[vox] BayPIGgies meeting Thursday, March 25, 2010: Python 3: The Next Generation

[jim]

BayPIGgies meeting Thursday, March 25, 2010: Python 3: The Next
Generation

Tonight's talk is 
* Python 3: The Next Generation 
by Wesley Chun 

Meetings usually start with a Newbie Nugget, a short discussion 
of an essential Python feature, especially for those new to 
Python. 
Tonight's Newbie Nugget: None: It's all Py 3 tonight! 

LOCATION 
Symantec Corporation
Symantec Vcafe
350 Ellis Street
Mountain View, CA 94043
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&ie=UTF8&fb=1&split=1&gl=us&ei=w6i_Sfr6MZmQsQOzlv0v&hl=en&t=h&msa=0&msid=116202735295394761637.00046550c09ff3d96bff1&ll=37.397693,-122.053707&spn=0.002902,0.004828&z=18

BayPIGgies meeting information is available at 
http://www.baypiggies.net/ 


------------------------ Agenda ------------------------


..... 7:30 PM ...........................
General hubbub, inventory end-of-meeting announcements, any 
first-minute announcements. 


..... 7:35 PM to 7:45 PM ................
Newbie Nugget: Wesley will start his Py 3 talk. 


..... 7:45 PM to 8:40 PM (or so) ................
* Python 3: The Next Generation 

Python is currently at a crossroads: Python 2 has taken it from a
quiet word-of-mouth language to prime time, with many companies 
around the world using it and an ever-increasing global marketshare 
of the programming world. But now comes Python 3, the first version 
of the language that is not backwards compatible with previous 
releases.

What does this mean? 
Are all my Python programs going to break? 
Will I have to rewrite everything? 
How much time do I have? 
When is Python 2 going to be EOL'd? 
Is Python 3 a complete rewrite, and will I even recognize it? 
What are the changes between Python 2 and 3 anyway? 
Are migration plans or transition tools available? 
To start learning Python, should I do Python 2 or Python 3? 
Are all Python 2 books obsolete? 

We will answer all of these questions and more. Join us! For those 
who want to read ahead, check out this online article: 
"Python 3: The Evolution of a Programming Language" 
which can be found at:
http://www.informit.com/articles/article.aspx?p=1328795

We recently delivered this talk at an ACCU USA chapter meeting, the
2009 Silicon Valley CodeCamp, and most recently, at PyCon 2010 in
Atlanta. i will be using the same slidedeck that you can access here:
http://us.pycon.org/2010/conference/schedule/event/29/

WESLEY J. CHUN, MSCS, is the author of Prentice Hall's bestseller,
"Core Python Programming" (http://corepython.com), its video training
course, "Python Fundamentals" (LiveLessons DVD), and co-author of
"Python Web Development with Django" (http://withdjango.com). In
addition to being a Developer Advocate at Google and a volunteer
coordinator for BayPIGgies, he runs CyberWeb 
http://cyberwebconsulting.com 
a consulting business specializing in Python software engineering and 
technical training. He has over 25 years of programming, teaching, 
and writing experience, including more than a decade of Python. While 
at Yahoo!, he helped create Yahoo! Mail and Yahoo! People Search using 
Python. He holds degrees in Computer Science, Mathematics, and Music 
from the University of California.


..... 8:50 PM to 9:30 PM  ................
Mapping and Random Access

Mapping is a rapid-fire audience announcement of issues, hiring, 
events, and other topics. 

Random Access follows people immediately to allow follow up on the 
announcements and other interests.