Background

Three or four companies have approached CTPUG members about where to find training for Python developers in Cape Town, especially the training of junior and mid-level developers.

Discussion

• Providing manpower from within CTPUG doesn't work: * Core CTPUG members just don't have the time and inclination to

  ?

  spend two weeks training people and providing professional follow-up.

• Can we provide infrastructure instead of manpower? * Could we host mentorship evenings? * Could we host Python hacker evenings? * Could we provide teaching materials?

  ?

  • What topics need to be covered?
  • Evaluation is important.

• Topics: * Material can be generated from a list of topics. * There needs to be a way for students to ask questions and get help. * There need to be exercises and problems learners can work through:

  ?

  • Programmatic evaluation of solutions is a good first step (it allows learners to know whether they've implemented the right thing).
  • Certification or assurances for non-learners requires a experienced Python person to read the solutions.

  ?

  • Development environment: * It valuable for junior developers to see how experienced

    ?

    developers work.

  • Ruby Koans for Python.

• Local PyCON? * There was lots of enthusiasm for this.

• Training of junior developers needs to focus on the core libraries they're using (in addition to core Python). Areas that people who want courses need help with include: * Web (especially Django) * Scientific (NumPy and SciPy)

• Practical development topics: * How you should work in Python. * Best practice development environments (virtualenv, unittests,

  ?

  continuous integration).

  ?
  • IDE?
  • Deployment and packaging.

• Hijack a non-Python training course person or company. * Offer to upskill them in Python if necessary. * This was probably the best concrete suggestion to come out of the

  ?

  discussion.

  ?
  • Who should we approach? Any recommendations?