Pybites Podcast

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 feedbac...

Are 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 ston...

Sebastián 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 ho...

What 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...

This 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...

In 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 b...

The 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...

Rye 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 proble...

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...

The 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 startu...

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...

Meet 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 pressu...

Tim Frazer shares his remarkable journey from a homeschooled kid on the Canadian coast to an entrepreneur in Philadelphia. He recounts his early life, influenced by two contrasting educational philosophies, and how this paved the way for his career in operations and software development.  This episode delves into the parallels between sports and coding, as Tim shares his journey from yoga all the...

Generative 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...

Could 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 succes...

We're back with a brand new episode, on our 8th anniversary today, the 19th of Dec. 🥳 We have some exciting updates, mainly around our new v2 platform and how it's going to impact people in Africa, new things that are coming, and of course book tips. 📈 Happy holidays 😎 and thanks for tuning in! 🙏 Chapters: 00:00 Intro 02:10 News, community shout outs 05:50 Believe Resourcing Group (B...

What happens when a professional dancer trades it in for a keyboard? Join us as we uncover the incredible journey of Sara Moad, who went from being a professional dancer to managing tech solutions as a Solutions Architect at Sydney Airport. Her transition wasn't just about switching careers; it was about embracing change, self-belief, and the profound impact of soft skills cultivated in teach...

This 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 Rust We 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 throu...

Who isn’t using Ruff for its blazing speed? Who hasn’t yet tried uv to make project management seamless and fast? What goes into building these tools, managing their increasing popularity + community of adopters? Hear from the creator himself, Charlie Marsh, as he shares insights on designing fast, ergonomic Python tooling that elevates the developer experience. 😍 📈 Chapters: 00:00 Intro 01:45 C...

Welcome back to the Pybites Podcast! This week, Julian talks with Tanner Martin , a Python developer and valued graduate and community member of our Pybites Developer Mindset (PDM) program. In this episode, Tanner shares insights on productivity, mindset, and personal growth. He reflects on his journey to transform his productivity approach, reduce anxiety through weekly planning, and embrace self...

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 ep...

"The sooner you make your first five thousand mistakes, the sooner you will be able to correct them." - The Natural Way to Draw - Kimon Nicoliades Jeff 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 knowledg...

Welcome 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...

In this episode, we reconnect with the Pixi team after our last conversation in November 2023 to dive back into the world of Python packaging, with a special focus on the latest advancements in Pixi. Joining us are Tim and Ruben, both of whom bring their unique expertise in robotics and game development. Ruben shares his experience contributing to conda-forge, pixi and Python package management in...

In 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...