Top Python Stories of 2018: A Year in Review

Overview of the Year

This episode features a comprehensive countdown of the top 10 stories in the Python ecosystem during 2018. The discussion moves from technical improvements in the language to significant community and governance shifts that defined the year.

Key Technical Developments & Community Trends

Python 3.7 and Performance

• Python 3.7 was highlighted for its performance optimizations, marking a significant milestone where Python 3 exceeded legacy Python performance in key benchmarks.
• The discussion emphasized that faster development time is just as critical as raw execution speed.

The Shift to Calendar Versioning (CalVer)

• Projects like Sanic and Pip have adopted calendar versioning, moving away from traditional semantic versioning.
• This shift helps avoid the stigma of "0.x" versions for enterprise users and provides a clearer indication of project activity and support lifecycles.

The Rise of Embedded Python

• Python is increasingly prominent in the Internet of Things (IoT) and maker movements, powered by tools like MicroPython and CircuitPython.

"The fact that I can take a Lambda expression and tie it to a hardware interrupt just never ceases to amaze me."

Code Formatting with Black

• The arrival of Black revolutionized code styling by removing formatting debates from code reviews, allowing developers to focus purely on logic and design.

Ecosystem Changes

The Maturity of PyPI

• The launch of the new PyPI.org marked a major modernization effort, providing a robust, professional platform that aligns with the quality users expect from modern package repositories.

The End of Legacy Python

• With the official end-of-life for Python 2.7 set for January 1st, 2020, major libraries and frameworks have stepped up their transition support, effectively signaling a definitive move toward a Python-3-only future.

Security and the "End of Innocence"

• The community faced new challenges regarding malicious packages and typo squatting, highlighting the need for better security practices in open-source package distribution.

Governance and Leadership

BDFL Transition

• The most significant news of 2018 was Guido van Rossum stepping down as Benevolent Dictator for Life (BDFL).
• This move has triggered crucial conversations regarding the future governance structure of the language, with various proposals currently under discussion to ensure healthy, democratic management of the CPython project moving forward.