#139 - Maximizing Your Developer Experience (DX) with Adam Johnson: Git Mastery, Django and Open Source

Pybites Podcast

This week we talk with Adam Johnson, Python developer / consultant, Django steering counsel member and prolific book author.
We start off with some wins, then we dive into his new Boost your Git DX book.
We also discuss:
• Adam's focus on DX or "developer experience" in his books.
• State of Python tooling.
• Future of Django + Htmx / front-end dev.
• Open source projects motivation and tips for (aspiring) contributors.
• Tips to diversify one's skill set and contribute as a Python developer.
• Technical blogging.
• Book / resource recommendations.
Links & Resources:
- Get Adam's Boost Your Git DX book
- Reach out to Adam on X
- Djangocon US 2023
- django-watchfiles
- time-machine
- Pelican for blogging
- If Books Could Kill podcast
- Mentioned Jim Hodapp podcast episode
- Be Useful (new Arnold book)
Episode Chapters:
00:00 Intro snippet and music
00:47 Episode and guest intro
02:05 Wins of the week (django-watchfiles plugin)
05:04 New Boost your Git DX book
07:26 New tips, even for experienced developers
07:55 Git keep or ignore files
08:57 Your focus on DX (developer experience) in your books
12:32 Code quality and current state of Python tooling
14:40 Future of Django ecosystem and Htmx
16:46 Front-end development
18:00 Motivation for Open source projects
19:37 time-machine, an alternative for Freezegun
20:18 Advice for budding maintainers
21:20 Experience of contributing to git
22:40 Ran into git stash bug because of producing content
23:38 Tips for developers to diversify skill set and contribute
24:42 Using Pelican for your tech blog + note taking
25:55 Believe in yourself / imposter syndrome
27:30 Book pricing
28:20 Book / resource recommendations
29:40 Wrap up and outro music