Podcast.init

Mike Driscoll And His Career In Python

Jul 8 '18

Summary

Mike Driscoll has been writing blogs and books for the Python community for years, including his popular series on the Python Module Of The Week. In his daily work he uses Python to test graphical interfaces written in C++ and QT for embedded platforms. In this episode he explains his work, how he got involved in writing as a regular exercise, and an overview of his recent books.

Preface

Hello and welcome to Podcast.__init__, the podcast about Python and the people who make it great.
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Your host as usual is Tobias Macey and today I’m interviewing Mike Driscoll about using Python to test QT UIs for embedded platforms, his experience running a popular Python blog, and being a self-published author

Technically, I am testing a C++ Qt app that is deployed to an embedded system

Interview

Introductions
How did you get introduced to Python?
Can you start by describing the way in which you are using Python for your work?
What benefits does Python provide for writing and running tests for projects written in other languages?
- What are the drawbacks or limitations?
What are some of the tools or techniques that you have found most useful for your work?
- How much of that was hard-earned knowledge vs finding it in reference material or prior art?
What are some of the most interesting and/or difficult aspects of testing graphical interfaces?
What are some of the most surprising or unexpected aspects of the problem space that you have discovered through your work?
What are some of the other ways in which you have worked with the Python language and community?
What are you most interested in working toward in the future?