Stay Hydrated
similarities between Python programming and swordfighting
Anne DeCusatis
5/19/2024, PyCon US Lightning Talks
Stay Hydrated
similarities between Python programming and swordfighting



About me
Python programmer, professionally since 2015Staff Software Engineer at Flatiron Health
—
Rapier safety marshal Barony of Caerthe (Denver, CO chapter of Society for Creative Anachronism)
I’m in green (2022 photo)
Python programmer, professionally since 2015
currently Staff Software Engineer at Flatiron Health
—
Current rapier safety marshal for Barony of Caerthe (Denver, CO chapter of Society for Creative Anachronism)

It’s important to stay hydrated at events
It’s important to stay hydrated at events

I often go to SCA events in the American Southwest - at elevation particularly, at the events I’m at in Colorado and New Mexico, it’s important to drink a lot of water. While we’re basically at sea level, this is also true at PyCon

Following a reference is how you get started
Following a reference is how you get started

The picture on the left is the cover of a book about how to interpret Destreza a historical Spanish fencing master’s writings on how to learn to defend yourself with a sword. I often learn basics by reading, so I find it useful. You might be different!
On the right is a screenshot of “What’s New In Python 3.12” - another thing you can learn by reading.

…but it’s different than doing it in real life
But it’s different than doing it in real life

When someone new comes to our practice for the first time, I get them in armor as soon as possible. Watching people do it is not nearly as much fun to me as actually doing it.
Another place where this is true is software development. The things I learned in my first year working out of college were things that would never had come up had I not been in a production environment. I was good at school but that didn’t mean I knew how things really worked.

Both involve headspace and analytical thinking about “your opponent”*

*the computer is your opponent
Both involve headspace and analytical thinking about “your opponent”*

People often compare fencing to chess. Once you’ve got the basics down, the strategy begins. You start looking for tells in your opponent, and your presence and headspace - how quickly you react, and what you react with, almost always determine if you win or lose. 

The computer is your opponent in Python. Your mental model of how a program acts and reacts is how you determine success. 

As much about the people
 as about the activity itself
Lastly -

As much about the people
 as about the activity itself

When I moved to Denver 3 years ago, I moved for work and I had never visited Denver, I didn’t know anyone else there. I looked up the local SCA swordfighting group on Facebook, and they welcomed me, and now Denver is my home.

I’m sure you’ve heard before on this stage that - PyCon is by the community, for the community.

Thank you for having me