Pybites Podcast

Curious how to build real web apps with AI without turning into a prompt robot? We sit down with developer advocate and author Emma Saroyan to unpack a practical path for using OpenAI APIs and Next.js to turn ideas into shipped projects you actually understand. From smart prompting to project structure, Emma shows how to work with AI as an assistant you guide, not a textbook to copy.Emma also takes us inside her community work in Armenia, sharing how culture shapes developer communication and adoption. We talk about how to avoid over-reliance on tools, and why accessibility matters—especially for newcomers who can use AI to prototype quickly and then deepen their skills. If you’re ready to ship faster without losing your craft, tune in, subscribe for more conversations like this, and leave a comment with the next AI-powered feature you want to build.Connect with Emma on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-saroyanCheck out Emma's book 'Generative AI for Web Development': https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/979-8-8688-0885-2______💡🧑‍💻 Want to become a more focused, motivated, and effective Python developer? The Pybites Developer Mindset (PDM) Program helps you build strong habits, deepen your skills, and make real progress in just six weeks. Join us for mentorship, accountability, and a supportive community that keeps you moving forward. Start your PDM journey now! 🌟✅ https://pybit.es/catalogue/the-pdm-program/___If you found this podcast helpful, please consider following us!Start Here with Pybites: https://pybit.es

What if levelling up your Python career didn’t require a multitude of courses—just one clear commitment? In this episode of the Pybites Podcast, we talk with Kishan Patel, a Dallas-based data engineer who set a single goal: become the best Python developer he could be. That focus led him to ship three real-world projects, publish his first PyPI package, and build a stronger, more decisive developer mindset.We also discuss how breaking the cycle of perfectionism, using coaching for accountability, and developing a thoughtful, balanced approach to AI can help you build with more confidence and stay focused on the real skills that move your Python journey forward. Kishan's contacts:Personal site: https://www.kishanpatel.dev/YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@KPDataDevBlog: https://kpdata.dev/blog/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kishanpatel789/Circle: https://pybites.circle.so/u/4fe60026Chrome extensions mentioned in the ep:Undistracted: https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/undistracted-hide-faceboo/pjjgklgkfeoeiebjogplpnibpfnffkng?hl=enMonochrome Mode: https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/monochrome-mode-grayscale/fmiaojphifnoicpdhhcniiekcpfbkidj?hl=enBooks: Cosmic Python: https://www.cosmicpython.com/Dune: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dune_(novel)The One Thing: https://pybitesbooks.com/books/ov23vQEACAAJ______💡🧑‍💻 Want to become a more focused, motivated, and effective Python developer? The Pybites Developer Mindset (PDM) program helps you build strong habits, deepen your skills, and make REAL progress in just six weeks. Join us for mentorship, accountability, and a supportive community that keeps you moving forward. Start your PDM journey now! 🌟✅ https://pybit.es/catalogue/the-pdm-program/___If you found this podcast helpful, please consider following us!Start Here with Pybites: https://pybit.es

What 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 unpack how AI is reshaping scientific coding—its potential to speed up work, and the need for careful human oversight to maintain accuracy and trust.Connect with Leah on the following platforms:Github: https://github.com/lwasserLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leahawasser/Slack: https://www.pyopensci.org/handbook/community/slack.html___If you found this podcast helpful, please consider following us!Start Here with Pybites: https://pybit.esDeveloper Mindset Newsletter: https://pybit.es/newsletter 💡Pybites Books: https://pybitesbooks.com/Bob LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bbelderbos/Julian LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliansequeira/Twitter: https://x.com/pybitesApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pybites-podcast/id1545551340Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1sJnriPKKVgPIX7UU9PIN1

In 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 know and trust.Books we're reading:The Three-Body Problem Series - https://pybitesbooks.com/books/95gQDgAAQBAJHow to Solve it - https://pybitesbooks.com/books/z_hsbu9kyQQCWhy Machines Learn - https://pybitesbooks.com/books/yLfPEAAAQBAJPosts mentioned:Numpy refactoring post: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7368938151802736640/___If you found this podcast helpful, please consider following us!Start Here with Pybites: https://pybit.esDeveloper Mindset Newsletter: https://pybit.es/newsletter 💡Pybites Books: https://pybitesbooks.com/Bob LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bbelderbos/Julian LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliansequeira/Twitter: https://x.com/pybitesApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pybites-podcast/id1545551340Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1sJnriPKKVgPIX7UU9PIN1

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 success: perseverance, small wins, and mastering the fundamentals.___If you found this podcast helpful, please consider following us!Start Here with Pybites: https://pybit.esDeveloper Mindset Newsletter: https://pybit.es/newsletter 💡Pybites Books: https://pybitesbooks.com/Bob LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bbelderbos/Julian LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliansequeira/Twitter: https://x.com/pybitesApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pybites-podcast/id1545551340Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1sJnriPKKVgPIX7UU9PIN1

Python 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 write code. Whether you’re just getting started or well into your Python journey, there’s plenty to take away from this conversation. Get in touch:Tim's Website: https://tdhopper.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tdhopper/X: https://x.com/tdhopperGitHub: https://github.com/tdhopper___💡🧑‍💻Level up your Python skills in just 6 weeks with our hands-on, mentor-led cohort program. Build and ship real apps while gaining confidence and accountability in a supportive community. Join a Pybites Developer Cohort today! 🌟✅___If you found this podcast helpful, please consider following us!Start Here with Pybites: https://pybit.esDeveloper Mindset Newsletter: https://pybit.es/newsletter 💡Pybites Books: https://pybitesbooks.com/Bob LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bbelderbos/Julian LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliansequeira/Twitter: https://x.com/pybitesApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pybites-podcast/id1545551340Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1sJnriPKKVgPIX7UU9PIN1

In 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.com/rohaquinlopAnd find out more about Complexipy here:Docs: https://rohaquinlop.github.io/complexipy/Cognitive complexity paper: https://www.sonarsource.com/resources/cognitive-complexity/Want to know what we're reading? Check out the following links:Rust book: https://doc.rust-lang.org/book/Creating an AI model to refactor code to reduce cognitive complexity (in Spanish): https://x.com/hafitoalimania/status/1934063600450044061___💡🧑‍💻Level up your Python skills in just 6 weeks with our hands-on, mentor-led cohort program. Build and ship real apps while gaining confidence and accountability in a supportive community. Join an upcoming Pybites Developer Cohort today! 🌟✅___If you found this podcast helpful, please consider following us!Start Here with Pybites: https://pybit.esDeveloper Mindset Newsletter: https://pybit.es/newsletter 💡Pybites Books: https://pybitesbooks.com/Bob LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bbelderbos/Julian LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliansequeira/Twitter: https://x.com/pybitesApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pybites-podcast/id1545551340Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1sJnriPKKVgPIX7UU9PIN1

In 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 Matt on socials:X: https://x.com/fullstackpythonGithub: https://github.com/mattmakaiLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewmakai/Matt's projects:Plushcap: https://www.plushcap.com/ Full Stack Python: https://www.fullstackpython.com/DigitalOcean: https://www.digitalocean.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/digitalocean___Blogs mentioned:https://blog.miguelgrinberg.com/post/why-generative-ai-coding-tools-and-agents-do-not-work-for-mehttps://lucumr.pocoo.org/2025/6/12/agentic-coding/ ___💡🧑‍💻Level up your Python skills in just 6 weeks with our hands-on, mentor-led cohort program. Build and ship real apps while gaining confidence and accountability in a supportive community. Join an upcoming Pybites Developer Cohort today! 🌟✅___If you found this podcast helpful, please consider following us!Start Here with Pybites: https://pybit.esDeveloper Mindset Newsletter: https://pybit.es/newsletter 💡Pybites Books: https://pybitesbooks.com/Bob LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bbelderbos/Julian LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliansequeira/Twitter: https://x.com/pybitesApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pybites-podcast/id1545551340Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1sJnriPKKVgPIX7UU9PIN1