Stephen Gruppetta
@stephengruppetta.com
Constantly looking for simple ways to explain complex things…
Here you'll find:
• Python
• Narrative Technical Writing
• Track & Field Athletics
Links in the pinned post below
stephengruppetta.com
Here you'll find:
• Python
• Narrative Technical Writing
• Track & Field Athletics
Links in the pinned post below
stephengruppetta.com
Pinned
Stephen Gruppetta
@stephengruppetta.com
· May 19
Stuff I do…
• Python
Python articles www.thepythoncodingstack.com
The Python Coding Book amzn.to/42tJKOL
Real Python realpython.com
• Narrative technical writing
stephengruppetta.com/breaking-the-rules
• Track & Field Athletics
backonthetrack.substack.com
• Everything stephengruppetta.com
• Python
Python articles www.thepythoncodingstack.com
The Python Coding Book amzn.to/42tJKOL
Real Python realpython.com
• Narrative technical writing
stephengruppetta.com/breaking-the-rules
• Track & Field Athletics
backonthetrack.substack.com
• Everything stephengruppetta.com
In the last few days, I was discussing the Apollo 11 and 13 missions with my daughter and, separately, someone asked me for my lunar landing project
Clearly a sign from the stars (Ha!)
So, here's a preview and the link to the article
thepythoncodingstack.substack.com/p/python-tur...
Clearly a sign from the stars (Ha!)
So, here's a preview and the link to the article
thepythoncodingstack.substack.com/p/python-tur...
November 11, 2025 at 10:18 AM
In the last few days, I was discussing the Apollo 11 and 13 missions with my daughter and, separately, someone asked me for my lunar landing project
Clearly a sign from the stars (Ha!)
So, here's a preview and the link to the article
thepythoncodingstack.substack.com/p/python-tur...
Clearly a sign from the stars (Ha!)
So, here's a preview and the link to the article
thepythoncodingstack.substack.com/p/python-tur...
Reposted by Stephen Gruppetta
STORE • REPEAT • DECIDE • REUSE
This is a great framework for beginners who may struggle to decide which tools are needed when writing code.
• Do you need to store some information to use later on in your program? Think of what data type you may need
/1
This is a great framework for beginners who may struggle to decide which tools are needed when writing code.
• Do you need to store some information to use later on in your program? Think of what data type you may need
/1
November 10, 2025 at 3:50 PM
STORE • REPEAT • DECIDE • REUSE
This is a great framework for beginners who may struggle to decide which tools are needed when writing code.
• Do you need to store some information to use later on in your program? Think of what data type you may need
/1
This is a great framework for beginners who may struggle to decide which tools are needed when writing code.
• Do you need to store some information to use later on in your program? Think of what data type you may need
/1
Pick up a dictionary. No, not that one. The real dictionary you have on your bookshelf, the one that has pages made of paper, which you use to look up the meaning of English words, the one that's been gathering dust for years.
Now, look up "zymology"
I’ll wait…
...
Now, look up "zymology"
I’ll wait…
...
November 9, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Pick up a dictionary. No, not that one. The real dictionary you have on your bookshelf, the one that has pages made of paper, which you use to look up the meaning of English words, the one that's been gathering dust for years.
Now, look up "zymology"
I’ll wait…
...
Now, look up "zymology"
I’ll wait…
...
Next installment in How to Sprint is out–we explore some unexpected features of maximum velocity sprinting in this intro to max velocity…
…most of the force you produce is vertical when you're traveling at top horizontal speed
backonthetrack.substack.com/p/12-maximum...
…most of the force you produce is vertical when you're traveling at top horizontal speed
backonthetrack.substack.com/p/12-maximum...
1.2 Maximum Velocity
Let's start exploring maximum velocity sprinting with subsection 1.2 in this first chapter
backonthetrack.substack.com
November 9, 2025 at 8:10 AM
Next installment in How to Sprint is out–we explore some unexpected features of maximum velocity sprinting in this intro to max velocity…
…most of the force you produce is vertical when you're traveling at top horizontal speed
backonthetrack.substack.com/p/12-maximum...
…most of the force you produce is vertical when you're traveling at top horizontal speed
backonthetrack.substack.com/p/12-maximum...
Was chatting with students at the start of a live session last week. One of them mentioned how she’s enjoying the repetition of some concepts in the course.
We don’t mention something once and move on.
We get back to it, discuss it from a different perspective, through a different example.
…
We don’t mention something once and move on.
We get back to it, discuss it from a different perspective, through a different example.
…
November 8, 2025 at 10:45 PM
Was chatting with students at the start of a live session last week. One of them mentioned how she’s enjoying the repetition of some concepts in the course.
We don’t mention something once and move on.
We get back to it, discuss it from a different perspective, through a different example.
…
We don’t mention something once and move on.
We get back to it, discuss it from a different perspective, through a different example.
…
I post Python stuff, and I get 2 likes. I post an angry message about a software company, I get ten times as much.
Ah, the joys of social media, no matter what platform
Ah, the joys of social media, no matter what platform
I had forgotten how terrible Adobe is -- I still remember a time when they were "good"
I haven't used Adobe for ages, but had to get the free Reader for something
Old style installation that added 4 items that run in the background
It's just a program to read a PDF document, for whatever's sake!
I haven't used Adobe for ages, but had to get the free Reader for something
Old style installation that added 4 items that run in the background
It's just a program to read a PDF document, for whatever's sake!
November 8, 2025 at 11:15 AM
I post Python stuff, and I get 2 likes. I post an angry message about a software company, I get ten times as much.
Ah, the joys of social media, no matter what platform
Ah, the joys of social media, no matter what platform
I had forgotten how terrible Adobe is -- I still remember a time when they were "good"
I haven't used Adobe for ages, but had to get the free Reader for something
Old style installation that added 4 items that run in the background
It's just a program to read a PDF document, for whatever's sake!
I haven't used Adobe for ages, but had to get the free Reader for something
Old style installation that added 4 items that run in the background
It's just a program to read a PDF document, for whatever's sake!
November 7, 2025 at 9:51 AM
I had forgotten how terrible Adobe is -- I still remember a time when they were "good"
I haven't used Adobe for ages, but had to get the free Reader for something
Old style installation that added 4 items that run in the background
It's just a program to read a PDF document, for whatever's sake!
I haven't used Adobe for ages, but had to get the free Reader for something
Old style installation that added 4 items that run in the background
It's just a program to read a PDF document, for whatever's sake!
Who doesn’t love receiving feedback…
Are *you* subscribed to The Python Coding Stack?
www.thepythoncodingstack.com
Are *you* subscribed to The Python Coding Stack?
www.thepythoncodingstack.com
November 4, 2025 at 2:40 PM
Who doesn’t love receiving feedback…
Are *you* subscribed to The Python Coding Stack?
www.thepythoncodingstack.com
Are *you* subscribed to The Python Coding Stack?
www.thepythoncodingstack.com
Not quite as easy as learning your ABCs, but they shouldn’t be hard, either: www.thepythoncodingstack.com/p/and-now-yo...
And Now You Know Your ABC
How helping at my track club's championships led to Python Abstract Base Classes
www.thepythoncodingstack.com
November 2, 2025 at 5:28 PM
Not quite as easy as learning your ABCs, but they shouldn’t be hard, either: www.thepythoncodingstack.com/p/and-now-yo...
The most useless discovery I’ve made in a while:
The `_` identifier in Python’s REPL is only defined when you run the first expression (i.e. something that returns a value)
It’s undefined before that
I would have assumed it’s defined and equal to `None`. But clearly, no!
The `_` identifier in Python’s REPL is only defined when you run the first expression (i.e. something that returns a value)
It’s undefined before that
I would have assumed it’s defined and equal to `None`. But clearly, no!
October 30, 2025 at 9:33 PM
The most useless discovery I’ve made in a while:
The `_` identifier in Python’s REPL is only defined when you run the first expression (i.e. something that returns a value)
It’s undefined before that
I would have assumed it’s defined and equal to `None`. But clearly, no!
The `_` identifier in Python’s REPL is only defined when you run the first expression (i.e. something that returns a value)
It’s undefined before that
I would have assumed it’s defined and equal to `None`. But clearly, no!
Reposted by Stephen Gruppetta
"Not the $%&*(#*! singleton again"
or
"What's a singleton?"
Here's my take: Writing a singleton class is a great exercise to help understand how Python creates and initialises objects…
…but you won't need it anywhere else. There are better alternatives
www.thepythoncodingstack.com/p/creating-a...
or
"What's a singleton?"
Here's my take: Writing a singleton class is a great exercise to help understand how Python creates and initialises objects…
…but you won't need it anywhere else. There are better alternatives
www.thepythoncodingstack.com/p/creating-a...
Creating a Singleton Class in Python And Why You (Probably) Don’t Need It
Creating a singleton class is a great exercise to understand object creation in Python, but you’re unlikely to need it in your code.
www.thepythoncodingstack.com
October 14, 2025 at 10:12 PM
"Not the $%&*(#*! singleton again"
or
"What's a singleton?"
Here's my take: Writing a singleton class is a great exercise to help understand how Python creates and initialises objects…
…but you won't need it anywhere else. There are better alternatives
www.thepythoncodingstack.com/p/creating-a...
or
"What's a singleton?"
Here's my take: Writing a singleton class is a great exercise to help understand how Python creates and initialises objects…
…but you won't need it anywhere else. There are better alternatives
www.thepythoncodingstack.com/p/creating-a...
It’s not just about learning new things. It’s about getting better acquainted with the stuff you already know.
This is true for learning many things, but it’s especially true for learning to program.
1/2
This is true for learning many things, but it’s especially true for learning to program.
1/2
October 28, 2025 at 2:46 PM
It’s not just about learning new things. It’s about getting better acquainted with the stuff you already know.
This is true for learning many things, but it’s especially true for learning to program.
1/2
This is true for learning many things, but it’s especially true for learning to program.
1/2
Blimey!
"Your draft is excellent—engaging, technically sharp, and full of personality."
I now use AI tools to perform a first pass for technical and language reviews for my articles and posts. That's what it said!
I'll try to convince this LLM to become a paid subscriber now…
"Your draft is excellent—engaging, technically sharp, and full of personality."
I now use AI tools to perform a first pass for technical and language reviews for my articles and posts. That's what it said!
I'll try to convince this LLM to become a paid subscriber now…
October 26, 2025 at 7:45 AM
Blimey!
"Your draft is excellent—engaging, technically sharp, and full of personality."
I now use AI tools to perform a first pass for technical and language reviews for my articles and posts. That's what it said!
I'll try to convince this LLM to become a paid subscriber now…
"Your draft is excellent—engaging, technically sharp, and full of personality."
I now use AI tools to perform a first pass for technical and language reviews for my articles and posts. That's what it said!
I'll try to convince this LLM to become a paid subscriber now…
I'm writing about duck typing.
I'm writing on a laptop with a smaller keyboard to the one I'm used to.
'd' and 'f' are next to each other on the keyboard.
I'd better proof-read this article with even more care and intend than usual…
I'm writing on a laptop with a smaller keyboard to the one I'm used to.
'd' and 'f' are next to each other on the keyboard.
I'd better proof-read this article with even more care and intend than usual…
October 26, 2025 at 6:03 AM
I'm writing about duck typing.
I'm writing on a laptop with a smaller keyboard to the one I'm used to.
'd' and 'f' are next to each other on the keyboard.
I'd better proof-read this article with even more care and intend than usual…
I'm writing on a laptop with a smaller keyboard to the one I'm used to.
'd' and 'f' are next to each other on the keyboard.
I'd better proof-read this article with even more care and intend than usual…
This is the week when all regular international meetings go haywire. What Time Is That Meeting This Week?!?!
October 25, 2025 at 9:53 PM
This is the week when all regular international meetings go haywire. What Time Is That Meeting This Week?!?!
Reposted by Stephen Gruppetta
Here’s a framework I use with beginners to get them started with the tough process of converting an idea into code
1. Imagine you went 100 years back in time, before computers or Python
cont/d…
1. Imagine you went 100 years back in time, before computers or Python
cont/d…
I was chatting with students yesterday about the skills and techniques needed to convert an idea into a program—one of many chats on this topic
Sounds easy. But it’s not. I think it’s the biggest hurdle for beginners
Before I share our highlights I want to know what you think…
Sounds easy. But it’s not. I think it’s the biggest hurdle for beginners
Before I share our highlights I want to know what you think…
October 22, 2025 at 7:16 PM
Here’s a framework I use with beginners to get them started with the tough process of converting an idea into code
1. Imagine you went 100 years back in time, before computers or Python
cont/d…
1. Imagine you went 100 years back in time, before computers or Python
cont/d…
I always suspected it exists
Now I found it:
>>> from num2words import num2words
>>> f"The meaning of life is {num2words(42)}"
'The meaning of life is forty-two'
>>> f"This is the {num2words(3, to='ordinal')} time I'm telling you…"
"This is the third time I'm telling you…"
Now I found it:
>>> from num2words import num2words
>>> f"The meaning of life is {num2words(42)}"
'The meaning of life is forty-two'
>>> f"This is the {num2words(3, to='ordinal')} time I'm telling you…"
"This is the third time I'm telling you…"
October 24, 2025 at 9:54 PM
I always suspected it exists
Now I found it:
>>> from num2words import num2words
>>> f"The meaning of life is {num2words(42)}"
'The meaning of life is forty-two'
>>> f"This is the {num2words(3, to='ordinal')} time I'm telling you…"
"This is the third time I'm telling you…"
Now I found it:
>>> from num2words import num2words
>>> f"The meaning of life is {num2words(42)}"
'The meaning of life is forty-two'
>>> f"This is the {num2words(3, to='ordinal')} time I'm telling you…"
"This is the third time I'm telling you…"
Reposted by Stephen Gruppetta
It is a great honor to be included with this group of PSF Fellows! Thanks, and congratulations to everyone in the group.
Please congratulate our newest PSF Fellow Members for Q3, 2025! Their continued contributions to the Python ecosystem are so very important to our community. #python
Announcing Python Software Foundation Fellow Members for Q3 2025! 🎉
The PSF is pleased to announce its third batch of PSF Fellows for 2025! Let us welcome the new PSF Fellows for Q3! The following people continue to do amazing things for the Python community:
pyfound.blogspot.com
October 22, 2025 at 8:03 PM
It is a great honor to be included with this group of PSF Fellows! Thanks, and congratulations to everyone in the group.
Here’s a framework I use with beginners to get them started with the tough process of converting an idea into code
1. Imagine you went 100 years back in time, before computers or Python
cont/d…
1. Imagine you went 100 years back in time, before computers or Python
cont/d…
I was chatting with students yesterday about the skills and techniques needed to convert an idea into a program—one of many chats on this topic
Sounds easy. But it’s not. I think it’s the biggest hurdle for beginners
Before I share our highlights I want to know what you think…
Sounds easy. But it’s not. I think it’s the biggest hurdle for beginners
Before I share our highlights I want to know what you think…
October 22, 2025 at 7:16 PM
Here’s a framework I use with beginners to get them started with the tough process of converting an idea into code
1. Imagine you went 100 years back in time, before computers or Python
cont/d…
1. Imagine you went 100 years back in time, before computers or Python
cont/d…
I was chatting with students yesterday about the skills and techniques needed to convert an idea into a program—one of many chats on this topic
Sounds easy. But it’s not. I think it’s the biggest hurdle for beginners
Before I share our highlights I want to know what you think…
Sounds easy. But it’s not. I think it’s the biggest hurdle for beginners
Before I share our highlights I want to know what you think…
October 21, 2025 at 6:48 PM
I was chatting with students yesterday about the skills and techniques needed to convert an idea into a program—one of many chats on this topic
Sounds easy. But it’s not. I think it’s the biggest hurdle for beginners
Before I share our highlights I want to know what you think…
Sounds easy. But it’s not. I think it’s the biggest hurdle for beginners
Before I share our highlights I want to know what you think…
Has the world starting spinning again after yesterday’s outage?
October 21, 2025 at 6:05 AM
Has the world starting spinning again after yesterday’s outage?
Reposted by Stephen Gruppetta
I was having a chat with students on Friday about the “Python is easy” phrase you sometimes hear.
Whoever says that either:
Doesn’t know Python
or
They really mean “Python is easier than other languages”
Programming is hard. In any language.
Whoever says that either:
Doesn’t know Python
or
They really mean “Python is easier than other languages”
Programming is hard. In any language.
October 18, 2025 at 9:37 PM
I was having a chat with students on Friday about the “Python is easy” phrase you sometimes hear.
Whoever says that either:
Doesn’t know Python
or
They really mean “Python is easier than other languages”
Programming is hard. In any language.
Whoever says that either:
Doesn’t know Python
or
They really mean “Python is easier than other languages”
Programming is hard. In any language.
This post is not about tuples. It’s not about lists or strings, either!
(Preview)
www.thepythoncodingstack.com/p/are-tuples...
(Preview)
www.thepythoncodingstack.com/p/are-tuples...
October 20, 2025 at 6:17 PM
This post is not about tuples. It’s not about lists or strings, either!
(Preview)
www.thepythoncodingstack.com/p/are-tuples...
(Preview)
www.thepythoncodingstack.com/p/are-tuples...
We're just a few hours away from the start of Week 2 on the Python for Beginners: Code With Confidence @realpython.com cohort-based course…
Hurray. This week we start talking about data structures, and of course there's a great mini-project along with all the other learning…
Hurray. This week we start talking about data structures, and of course there's a great mini-project along with all the other learning…
October 19, 2025 at 8:52 PM
We're just a few hours away from the start of Week 2 on the Python for Beginners: Code With Confidence @realpython.com cohort-based course…
Hurray. This week we start talking about data structures, and of course there's a great mini-project along with all the other learning…
Hurray. This week we start talking about data structures, and of course there's a great mini-project along with all the other learning…
I was having a chat with students on Friday about the “Python is easy” phrase you sometimes hear.
Whoever says that either:
Doesn’t know Python
or
They really mean “Python is easier than other languages”
Programming is hard. In any language.
Whoever says that either:
Doesn’t know Python
or
They really mean “Python is easier than other languages”
Programming is hard. In any language.
October 18, 2025 at 9:37 PM
I was having a chat with students on Friday about the “Python is easy” phrase you sometimes hear.
Whoever says that either:
Doesn’t know Python
or
They really mean “Python is easier than other languages”
Programming is hard. In any language.
Whoever says that either:
Doesn’t know Python
or
They really mean “Python is easier than other languages”
Programming is hard. In any language.