[Python-cuba] Introducing myself and looking for next steps

[kirby urner]

On Sat, May 23, 2015 at 5:36 AM, Alfonso Ali <alfonso.ali at gmail.com> wrote:

> Hello everyone,
>
> My name is Alfonso Ali, i'm a system administrator of the national health
> network (Infomed). I've been working, teaching and developing with python
> for more than 10 years.
>
> I have strong ties to the local free software community and several
> pythonistas, so, i can help spreading the news about this group.
>
> I'll like to know about the objectives for this group. Is it a space for
> everyone working with python in Cuba to debate and share, a coordinating
> group for python related activities in Cuba or something else?
>

Hello Ali --

Thank you for joining this listserv!

Kirby here, also long time Python user, teaching it full time for O'Reilly
School of Technology, part of the O'Reilly publishing company that produces
the Open Source Convention (OSCON) every year.

>From that event, and Pycon, I know many Pythonistas, plus I attend and
helped organize (many years ago by now) the Portland User Group.

Some recent history:  on April 1, which I call Misinformation Day but which
is really known as April Fools Day, the Python Software Foundation blogged
its annual / ritual / traditional "joke post".  This year, the joke was how
the next Pycon after Portland in 2016/ 2017 would be in Cuba.

As often happens, people forget its April 1 and fall for the joke, then
remember.  In this case, many were happily surprised by the news and
disappointed to realize the post was a joke.  They really wanted a Pycon in
Cuba, sounded fun and cool.

Then board member David Mertz, who was a co-author of the post, really
wanted to encourage thinking in that direction, i.e. he was only half
joking. His intent was to spark more discussion and outreach, which in fact
has now occurred.

A lot of us who realized we truly hoped for more Python events in Cuba
(which some of us might be able to attend) banded together in the aftermath
of that post and because we want a Pycon in Cuba for real.

What's important to realize is that a "Pycon" (short for Python Conference
or Python Convention) may happen in parallel with other Pycons i.e. at any
given time we could have ten or more Pycons happening around the world.

India and Australia have Pycons and so on, ditto Ukraine and many more.

So having one in Cuba is not contingent on getting in line behind a long
list of eager hosts.  It's not like the Olympics in that sense.

Cuba does not have to wait for Portland to have its two.

A Pycon in Cuba next September or whatever would not "conflict" with other
Pycons.

But then we may not have consensus that we even want to use the word
"Pycon".  That caused some confusion in Brazil.  PyCuba or a PyDay in Cuba
have both been suggested.  In the US we have PyOhio.

Then of course there's EuroPython, which predates Pycon is sounds more
geographically tied.

The Python Software Foundation (PSF), a nonprofit based in the US state of
Delaware, produces one of the biggest Pycons annually as apart of its job
description.  It produced the Pycon in Montreal Canada this year and is
producing the next two in Portland, my home town.

It also works to spread knowledge of Python and to provide ways for
Pythonistas to show off their tribal membership (as Pythonistas) in the
form of "swag" (merchandise) with the Python logo on it.

So it's logical to involve the PSF in the planning for Python events in
Cuba, even though Python itself freely propagates with or without PSF
"permission" (the Python.org Python distros set a standard).

PSF manages the Python.org domain (where we are now, in this emerging
Workgroup, like a Special Interest Group but with more PSF resources behind
it, potentially).

My role with PSF is simply that I post to its listservs within Python.org
quite a bit (edu-sig) in particular and I am a voting member meaning I'm
one of those who e-votes on who gets to be on the PSF board.

This level of participation is sufficient to allow me to follow a lot of
what goes on, but I am not now nor have I ever been a PSF board member
myself.

I hope all this answers some of your questions.  I think it's useful review
for all of us and I am expecting others will have perspectives to add.

I don't think this working group actually needs to be very large as we're
simply hoping to catalyze events on the ground, which in turn could involve
many more people.

If Pycons in Cuba (or PyCuba Days) become a normal phenomenon, this group
would no longer need to exist, as our main goal would have been
accomplished.  Pythonistas in Cuba have access to all same listserv and
wiki infrastructure within Python.org as Pythonistas anywhere so we're able
to work together through multiple channels already I would suggest.

Kirby Urner




> In any case i'll like to know what should we do next, bring all the people
> in Cuba interested in python to this group? coordinate some activity? etc.
>
> Best regards,
>   Ali
>
>
>
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