Exploring Ideas: A Blog on Technology, Startups, Food, and More
Welcome to my blog where I share thoughts and insights on technology, startups, and life in Atlanta. Browse through the articles below or explore by topic.
The Art and History of General Dynamics' Atoms for Peace Campaign
February 5, 2025
I have no idea how I first stumbled across the striking modernist artwork of General Dynamics’ Atoms for Peace campaign. But somewhere along the way I did, and I’ve been fascinated by it ever since. I grew up in more of an art family than an engineering one, and in particular was a Kandinsky/Bauhaus kid. So not suprisingly, I was drawn to the Atoms for Peace work. But it also struck me as so incre...
Why Your Library Needs Pytest (And How to Get Started)
February 4, 2025
So, you’ve built a Python library. Maybe it solves a niche problem, maybe it’s the next big thing. You’ve poured hours into crafting the API, writing documentation, and maybe even setting up linting (go you!). But… have you written tests? I get it. Writing tests can sometimes feel like eating your vegetables - you know it’s good for you, but it’s not always the most exciting part of the meal. For ...
The Art of API Design: Making the Right Things Easy
February 3, 2025
After years of maintaining libraries like category-encoders and pygeohash, I’ve learned that good API design is more art than science. It’s about creating interfaces that feel natural and intuitive, making the right things easy and the wrong things hard. Let’s explore how to achieve this delicate balance. The Principles of Intuitive API Design Think about your favorite Python libraries. What makes...
Secure Coding Practices for Python Library Developers
February 2, 2025
“It’s just a simple utility function,” I thought to myself as I reviewed the code. “What could go wrong?” Then I saw it: the function was blindly executing shell commands based on user input. One carefully crafted argument later, and someone could have turned our helpful library into their personal backdoor. When you’re building a Python library, you’re not just writing code; you’re creating somet...
How Skis Are Made: From Wood to Carbon Fiber
February 1, 2025
As a mechanical engineer who spent years working in bike shops and obsessing over every component of my bicycles, it felt strange to realize I’d spent the last five years skiing without really understanding what was under my feet. My wife introduced me to skiing, and being the impatient learner I am, I jumped straight into the deep end of the sport. While she was already carving up the slopes with...
Taming the Python Chaos: Linting & Formatting with Ruff
January 30, 2025
Let’s be honest, wading through inconsistent Python code can feel like hacking through a dense jungle with a butter knife. Different quote styles, weird indentation, unused imports lurking in the shadows… it’s exhausting and, frankly, slows everyone down. This is where the dynamic duo of linting and formatting ride to the rescue. They might sound like boring chores, but trust me, they are fundamen...
Handling Sensitive Data Securely Within Your Python Library
January 29, 2025
Accidentally exposed API keys and credentials in public repositories remain one of the most common security issues in modern software development. Despite the widespread awareness of this risk, these incidents continue to occur across organizations of all sizes. Let’s explore comprehensive strategies for keeping sensitive data secure in Python libraries, so you can build more robust and secure app...
Decoding Library Updates: Understanding Semantic Versioning (SemVer)
January 28, 2025
When you release a new version of your Python library, how do users know what to expect? Will updating break their existing code? Does it just contain bug fixes, or are there exciting new features? Without a clear system, version numbers are just arbitrary labels, leading to confusion and the dreaded “dependency hell.” This is why Semantic Versioning (SemVer) has become the de facto standard for l...
Dependency Security: Managing Vulnerabilities with pip-audit
January 27, 2025
Picture this: a developer updates a dependency with a simple patch version bump. Everything seems fine until a security researcher emails: “Your library is vulnerable to remote code execution.” The issue wasn’t in the library’s code; it was in a dependency that wasn’t being checked for known vulnerabilities. This scenario highlights a crucial aspect of Python supply chain security. Even if your li...
The Center of Your Python Project: Understanding pyproject.toml
January 26, 2025
If you’ve started a new Python project recently or looked at the structure of modern libraries, you’ve undoubtedly encountered a file named pyproject.toml sitting in the project root. What is this file, and why has it become so important? Gone are the days of juggling setup.py, setup.cfg, requirements.txt, MANIFEST.in, and separate configuration files for every single tool (.isort.cfg, .flake8, .c...
Subscribe to the Newsletter
Get the latest posts and insights delivered straight to your inbox.