Python is the 2nd most popular coding language, taking over the old reliables such as Java and .Net. Octoverse reported in 2022 that Python continues to see a surge in its usage across GitHub, experiencing a remarkable 22.5% year-over-year increase. This is no surprise given the advantages Python has.
-It’s easy to learn
-has an impressive library
-It is such a versatile language with a vast spectrum of applications, from Web Development to Automation, Machine Learning, Data Science, and AI
But more importantly, Python has a strong community and fosters collaboration. PyCon conferences are famous around the world with hundreds of Pythonistas attending every year. E-Frontiers has been a regular sponsor of PyCon Spain over the years, but this year we have moved our focus closer to home.
Our Recruitment Operations Manager, Alexandra Pop, has recently attended PyCon Ireland as a speaker. PyCon Ireland was organised by Python Ireland, and it’s now a fixture in the calendar for November. This year’s conference took place at Radisson Blu and the chairperson, Nicolas Laurance, put together a great team of staff and volunteers that delivered an excellent 2 days of networking, workshops, and talks.
PyCon Ireland 2023 featured an extensive and diverse range of talks, covering various Python-related topics. Insights on architecting dashboards and exploring AWS automation. Real-world applications of AI with AWS SageMaker. From Python’s latest updates and improvements to its applications in Quantum Computing and AI, the conference had something for everyone.
Important topics such as Python education, AI Biases were also addressed, and there was a mix of workshops where new and experienced Pythonista came together to share and collaborate.
It was interesting to see that the community is collaborating and making advancements in the areas that Python is lacking, such as improving speed and performance. It’s safe to say that the popularity trend will continue.
Alexandra spoke with a few of the attendees about the latest applications in AI, the trends that they are seeing, and the challenges that they are experiencing. The consensus is that while AI is growing and the buzz around it makes it a must-have for a lot of organisations out there, it is very hard to implement and adopt it in a way that will improve productivity and efficiency unless data quality is not there. The advice from the Python community is before adopting and implementing AI, make sure you know exactly what issue you are looking to solve and review your data first.
One of the final talks of the conference was delivered by Alexandra, and the focus was on applying Python coding principles to a job application, from CV writing to the interview. The session was very successful with a mix of graduate and senior engineers attending and taking great interest in how to approach the job search in the Irish Market and what the best ways are to showcase your skills to a potential employer. You can view Alexandra’s presentation here, and the talk will soon be uploaded on the Python Ireland Youtube channel.
It has been a great experience to meet and talk with the Python talent in Ireland. It’s great to see this area growing, and graduates taking a big interest, it is for sure one with a bright future.
