PyConZA 2015: "Pragmatic Python for Social Change" by Greg Kempe

Code for South Africa is a civic technology lab that uses Python and open data to promote informed decision making to drive social change. We use our skills for social good.

We build tools like Wazimap.co.za for exploring your neighbourhood through statistics, Medicine Prices (mpr.code4sa.org) for finding cheaper generics of prescription medicines, OpenByLaws.org.za for local legislation that's easy to read and share, and PMG.org.za for keeping an eye on Parliament.

In this talk we'll discuss what civic technology means, how you can get involved, and the why, what and how of our approach to building and running more than 25 websites, services and applications with a small budget and an even smaller team.

Transcript

1. Pragmatic Python for Social Change Greg Kempe Code for South Africa @longhotsummer @code4sa
3. living-wage.co.za
4. mpr.code4sa.org
5. location, location, location xpatnation.co
6. You are here! wazimap.co.za
7. openbylaws.org.za
8. How we choose our tech learning curve community and documentation rate of change maintainability
9. First, choose not to build GitHub Pages S3
10. When we must build Django (& Flask) Heroku Docker & Dokku PostgreSQL & MySQL on Amazon RDS Excel
11. pip install XlsxWriter
13. “At least once every three months there’s a startup that [reinvents] Pivot Tables” -- Joel Spolsky
15. Helping other people make better decisions 20+ sites, apps and services 2 developers
16. Civic Tech
19. Government Digital Service @gdsteam github.com/alphagov
21. GDS Design Principles 8. Build digital services, not websites gov.uk/design-principles
24. Get Involved Play with your city’s data Show what’s possible Join a civic/tech open data group Take a sabbatical :) code4sa.org/careers
25. nyctaxi.herokuapp.com
26. code.waag.org/buildings
27. Chance, luck and skill have conspired to give you an immense opportunity to have a substantial impact on people’s lives. Use it.