Upgrade to Pro — share decks privately, control downloads, hide ads and more …

How is the Python Software Foundation like a li...

Avatar for Loren Crary Loren Crary
December 14, 2022

How is the Python Software Foundation like a lighthouse?

What role does the PSF play in the Python ecosystem, and why?

A short presentation given at PyCon Tanzania 2022 on the concept of public goods, and the work the Python Software Foundation does that only it can do. with many thanks. Many thanks to the PyCon TZ organizers!

Avatar for Loren Crary

Loren Crary

December 14, 2022
Tweet

Other Decks in Programming

Transcript

  1. How is the Python Software Foundation like a lighthouse? What

    role does the PSF play in the Python ecosystem, and why? LOREN CRARY FOR PYCON TANZANIA, 7TH DECEMBER 2022
  2. • Lawyer by training • Previous 7 years worked for

    a small East African education organization • Last trip to Zanzibar was in 2017 :-)
  3. • My first keynote & first conference talk EVER! •

    It is so special to have it with you at PyCon Tanzania. • Thank you for sharing this milestone with me!!!!!
  4. Python! • Python is by some measures the most popular

    coding language in the world • It’s used in popular apps that you probably have on your phone in your pocket right now, like Instagram • and as far away as Mars! • At least in the US, it’s the most popular language taught in intro computer science classes at universities Perseverance's Selfie at "Rochette" by NASA
  5. What is a public good? Photo by Jarod Burns, CC

    BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=42368467
  6. Public Goods - Definition in Economics 1. Non-excludable - You

    can’t stop anyone from using it. 2. Non-competitive - One person using it doesn’t prevent the next person from using it.
  7. 1. Excludable - You can stop someone from using it.

    2. Competitive - One person using it means someone else can’t. Public Goods vs Private Goods
  8. Is it a public good? • Piece of pizza •

    NO. Excludable AND competitive
  9. Is it a public good? • Movie in a theater?

    Copyright: © 2014 Lee Edwin Coursey
  10. Is it a public good? • Movie in a theater?

    • NO - Non-competitive BUT it is excludable
  11. Is it a public good? • Fish in the ocean?

    • NO - Non-excludable BUT it is competitive
  12. Is it a public good? • Street light? Andrey Belenko

    from Moscow, Russia, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
  13. Is it a public good? • Street light? • YES.

    Non-excludable AND non-competitive Andrey Belenko from Moscow, Russia, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
  14. Is it a public good? • The Python programming language?

    • YES!!! Non-excludable AND non-competitive
  15. Who usually pays for public goods? Photo by Jarod Burns,

    CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=42368467
  16. Why don’t companies pay for public goods? 1. Non-excludable 2.

    Non-competitive 1. Hard to make users pay 2. No incentive to stop freeloaders
  17. Public goods Recap: Photo by Jarod Burns, CC BY-SA 2.0,

    https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=42368467 1. Non-excludable - You can’t stop anyone from using it. 2. Non-competitive - One person using it doesn’t prevent the next person from using it or use it up. 3. Hard to charge for them so they need someone to provide who doesn’t mind not charging users
  18. History of the Python Software Foundation • Founded in 2001

    • Initially created to hold the Python intellectual property
  19. Community • PyCon US • Grants to community groups and

    events • Code of Conduct • Keeping the community connected
  20. Investing in Python & Tools • Python Packaging Index- PyPI.org

    • CPython Developer-in-Residence • More to come!
  21. Some things the PSF is working on • Bring more

    Python users into engaging actively in the Python community • Bring Python to more people • Strengthen communication with the community
  22. Ask both what you can do for the PSF AND

    what the PSF can do for you
  23. What can you do for the PSF? • Become a

    member • Volunteer for the PSF or PyCon US • Donate • Join a working group • Run for the board
  24. What can you do for the PSF? • Become a

    member: https://www.python.org/psf/membership-faq/ • Volunteer for the PSF or PyCon US: https://www.python.org/psf/volunteer/ • Donate: https://www.python.org/psf/donations/ • Join a working group: https://www.python.org/psf/workgroups/ • Run for the board: https://www.python.org/nominations/elections/
  25. What can the PSF do for you? • Grant funding

    for your group or event - like for this event! • Chance to talk at PyCon US - This year’s CFP is open for another few days! • Resources for Python questions
  26. What can the PSF do for you? • Grant funding

    for your group or event: https://www.python.org/psf/grants/ • Chance to talk at PyCon US: https://us.pycon.org/2023/speaking/guidelines/ • Resources for Python questions: discuss.python.org or for beginners check out https://www.python.org/about/gettingstarted/
  27. How to reach and follow the PSF • https://www.python.org/psf/ •

    Blog: pyfound.blogspot.com • Newsletter: https://www.python.org/psf/newsletter/ • Twitter: @thePSF • Mastodon: https://fosstodon.org/@thepsf