Guido van Rossum Interviews Thomas Wouters (Python Core Dev)
2 days ago
- #Python
- #Open Source
- #Programming History
- Guido van Rossum interviews Thomas Wouters about his early involvement with Python.
- Thomas first encountered Python through LambdaMOO, an online text-based community, which influenced his programming style.
- He transitioned from LambdaMOO to Perl and C before discovering Python in 1998-99, finding it intuitive and enjoyable.
- Thomas contributed to Python by implementing augmented assignment (e.g., +=) and was mentored by Guido.
- He recalls key figures in the Python community like Tim Peters, Fredrik Lundh, and Michael Hudson.
- The discussion touches on Python's evolution, including the introduction of nested scopes and future imports.
- Thomas shares anecdotes about the Python Software Foundation's early days and the first PyCon.
- He reflects on the challenges of backward compatibility and Python's growth over the years.
- The interview highlights the collaborative and welcoming nature of the Python community in its early days.