Panel - python-dev

Provisional organizer: Steve Holden

Panelists: Steve Holden (M), Andrew Kuchling, Brett Cannon, Neal Norwitz, Jeremy Hylton.

Questions To Put To the Panel

"When did you join python-dev and how did you get your commit privileges?"

"What is your favourite thing about participating in Python's development?"

"I could really use parallel processing. Can we have a process module akin to the threading module?"

"Cats or dogs?"

"If you were not using Python what language you would do most of your personal programming in?"

"What do you view as the line for modules which fit into the core distribution and those that do not"

(followup) "What do you think of a Python.org distribution system of "Core" and "Extras" ala the Fedora project. Module are selected by comittee, and are held to a stringent quality/design bar and offer a selection of. This way new (and seasoned) users have an excellent introduction to both the core and the "cream of the crop" 3rdparty modules that does not involve pulling things from the cheeseshop manually or with ez_setup.py"

"What do each of you view as the biggest technical challenge facing Python in the near future? What technical aspect of the language would you want to be addressed?"

"What will happen to 'official' Python development if Pypy becomes a viable way (or even a better way) to implement and use the language? Will CPython always be the 'official' implementation of the language? Is there any chance of the implementation language changing? (to Python itself, C++, D, Perl6 :), etc.) If not, why?"

"Emacs or VI?"

"Any feeling on how likely it is that we'll see a useful restricted mode for Python again?"

"One task, multiple cores, and Python. Which way to do it?"

"Where does the time you put into Python come from? Do your employers give you work time for Python? If so, what was your experience getting that to happen? If you're a strict volunteer, how do you balance your work on Python with your real life and other hobbies?"