Shows
Pybites Podcast#217: Building a Production RAG Pipeline is Easier Than You Think - with Tim GallatiFour years after its original MVP, we revisit Quiet Links, exploring how it evolved into a production-ready AI-powered research tool.Bob is joined by Tim Gallati and Juanjo to unpack how they integrated a Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) pipeline into an existing Python application, without rewriting everything from scratch. This episode is a reminder that impactful AI projects don’t require massive teams or cutting-edge complexity - just solid design, curiosity, and a willingness to learn!Connect with Tim on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timgallati/Visit the Quiet Links website: htt...
2026-02-2549 min
Pybites Podcast#215: Arthur Pastel on creating actionable optimisations with CodSpeedIn this episode, Bob sits down with Arthur, a Python engineer based in France and the creator of CodSpeed, to dig into a problem many teams don’t notice until it’s too late: performance regressions. Arthur shares the story behind building CodSpeed, starting with real-world pain points from robotics and machine-learning pipelines where small slowdowns quietly piled up and broke systems in production. We discuss how CodSpeed fits into everyday developer workflows and why treating performance checks like tests or coverage changes how teams ship code. Arthur also shares how open source shaped the product’s mission...
2026-02-1241 min
Pybites Podcast#211: Keeping the joy in coding - a new year's resolutionJoin us as we catch up in the first Pybites podcast of 2026. We chat about how it feels to build software with AI today. We're moving faster than ever, but are we losing the joy of coding along the way?Julian shares a recent Django build and how he used AI to ship quickly while still keeping good habits around code quality, testing, and reviews. We talk about why small steps, clear prompts, and staying involved in the code matter more than handing everything over to AI.We also reflect on the value of taking...
2026-01-1436 min
Pybites Podcast#205: Building reactive Python notebooks with MarimoMarimo is redefining what a Python notebook can do—bringing structure, version control, and interactivity together. In this episode, we chat with Akshay Agrawal, co-founder and CEO of Marimo, about how their reactive Python notebook fixes hidden state, keeps outputs in sync, and makes reproducible, reviewable code the norm.Akshay shares Marimo’s origin story, how its reactive DAG turns notebooks into clean, Git-friendly tools, and why teams are ditching Jupyter-to-Streamlit pipelines for simpler, reactive workflows. We also dive into performance, data handling with pandas/Polars via Narwhals, and SQL reactivity with DuckDB.Join us in t...
2025-11-1753 min
Pybites Podcast#204: The science of open science - with Leah Wasser, founder of pyOpenSciWhat if the most valuable part of your research isn’t the paper, but the package that made it possible? In this episode, we talk with Leah Wasser, Executive Director and Founder of pyOpenSci, a nonprofit working to make scientific Python more inclusive, reproducible, and discoverable.We explore what “open science” really means in practice: transparent workflows that others can rerun, review, and extend. Leah explains how pyOpenSci’s peer review process helps turn lab scripts into reliable, citable Python packages with better documentation, testing, and credit through the Journal of Open Source Software (JOSS).We also...
2025-11-0952 min
Pybites Podcast#203: Automating API Documentation with ZylosystemsIf you’ve ever stayed up late churning out API docs when you’d rather be anywhere else, you’ll relate to this week’s guest. Nick Park felt that same pain as a server engineer, which pushed him to build Zylo-docs, an AI tool that takes the grunt work out of documentation.Nick’s journey has been anything but linear—from AWS trainer to experimenting with generative AI in the fashion world, before realising his real passion was helping developers. In this episode, we talk about following your passion, finding product-market fit, and being open to pivot...
2025-10-0249 min
Pybites Podcast#202: Behind the scenes at Pybites with Bob and JulianIn this episode we share some of the exciting things happening behind the scenes at Pybites. From our new partnership in South Africa to coaching success stories that showcase real-world career transformations, we reflect on how far we've come in making Python accessible, building community, and helping developers grow. We also talk about our expanding cohorts in Rust, AI, and Django, the power of our accountability sessions, and why we’ve chosen to keep our platform AI-free. Join us as we look at how Pybites is continuing to grow globally while building the community we all...
2025-09-1538 min
Pybites Podcast#201: Transforming military discipline into Python skills with PDIChristina Lang’s journey from nearly two decades in the military to becoming a DevOps architect shows how discipline, persistence, and a growth mindset can drive career transitions. She shares how the Pybites PDI course helped her rapidly level up her Python skills, the importance of being “humble but hungry” when learning, and how mentorship and structured practice make tackling new challenges achievable. Christina also discusses the unique hurdles veterans face when moving into civilian tech, from cultural adjustments to communication styles, and how their dedication and resilience make them valuable team members once they adapt.Today...
2025-08-2234 min
Pybites Podcast#200: Celebrating 200 episodes of our Pybites journey 🎉What started as a simple idea to “chat more” became Pybites — a global Python learning platform transforming how developers build skills. In this special 200th episode, co-founders Bob and Julian share their journey from corporate life to creating a build-focused, mindset-driven approach that’s helped thousands worldwide.In this episode we hear inspiring stories of schoolkids in Florida, developers in Pakistan, and countless others who’ve grown their skills — and their confidence — through Pybites. Bob and Julian reveal why “people come for the Python and stay for the mindset,” their thoughts on Python’s future, and the secret to lasting su...
2025-08-1348 min
Pybites Podcast#199: Charlie Marsh on ty, uv, and the Python tooling renaissanceCharlie Marsh returns to Pybites to introduce ty —Astral’s bold new take on Python type checking. Built from the ground up for speed and developer experience, ty is both a command-line tool and language server, powered by Rust's Salsa framework. We dive into how it enables lightning-fast incremental analysis, smarter diagnostics inspired by Rust, and a reimagined type-checking workflow for modern Python projects. Charlie also shares how Astral is tackling broader ecosystem challenges alongside Meta and NVIDIA. Curious? Just run 'uv x ty' and join the future of Python type checking. For more in...
2025-08-0653 min
Pybites Podcast#198: Tim Hopper on UV and smarter Python developmentPython development has changed a lot over the years, and Tim Hopper has been right there with it. In this episode, we chat about the tools that are shaping modern Python workflows—like UV, a fast package manager aiming to improve the developer experience. Tim also tells us about creating the Python Developer Tooling Handbook, a practical resource full of short, easy-to-follow guides for developers at any level. We dig into his open source contributions, the ups and downs of job searching in tech, and the small tooling choices that can have a big impact on how we...
2025-07-3040 min
Pybites Podcast#197: Polars with Jeroen Janssens and Thijs NieuwdorpPolars is changing the game in Python data processing – and fast. In this episode, we chat with Jeroen Janssens and Thijs Nieuwdorp, authors of Python Polars: The Definitive Guide, about how this DataFrame library is revolutionising workflows. From its origins at Dutch firm Xomnia to GPU-powered speed boosts and a behind-the-scenes look at writing their 500-page book, this episode is packed with insights on why Polars is winning over data teams. Check out Python Polars: The Definitive Guide - https://polarsguide.com/Find Jeroen and Thijs online:Thijs Linke...
2025-07-2350 min
Pybites Podcast#196: Robin Quintero on ComplexipyIn this episode, we talk with Robin Quintero, creator of Complexipy —an ultra-fast cognitive complexity analyzer for Python code, powered by Rust. Robin shares how frustration with slow tooling led him to build Complexipy in Rust, how it's helping Python devs write clearer code, and why teams are loving it for faster, cleaner pull requests. We also dig into the future of the project—from multi-language support to AI-powered refactoring. Check out Robin's latest updates on his socials:https://www.linkedin.com/in/robin-hafid/https://x.com/hafitoalimaniahttps://github...
2025-07-1636 min
Pybites Podcast#195: Patterns, paradigms, and pythonic thinking with Rodrigo Girão SerrãoIn this ep, we chat with Rodrigo Girão Serrão about his journey from mathematician to Pythonista. What started as a colleague’s tip turned into 11 years of Python exploration. Rodrigo shares how his background in APL reshaped the way he writes Python, helping him embrace list comprehensions and functional patterns more intuitively.We dig into his latest side project—a bytecode compiler written in Python—and what that reveals about how Python really works under the hood. Rodrigo unpacks dunder methods, decorators, and how Python’s consistent design makes building elegant, expressive code a joy.He al...
2025-07-0851 min
Pybites Podcast#194: Evolution, not extinction: why developers still matter in the age of AIIn this episode, we dive into AI’s impact on software development with Matt Makai, VP of Developer Relations at DigitalOcean and creator of Full Stack Python. We explore how AI tools are changing coding workflows—from elite devs like Miguel Grinberg and Armin Ronacher to Matt’s own work on the AI-powered PlushCap app. While some see friction, others embrace AI as a co-pilot. Matt shares why staying hands-on with code is key for tech leaders, and why, despite the hype, AI won’t replace developers—it’ll just reshape how we work. Connect with M...
2025-07-0139 min
Pybites Podcast#193: Why coding alone sucks!In this episode, we share our own experiences of what it’s like to code in isolation — and why it held us back more than we realised at the time. When you're working solo, it’s easy to miss out on learning opportunities, fall into unhelpful habits, or lose momentum altogether.But when you start coding alongside others, everything shifts. We talk about how code reviews gave us instant feedback, how collaborating with other devs helped us level up faster, and how the simple act of being part of a team made coding more enjoyable — and a lot less...
2025-06-2320 min
Pybites Podcast#192: Coding smarter not harder - 5 key ways to succeed as a developerAre you ready to level up your Python skills? In this episode we share the five common mistakes that hold learners back, and how to avoid them. From setting clear goals to building simple, impactful projects, we’ll show you how to turn scattered effort into strategic growth. Learn to stay focused in a world full of distractions, seek mentorship confidently, and reframe challenges as stepping stones. Whether you're stuck in tutorial loops or just getting started, this guide will help you build momentum, boost confidence, and thrive as a developer. Books:Effective Pyth...
2025-05-3133 min
Pybites Podcast#191: Code, click, cloud - how Sebastián Ramírez is taking FastAPI to the next levelSebastián Ramírez returns in this episode to share the evolution of his journey from open-source developer to company founder, with the launch of FastAPI Cloud. After creating tools used by developers worldwide, Sebastián explains how he found a critical gap in the app creation process - the painful transition from local development to production deployment. Throughout our conversation, we hear how Sebastián and his team are working to remove this obstacle.We also hear some of the amazing ways that FastAPI has been adopted in mission-critical systems worldwide. From powering image generation in Chat...
2025-05-2345 min
Pybites Podcast#190: The power shift - Flexa’s data-driven energy revolutionWhat if you could tap into a more affordable and efficient energy system, all while supporting grid stability? Tune in to our fascinating conversation with Robin Beer, energy data scientist at Flexa, a startup revolutionising the way we consume electricity. Robin shares the process of creating a virtual power plant that enables consumers to utilise solar and battery resources while strategically managing when to buy and sell electricity based on market conditions and weather forecasts. Not only does this system promise reduced costs, but it also enhances grid stability, offering a win-win solution for consumers and the w...
2025-05-1433 min
Pybites Podcast#189: The Year of Oui: Huy Nguyen on Connection, Community and Showing UpThis episode is a bit special. Julian is joined by one of his closest friends and former AWS colleagues, Huy Nguyen, to talk about something we often overlook in our careers and lives — the power of genuine human connection.In 2024, Huy made an unusual choice. He chose to get off the hamster wheel and take a career break to focus the entire year on being present with friends and community. From a Big Fat Greek wedding in Greece to conversations on balconies in Vietnam, his travels weren’t about sightseeing. They were about belonging.Together, Huy...
2025-05-0849 min
Pybites Podcast#188: Career crossroads - navigating the path to job fulfillmentIn this episode, Andrea Gosselink, career coach and former HR executive, joins us to unpack the complicated feelings that arise when we find ourselves at a career crossroad. Drawing from both her personal journey and client experiences, Andrea shares why so many successful people still feel unfulfilled despite achieving traditional markers of career success.We explore the fascinating psychology behind career transitions, including the paralyzing effect of the sunk cost fallacy ("I've already invested so much in this path"), fear of judgment from peers and family, and the limiting belief that there's only one "right" way to...
2025-04-2936 min
Pybites Podcast#187: Beyond the resume - how to stand out in the competitive world of techThe tech job market has become increasingly challenging with ongoing layoffs and strong competition for available positions. How can developers stand out when everyone seems to have the same credentials? This episode tackles the essential strategies needed to navigate this difficult landscape. We discuss how imperfect positions can still offer growth, and how enthusiasm, coupled with demonstrated skill, can help employers pick you as a candidate who will bring true value to their organisation.Join our community at pybites.circle.so to continue the conversation, expand your network, and access more resources to advance your P...
2025-04-1720 min
Pybites Podcast#186: Rethinking the art of codingRye Whalen sees profound connections between nature and software development that many developers miss. With expertise in hardware, software, and teaching cybersecurity, they uncover how natural systems can inspire better software-building strategies.Rye explains how they approach algorithmic thinking by focusing on foundational base cases and how they encourage their students to visualise problems before writing code. This teaching strategy bridges abstract concepts with practical understanding by tapping into natural visual processing abilities and familiar patterns from the world around us.Beyond technical skills, Rye emphasises the value of creativity and balance. They explain how...
2025-04-1031 min
Pybites Podcast#185: Expanding the world of Pybites with cohort coaching, book platforms and more!PyBytes is taking an exciting step forward with the introduction of cohort-based Python coaching, creating an accessible learning pathway for developers worldwide. After five successful years working with over 200 clients through 1:1 coaching, this new model provides opportunities for collaboration, networking, and group problem solving - skills that translate directly to professional development environments.Beyond coaching, we're partnering with "Explore With Us" to give university students across Australia a 50% discount on the PyBytes platform, and we've also completely revamped PyBytes Books - with a sleek new interface, custom reading lists, and gamification elements.With so many...
2025-04-0526 min
Pybites Podcast#184: The pathway to success - how an open mind can lead to your dream jobThe road to landing a dream developer job is often paved with persistence, continuous learning, and a willingness to look beyond traditional tech hubs. In this episode, CJ Stein shares his journey from mechanical engineer to software developer at a cheese manufacturing company.Throughout our conversation we're reminded that developer jobs exist everywhere – not just at tech giants and startups. By expanding where you look and having confidence in your ability to learn, you might just find your perfect role in the most unexpected place.___Pybites Circle Community: https://pybites.circle.so/...
2025-03-1435 min
Pybites Podcast#183: AI’s silent takeover - are we losing our programming skills?Artificial intelligence is reshaping the world of coding, raising vital questions about our approach to software development. In this episode, we unpack the implications of AI on programming skills and the future of learning to code. As AI increasingly handles various programming tasks, some developers are concerned that new, and even seasoned, coders may be losing touch with critical programming skills. While AI offers opportunities to streamline processes, we highlight the necessity of engaging with coding on a fundamental level.Throughout the episode, we celebrate successes from our coding community, and highlight that while the j...
2025-03-0537 min
Pybites Podcast#182: Coding for a cure - how Victoria Kolmac is shaping the future of bio-medical engineering with PythonMeet the incredibly talented Victoria Kolmac, a university student with a passion for the intersection of biomedical engineering and computer science.Victoria shares her fascinating journey with us, outlining how she and her team built a pulse oximeter from scratch using Python and ESP32 microcontrollers, as well as her work on an advanced project aimed at non-invasively detecting thoracic pressure changes related to sleep apnea. We also delve into the world of quantum computing, exploring the basics of qubits and superposition and how Python is used for predictive modeling in this space. With personal stories o...
2025-02-1255 min
Pybites Podcast#180 - Transforming DevOps with Generative AIGenerative AI is revolutionising DevOps practices by streamlining incident management, enhancing collaboration, and enabling automation. In this episode, Bob chats with Chris Williams - Developer Relations Manager for HashiCorp - about the future of Ai in the tech industry. Throughout the episode, we discuss the practical applications of AI, address concerns regarding job security, and learn about the importance of staying up-to-date with ever-changing advancements in AI.Article:https://community.aws/content/2rRTRRuo2Tj6r0FXZmWJH8gNHjP/supercharge-your-devops-practices-with-generative-aiTalk:https://youtu.be/POn5WYFw4xU?si=jtBMmPwe9...
2025-01-2931 min
Pybites Podcast#179 - AI, Developers, and the Future of CodeCould AI make developers a thing of the past in the world of coding? Join us on the Pybites Podcast as we, Julian Sequeira and Bob Beldebos, explore this compelling question and share our personal experiences with AI's integration into our Python projects.After we quickly recount our holiday experiences, we kick off the new year with reflections on the mindset and habits necessary for success.Moving onto AI, we discuss its dual nature—great for boosting productivity but fraught with limitations when tackling complex tasks. We explore Julian’s journey of building a web app...
2025-01-2232 min
Pybites Podcast#176 - Leveraging Rust: Dan Dresser’s Journey to Speed Up His Trading AppThis week, we’re joined by Dan Dresser, who shares how he re-built his trading app in Rust, see also his community win post:Wrote a Trading App in RustWe dive into the app's purpose, the performance challenges he encountered, and how Rust became the best solution for increasing performance demands.Dan shares the complexities / hurdles he faced in the process, his mindset for pushing through when stuck, and valuable tips for learning Rust.We wrap up with two cool book recommendations. I (Bob) got a lot out of this co...
2024-11-1344 min
Pybites Podcast#173 - Pybites Platform 2.0 is here!Welcome back to the Pybites podcast! Today we have some really exciting news: we’ve just launched our brand-new coding platform!Check it out here.After nearly 7 years and almost 50K sign-ups on v1 (codechalleng.es), the design started to show its age. That’s why we did a complete overhaul to create our new 2.0 platform. It's faster, cleaner, more responsive, and more affordable.In this episode, Bob and Julian discuss why v2 is such a big improvement, the motivation behind the rewrite, behind-the-scenes insights into how it all came together, some technical chal...
2024-10-1129 min
Pybites Podcast#172 - From Punch Cards to Git: The Legendary Journey of Jeff Haemer"The sooner you make your first five thousand mistakes, the sooner you will be able to correct them." - The Natural Way to Draw - Kimon NicoliadesJeff Haemer’s career spans over five decades, and in this episode, he openly talks about his continuous passion for learning and solving interesting problems. We talk about his experience teaching computer science with almost no prior knowledge, his love for Unix, how he landed a job at Twitter in his late sixties, and why he believes networking is key to landing jobs. Jeff also generously sh...
2024-10-0649 min
Pybites Podcast#171 - Hypermodern Python with Claudio JolowiczWelcome back everybody! This week we have another exciting podcast episode, this time with Claudio Jolowicz, well known for his "Hypermodern Python" article series which he recently turned into a book.We dive into what Hypermodern Python means, uv's current quick rise, Nox, 80/20 tooling for (beginner) Python devs, Rust, mindset, and last but not least, some good book tips.We hope you enjoy this interview with Claudio and make sure to check out his great materials.Chapters:00:00 Intro episode01:42 Intro Claudio02:44 Music background04:21 Hypermodern Python08:20 uv rapid develment
2024-09-1838 min
Pybites Podcast#169 - Bridging Python and Rust: An Interview with PyO3 Maintainer David HewittIn this episode Bob chats with David Hewitt, passionate Python and Rust programmer, core maintainer of PyO3, and part of the Pydantic team. PyO3 lets you write a native Python module in Rust, or to embed Python in a Rust binary. David shares his journey of getting involved and how this tool set helps Python programmers integrate with Rust more easily. We talk about how PyO3 helped the Pydantic v2 Rust integration, how to design for a great developer experience, the mindset of dealing with complex issues, PyPI getting more packages with Rust, how to be...
2024-08-3042 min
Pybites Podcast#164 - Mastering Python Development: Overcoming Common Pitfalls and Building SuccessWelcome back to the Pybites podcast! This week, we delve into six common pitfalls that Python developers face and offer insights on how to gain control and influence in your programming career. Tune in for tips on networking, continuous learning, developing good habits, showcasing your work, bouncing back from failed interviews, and the importance of community.Check out our PDM coachingIf you're more beginner, check out PDI firstJoin our Pybites CommunityRust:- Exercises- Bob's blogKids book tip:- The Anxious...
2024-06-1821 min