#432 How To Fix Your Computer

Python Bytes

Content provided by Michael Kennedy and Brian Okken. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Michael Kennedy and Brian Okken or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://podcastplayer.com/legal.

29d ago 25:48

MP3•Episode home

Topics covered in this episode:

pre-commit: install with uv
PEP 773: A Python Installation Manager for Windows (Accepted)
Changes for Textual
The Best Programmers I Know
Extras
Joke

Watch on YouTube
About the show

Sponsored by NordLayer: pythonbytes.fm/nordlayer

Connect with the hosts

Michael: @[email protected] / @mkennedy.codes (bsky)
Brian: @[email protected] / @brianokken.bsky.social
Show: @[email protected] / @pythonbytes.fm (bsky)

Join us on YouTube at pythonbytes.fm/live to be part of the audience. Usually Monday at 10am PT. Older video versions available there too.

Finally, if you want an artisanal, hand-crafted digest of every week of the show notes in email form? Add your name and email to our friends of the show list, we'll never share it.

Brian #1: pre-commit: install with uv

Adam Johnson
uv tool works great at keeping tools you use on lots of projects up to date quickly, why not use it for pre-commit.
The extension of pre-commit-uv will use uv to create virtual environments and install packages fore pre-commit. This speeds up initial pre-commit cache creation.
However, Adam is recommending this flavor of using pre-commit because it’s just plain easier to install pre-commit and dependencies than the official pre-commit install guide.
Win-win.
Side note: No Adam, I’m not going to pronounce uv “uhv”, I’ll stick with “you vee”, even Astral tells me I’m wrong

Michael #2: PEP 773: A Python Installation Manager for Windows (Accepted)

via pycoders newsletter
One manager to rule them all – PyManager.
PEP 773 replaces all existing Windows installers (.exe “traditional” bundle, per-version Windows Store apps, and the separate py.exe launcher) with a single MSIX app called Python Install Manager (nick-named PyManager).
PyManager should be mainstream by CPython 3.15, and the traditional installer disappears no earlier than 3.16 (≈ mid-2027).
Simple, predictable commands.
- python → launches “the best” runtime already present or auto-installs the latest CPython if none is found.
- py → same launcher as today plus management sub-commands:
- py install, py uninstall, py list, py exec, py help.
- Optional python3 and python3.x aliases can be enabled by adding one extra PATH entry.

Michael #3: Changes for Textual

Bittersweet news: the business experiment ends, but the code lives on.
Textual began as a hobby project layered on top of Rich, but it has grown into a mature, “makes-the-terminal-do-the-impossible” TUI framework with an active community and standout documentation.
Despite Textual’s technical success, the team couldn’t pinpoint a single pain-point big enough to sustain a business model, so the company will wind down in the coming weeks.
The projects themselves aren’t going anywhere: they’re stable, battle-tested, and will continue under the stewardship of the original author and the broader community.

Brian #4: The Best Programmers I Know

Matthias Endler
“I have met a lot of developers in my life. Lately, I asked myself: “What does it take to be one of the best? What do they all have in common?””
The list
- Read the reference
- Know your tools really well
- Read the error message
- Break down problems
- Don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty
- Always help others
- Write
- Never stop learning
- Status doesn’t matter
- Build a reputation
- Have patience
- Never blame the computer
- Don’t be afraid to say “I don’t know”
- Don’t guess
- Keep it simple
Each topic has a short discussion. So don’t just ready the bullet points, check out the article.

Extras

Brian:

I had a great time in Munich last week. I a talk at a company event, met with tons of people, and had a great time.
- The best part was connecting with people from different divisions working on similar problems.
- I love the idea of internal conferences to get people to self organize by topic and meet people they wouldn’t otherwise, to share ideas.
- Also got started working on a second book on the plane trip back.

Michael:

Talk Python Clips (e.g. mullet)
Embrace your cloud firewall (example).
Python 3.14.0 beta 1 is here
Congrats to the new PSF Fellows.
Cancelled faster CPython
bsky.app/profile/snarky.ca post

Joke: How To Fix Your Computer

440 episodes

#Python #Prog Languages #Michael Kennedy #Brian Okken #Tech #News #Tech News #Open Source