Meta discussion about GPUG: what do we want to achieve with it?
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mhc...@gmail.com
Jun 25, 2014, 12:30:50 PM6/25/14
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As per Walters suggestion, I have created this thread to discuss the goals of the GPUG.
My take on things:
The attendance of the group will fluctuate year-round (as can be evidenced from the meetups of the longer-running CTPUG).
Perhaps the idea of having meetups where the only thing we do is listen to a couple of talks about 1 or 2 topics is not the way to go about things.
My initial goal when arranging the first meetup was to have the talks limited to 30-45 minutes each and then have "hackathons", where the attendees try to build something rapidly. Perhaps we need to consider this for future meetups.
Something else we could consider is growing the python community by approaching school/varsity students and people in certain fields (analysts, etc.). How could we grow the community? Maybe through free/paid presentations of python. We could host events at company offices, varsities and maybe even schools. It should be kept in mind that adoption will be relatively slow, but if it is organic and long-term, then we all benefit through the growth of the community. We could run these presentations once a month at a variety of venues (and use the monthly meetup for feedback/results/planning).
These are just some ideas I've had. We all have other commitments, so feel free to suggest other things that may be less intensive on your valuable time.
I would be willing to volunteer some of my time to teach python to folks on Saturdays (once a month).
If we do manage to grow the community somewhat, we could also consider hosting "remote weekend hackathons", where beginners within the same locality come together to build quick prototypes (for learning, entrepreneurship and/or something else). Again, this is just another potential idea.
My last suggestion would be for the pythonistas to take on a small quarterly project that everyone builds together. This will be a project for fun. Very simple and something we can all tinker with. Whether quarterly or half-yearly, we could also discuss situations with the project at the monthly meetups.
What do you guys think?i
Any ideas? Suggestions?
My take on things:
The attendance of the group will fluctuate year-round (as can be evidenced from the meetups of the longer-running CTPUG).
Perhaps the idea of having meetups where the only thing we do is listen to a couple of talks about 1 or 2 topics is not the way to go about things.
My initial goal when arranging the first meetup was to have the talks limited to 30-45 minutes each and then have "hackathons", where the attendees try to build something rapidly. Perhaps we need to consider this for future meetups.
Something else we could consider is growing the python community by approaching school/varsity students and people in certain fields (analysts, etc.). How could we grow the community? Maybe through free/paid presentations of python. We could host events at company offices, varsities and maybe even schools. It should be kept in mind that adoption will be relatively slow, but if it is organic and long-term, then we all benefit through the growth of the community. We could run these presentations once a month at a variety of venues (and use the monthly meetup for feedback/results/planning).
These are just some ideas I've had. We all have other commitments, so feel free to suggest other things that may be less intensive on your valuable time.
I would be willing to volunteer some of my time to teach python to folks on Saturdays (once a month).
If we do manage to grow the community somewhat, we could also consider hosting "remote weekend hackathons", where beginners within the same locality come together to build quick prototypes (for learning, entrepreneurship and/or something else). Again, this is just another potential idea.
My last suggestion would be for the pythonistas to take on a small quarterly project that everyone builds together. This will be a project for fun. Very simple and something we can all tinker with. Whether quarterly or half-yearly, we could also discuss situations with the project at the monthly meetups.
What do you guys think?i
Any ideas? Suggestions?
Walter Leibbrandt
Jun 29, 2014, 8:41:23 PM6/29/14
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We raised the question of "what do you want out of GPUG?" at the June meetup. The discussion indicated that there is an interest in having GPUG serve as a Python-related support and networking platform. (Meetup attendees, please correct me if I'm wrong.)
What I like about this approach, is that it requires little to no investment from members (you've mentioned the value of spare time) - it is just a friendly place for Pythonistas to come together and meet each other. The networking part could also potentially lead to business relationships between members (it was mentioned that there is quite a need for Python devs in GP). Being the go-to group for finding/hiring/training/stalking Python users would be a great contribution to the community in itself.
The meetups, to me, is only slightly more than an excuse to get Python users together. The talks might introduce a concept to start further discussion, but listening to lectures should not be the primary goal. Therefore, I agree with keeping talks short, but maybe hackathons should be optional, allowing those more interested in discussion/networking to do so.
I fully support your ideas for activities and growing the community (and will contribute where I can), but would suggest that they be handled as GPUG projects in stead of having them form an integral part of GPUG. That way members need not feel obligated to participate (and be scared off as a result).
In summary, I would suggest focusing on getting Python users involved and talking. From there we can start running projects as the need/opportunity/whim presents itself.
More comments welcome. :)
What I like about this approach, is that it requires little to no investment from members (you've mentioned the value of spare time) - it is just a friendly place for Pythonistas to come together and meet each other. The networking part could also potentially lead to business relationships between members (it was mentioned that there is quite a need for Python devs in GP). Being the go-to group for finding/hiring/training/stalking Python users would be a great contribution to the community in itself.
The meetups, to me, is only slightly more than an excuse to get Python users together. The talks might introduce a concept to start further discussion, but listening to lectures should not be the primary goal. Therefore, I agree with keeping talks short, but maybe hackathons should be optional, allowing those more interested in discussion/networking to do so.
I fully support your ideas for activities and growing the community (and will contribute where I can), but would suggest that they be handled as GPUG projects in stead of having them form an integral part of GPUG. That way members need not feel obligated to participate (and be scared off as a result).
In summary, I would suggest focusing on getting Python users involved and talking. From there we can start running projects as the need/opportunity/whim presents itself.
More comments welcome. :)
Corrie Strydom
Jun 30, 2014, 12:06:34 AM6/30/14
to gpu...@googlegroups.com
I agree with Walter on this, the "format" we used on Sat worked perfectly, yes, it was forced on us by the power outage, but it was a good discussion time for everyone and we all took some things away from it. For myself it is more a networking/support group.
Corrie
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mhc...@gmail.com
Jun 30, 2014, 10:13:17 AM6/30/14
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Hello, just some feedback on Walters post...
>"there is an interest in having GPUG serve as a Python-related support and networking platform."
+1. I like this idea.
>"The networking part could also potentially lead to business relationships between members(it was mentioned that there is quite a need for Python devs in GP)."
This has exciting prospects for everyone. Although I'm not so sure about how "big" the need for pythonistas is in GP (cape town seems to love us more). Perhaps there are quite a few niche open opportunities that aren't being advertised, but hopefully the members will use this group to recruit other python devs.
>"The networking part could also potentially lead to business relationships between members(it was mentioned that there is quite a need for Python devs in GP)."
This has exciting prospects for everyone. Although I'm not so sure about how "big" the need for pythonistas is in GP (cape town seems to love us more). Perhaps there are quite a few niche open opportunities that aren't being advertised, but hopefully the members will use this group to recruit other python devs.
>"Being the go-to group for finding/hiring/training/
stalking Python users would be a great contribution to the community in itself."
+1 for this too. Although not always a good way to appreciate a fine language, commercial opportunities with the language will help grow the community as well.
>"would suggest that they be handled as GPUG projects in stead of having them form an integral part of GPUG."
Definitely agree. It was just an idea I had for engaging pythonistas, but then again, I'm sure they'd much rather contribute to open source projects that interest them instead of working on projects we start just for the sake of starting them :P
Lastly, I must thank you for your efforts Walter. This past meetup has been extremely successful in helping shape the future of the group and where we are headed.
We seem to have settled quite a few "murky" areas and hopefully we can keep growing organically as the meetups continue.
Lastly, I must thank you for your efforts Walter. This past meetup has been extremely successful in helping shape the future of the group and where we are headed.
We seem to have settled quite a few "murky" areas and hopefully we can keep growing organically as the meetups continue.
Awesome stuff!
H
Liam J Thompson
Jul 4, 2014, 3:24:21 AM7/4/14
to gpu...@googlegroups.com
I think it is a good idea to have "continuous professional development"
as they like to call it in academia. We can't each go over each of the
new trends and packages out there and of course, nothing teaches you
subject matter like having to teach it to someone else.
I know there are several people (students mostly) at Wits who would like
to attend these Sat afternoon workgroups, and having the meeting in
Centurion rules out their participation. So Sat afternoon in Jhb is
good. Perhaps we can arrange it at one of the Wits buildings like JCSE
if other options fall through.
Liam
On 25/06/2014 18:30, mhc...@gmail.com wrote:
> As per Walters suggestion, I have created this thread to discuss the
> goals of the GPUG.
>
> _*My take on things:*_
as they like to call it in academia. We can't each go over each of the
new trends and packages out there and of course, nothing teaches you
subject matter like having to teach it to someone else.
I know there are several people (students mostly) at Wits who would like
to attend these Sat afternoon workgroups, and having the meeting in
Centurion rules out their participation. So Sat afternoon in Jhb is
good. Perhaps we can arrange it at one of the Wits buildings like JCSE
if other options fall through.
Liam
On 25/06/2014 18:30, mhc...@gmail.com wrote:
> As per Walters suggestion, I have created this thread to discuss the
> goals of the GPUG.
>
>
> The attendance of the group will fluctuate year-round (as can be
> evidenced from the meetups of the longer-running CTPUG).
>
> Perhaps the idea of having meetups where the only thing we do is listen
> to a couple of talks about 1 or 2 topics is not the way to go about things.
>
> My initial goal when arranging the first meetup was to have the talks
> limited to 30-45 minutes each and then have "hackathons", where the
> attendees try to build something rapidly. Perhaps we need to consider
> this for future meetups.
>
> Something else we could consider is growing the python community by
> approaching school/varsity students and people in certain fields
> (analysts, etc.). How could we grow the community? Maybe through
> /*free*//paid presentations of python. We could host events at company
> The attendance of the group will fluctuate year-round (as can be
> evidenced from the meetups of the longer-running CTPUG).
>
> Perhaps the idea of having meetups where the only thing we do is listen
> to a couple of talks about 1 or 2 topics is not the way to go about things.
>
> My initial goal when arranging the first meetup was to have the talks
> limited to 30-45 minutes each and then have "hackathons", where the
> attendees try to build something rapidly. Perhaps we need to consider
> this for future meetups.
>
> Something else we could consider is growing the python community by
> approaching school/varsity students and people in certain fields
> (analysts, etc.). How could we grow the community? Maybe through
> offices, varsities and maybe even schools. It should be kept in mind
> that adoption will be relatively slow, but if it is organic and
> long-term, then we all benefit through the growth of the community. We
> could run these presentations once a month at a variety of venues (and
> use the monthly meetup for feedback/results/planning).
>
> These are just some ideas I've had. We all have other commitments, so
> feel free to suggest other things that may be less intensive on your
> valuable time.
>
> I would be willing to volunteer some of my time to teach python to folks
> on Saturdays (once a month).
>
> If we do manage to grow the community somewhat, we could also consider
> hosting "remote weekend hackathons", where beginners within the same
> locality come together to build quick prototypes (for learning,
> entrepreneurship and/or something else). Again, this is just another
> potential idea.
>
> My last suggestion would be for the pythonistas to take on a small
> quarterly project that everyone builds together. This will be a project
> for fun. Very simple and something we can all tinker with. Whether
> quarterly or half-yearly, we could also discuss situations with the
> project at the monthly meetups.
>
> What do you guys think?i
>
> Any ideas? Suggestions?
>
> that adoption will be relatively slow, but if it is organic and
> long-term, then we all benefit through the growth of the community. We
> could run these presentations once a month at a variety of venues (and
> use the monthly meetup for feedback/results/planning).
>
> These are just some ideas I've had. We all have other commitments, so
> feel free to suggest other things that may be less intensive on your
> valuable time.
>
> I would be willing to volunteer some of my time to teach python to folks
> on Saturdays (once a month).
>
> If we do manage to grow the community somewhat, we could also consider
> hosting "remote weekend hackathons", where beginners within the same
> locality come together to build quick prototypes (for learning,
> entrepreneurship and/or something else). Again, this is just another
> potential idea.
>
> My last suggestion would be for the pythonistas to take on a small
> quarterly project that everyone builds together. This will be a project
> for fun. Very simple and something we can all tinker with. Whether
> quarterly or half-yearly, we could also discuss situations with the
> project at the monthly meetups.
>
> What do you guys think?i
>
> Any ideas? Suggestions?
>
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Walter Leibbrandt
Jul 4, 2014, 5:44:45 PM7/4/14
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Hi Liam,
On Friday, 4 July 2014 09:24:21 UTC+2, Liam Thompson wrote:
I think it is a good idea to have "continuous professional development"
as they like to call it in academia. We can't each go over each of the
new trends and packages out there and of course, nothing teaches you
subject matter like having to teach it to someone else.
Yes, and this is where our meetup talks come in. The presenters should know enough about the topics they are presenting to keep the discussion going after a short talk. As my MongoDB intro has demonstrated, "enough" need not be that much. ;)
I know there are several people (students mostly) at Wits who would like
to attend these Sat afternoon workgroups, and having the meeting in
Centurion rules out their participation. So Sat afternoon in Jhb is
good. Perhaps we can arrange it at one of the Wits buildings like JCSE
if other options fall through.
That's great to hear. I hope you will encourage them to attend the July meetup. Unfortunately I already arranged to host it at JoziHub, but maybe we can host the August meetup at Wits. I think it would be a good thing to keep the meetups "mobile"; we can cover more ground that way.
lm.m...@gmail.com
Jul 21, 2014, 5:41:44 AM7/21/14
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I attended my first Meetup this weekend, Yay!
I got a number of idea, pretty long list
---
Ideas
---
Topics of Discussion (Already happening)
--------------------
A time where anyone can take their laptop up and show off something cool they
found related to python. It could be themed:
Development environment
Documentation in Python
Cool test strategies
Deployment tools
fabric
waf
scons
Continuous Integration
Getting started with testing (live coding)
What is Pythonic?
Something interesting I found on the web this month (anything from pics to
pythonic things)
Monty Python snippets
People of Python (Guido and the rest who have done cool things in Python)
Your python story
What do you like about Python
What got you started with Python
What do you hate about Python
Favorite library in Python
Cython
Jython
Security and Python
Arduino and Python (project ideas)
Raspberry Pi and Python
Project Ideas
Scripting in Python
what are you favorite scripts
show off some of your scripts dirty dirty scripts
what are the best tools for scripting in python
Text processing in Python
GPUG project
------------
A group project written primarily in python that all members can contribute to.
Ideas include:
Git and Google group sync
A Django website that links
GPUG android app
Off-topic (With example answers)
---------
Your operating system (Archlinux, cause pacman > apt-get)
Your editor (just came back to vim after a year with Emacs, considering evil)
Fun things to do in Jozi
Other languages (Haskell anyone?)
Your 8 to 5 (I am a student)
Where is the best place to get food (KFC ofcourse)
I got a number of idea, pretty long list
---
Ideas
---
Topics of Discussion (Already happening)
--------------------
A time where anyone can take their laptop up and show off something cool they
found related to python. It could be themed:
Development environment
Documentation in Python
Cool test strategies
Deployment tools
fabric
waf
scons
Continuous Integration
Getting started with testing (live coding)
What is Pythonic?
Something interesting I found on the web this month (anything from pics to
pythonic things)
Monty Python snippets
People of Python (Guido and the rest who have done cool things in Python)
Your python story
What do you like about Python
What got you started with Python
What do you hate about Python
Favorite library in Python
Cython
Jython
Security and Python
Arduino and Python (project ideas)
Raspberry Pi and Python
Project Ideas
Scripting in Python
what are you favorite scripts
show off some of your scripts dirty dirty scripts
what are the best tools for scripting in python
Text processing in Python
GPUG project
------------
A group project written primarily in python that all members can contribute to.
Ideas include:
Git and Google group sync
A Django website that links
GPUG android app
Off-topic (With example answers)
---------
Your operating system (Archlinux, cause pacman > apt-get)
Your editor (just came back to vim after a year with Emacs, considering evil)
Fun things to do in Jozi
Other languages (Haskell anyone?)
Your 8 to 5 (I am a student)
Where is the best place to get food (KFC ofcourse)
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