilitating seamless conversations between different software platforms. From clicking

Elastic 8.13 is here: Amazon Bedrock in the AI Assistant for Observability

Thursday, March 28, 2024

Learn about Amazon Bedrock support within the Elastic AI Assistant for Observability ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ elastic | Search. Observe. Protect

A Creative Market Reset 🎨

Thursday, March 28, 2024

Adobe needed some real competition. Now it has some. Here's a version for your browser. Hunting for the end of the long tail • March 27, 2024 A Creative Market Reset Canva's purchase of

Fisker lost millions … then it got them back

Wednesday, March 27, 2024

More Fisker woes View this email online in your browser By Christine Hall Wednesday, March 27, 2024 Welcome back to TechCrunch PM! This afternoon, learn about some new Google features, a startup that

▶️ How to Get Better YouTube Video Recommendations — What to Know About Alexa Skills

Wednesday, March 27, 2024

Also: The Best Samsung Phones of 2024, and More! How-To Geek Logo March 27, 2024 📩 Get expert reviews, the hottest deals, how-to's, breaking news, and more delivered directly to your inbox by

JSK Daily for Mar 27, 2024

Wednesday, March 27, 2024

JSK Daily for Mar 27, 2024 View this email in your browser A community curated daily e-mail of JavaScript news Bad Abstractions Could Be Ruining Your Code The code is easy to read and it runs fine -

Ranked | The World's Biggest Oil Producers in 2023 🛢️

Wednesday, March 27, 2024

The word's three biggest oil producers accounted for 40% of production in 2023. View this graphic to learn more. View Online | Subscribe Presented by FEATURED STORY The World's Biggest Oil

Daily Coding Problem: Problem #1394 [Easy]

Wednesday, March 27, 2024

Daily Coding Problem Good morning! Here's your coding interview problem for today. This problem was asked by Google. Given the head of a singly linked list, reverse it in-place. Upgrade to premium

Free Event: Watch 10 entrepreneurs launch their AI ideas

Wednesday, March 27, 2024

They built this in 2 months 👀 ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

Digging into Marissa Mayer’s newest app

Wednesday, March 27, 2024

Plus a snake robot on Saturn's moon View this email online in your browser By Alex Wilhelm Wednesday, March 27, 2024 Welcome to TechCrunch AM! Today we have notes on Marissa Mayer's new app,