Pybites Podcast

Julian Sequeira & Bob Belderbos
undefined
Mar 4, 2026 • 19min

#218: Why Python developers are learning Rust

Rust is everywhere - in your tools and in your stack - and has been ranked as the most admired programming language for over a decade. Join us for a quick chat as we unpack why more Python developers are turning their attention to Rust, and why now might be the right time for you to do the same.If you’ve been seeing Rust pop up at work, on LinkedIn, or in your favourite Python libraries, this episode will help you understand what’s going on, and whether learning Rust could give you a real edge as a Python developer.To find out more about how we help Python developers with Rust, check out the following:Rust exercise platform: http://rustplatform.com/via/pybitesRust cohort: http://scriptertorust.comArticle Julian mentioned: https://pybit.es/articles/coding-can-be-super-lonely/___💡🧑‍💻 Want to become a more focused, motivated, and effective Python developer? The Pybites Developer Mindset (PDM) Program helps you build strong habits, deepen your skills, and make real progress in just six weeks. Join us for mentorship, accountability, and a supportive community that keeps you moving forward. Start your PDM journey now! 🌟✅ https://pybit.es/catalogue/the-pdm-program/___If you found this podcast helpful, please consider following us!Start Here with Pybites: https://pybit.es
undefined
Feb 25, 2026 • 49min

#217: Building a Production RAG Pipeline is Easier Than You Think - with Tim Gallati

Four years after its original MVP, we revisit Quiet Links, exploring how it evolved into a production-ready AI-powered research tool.Bob is joined by Tim Gallati and Juanjo to unpack how they integrated a Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) pipeline into an existing Python application, without rewriting everything from scratch. This episode is a reminder that impactful AI projects don’t require massive teams or cutting-edge complexity - just solid design, curiosity, and a willingness to learn!Connect with Tim on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timgallati/Visit the Quiet Links website: https://quietlinks.com/___💡🧑‍💻 Want to become a more focused, motivated, and effective Python developer? The Pybites Developer Mindset (PDM) Program helps you build strong habits, deepen your skills, and make real progress in just six weeks. Join us for mentorship, accountability, and a supportive community that keeps you moving forward. Start your PDM journey now! 🌟✅ https://pybit.es/catalogue/the-pdm-program/___If you found this podcast helpful, please consider following us!Start Here with Pybites: https://pybit.es
undefined
Feb 19, 2026 • 33min

#216: Resolving our own git mess

This week we did what every developer swears they won’t do - we broke our own Git workflow.Join us as we chat about what went wrong, what we learned, and where we’re heading next. This conversation is a reminder that even experienced developers get rusty without practice. If you can relate, or just simply enjoy Julian's git puns, leave a comment!And while you're at it, check out our Pybites Books platform - https://pybitesbooks.com/ - Loads of new updates coming soon!___💡🧑‍💻 Want to become a more focused, motivated, and effective Python developer? The Pybites Developer Mindset (PDM) Program helps you build strong habits, deepen your skills, and make real progress in just six weeks. Join us for mentorship, accountability, and a supportive community that keeps you moving forward. Start your PDM journey now! 🌟✅ https://pybit.es/catalogue/the-pdm-program/___If you found this podcast helpful, please consider following us!Start Here with Pybites: https://pybit.es
undefined
Feb 12, 2026 • 42min

#215: Arthur Pastel on creating actionable optimisations with CodSpeed

In this episode, Bob sits down with Arthur, a Python engineer based in France and the creator of CodSpeed, to dig into a problem many teams don’t notice until it’s too late: performance regressions. Arthur shares the story behind building CodSpeed, starting with real-world pain points from robotics and machine-learning pipelines where small slowdowns quietly piled up and broke systems in production. We discuss how CodSpeed fits into everyday developer workflows and why treating performance checks like tests or coverage changes how teams ship code. Arthur also shares how open source shaped the product’s mission, the surprising environmental impact of avoiding tiny regressions at scale, and why AI-driven coding makes performance guardrails more important than ever.Reach out to Arthur on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arthurpastel/ Arthur's website: https://apas.tel/Check out Codspeed: https://codspeed.io/ Github: https://github.com/CodSpeedHQ/codspeed___💡🧑‍💻 Want to become a more focused, motivated, and effective Python developer? The Pybites Developer Mindset (PDM) Program helps you build strong habits, deepen your skills, and make real progress in just six weeks. Join us for mentorship, accountability, and a supportive community that keeps you moving forward. Start your PDM journey now! 🌟✅ https://pybit.es/catalogue/the-pdm-program/___If you found this podcast helpful, please consider following us!Start Here with Pybites: https://pybit.es
undefined
Feb 5, 2026 • 52min

#214: Building useful AI - from classroom to real business impact

In this episode, Julian is joined by Asif, a recent computer science graduate and Advanced Python teaching assistant at Northern Arizona University, to talk about building AI that actually delivers real-world value. Asif shares how an early curiosity for automation grew into a passion for machine learning, AI agents, and end-to-end systems that solve real business problems. We explore the gap between training models and deploying useful solutions, including how Asif builds privacy-aware AI agents for things like chatbots, summaries, and business insights that non-technical users can actually understand and use.The conversation goes deep into what it really takes to move from classroom learning to production-ready AI: failing fast, grinding through technical barriers, thinking about deployment and data privacy early, and focusing on projects that recruiters and businesses can clearly see the value in.Reach out to Asif on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/asif-p-056530232/Check out Asif's Portfolio (it's super cool!): https://asifflix.vercel.app/Follow Asif on Github: https://github.com/Asif-0209Books mentioned:The Subtle Art of Not Giving A F*ck -https://pybitesbooks.com/books/yng_CwAAQBAJHope in Action - https://pybitesbooks.com/books/4XZEEQAAQBAJ___💡🧑‍💻 Want to become a more focused, motivated, and effective Python developer? The Pybites Developer Mindset (PDM) Program helps you build strong habits, deepen your skills, and make real progress in just six weeks. Join us for mentorship, accountability, and a supportive community that keeps you moving forward. Start your PDM journey now! 🌟✅ https://pybit.es/catalogue/the-pdm-program/___If you found this podcast helpful, please consider following us!Start Here with Pybites: https://pybit.es
undefined
Jan 29, 2026 • 19min

#213: Seven software engineering tips to make real progress this year

January is the perfect time to take stock, and in this episode we share the most common lessons we've learned from six years of coaching Python developers. Drawing on hundreds of real-world conversations, we break down seven practical fixes that consistently help developers move forward - from stopping endless consumption and actually building, to escaping abandoned GitHub repos, getting proper code reviews, and shifting from scripts to real systems with solid tooling, testing, and version control.The conversation also dives into mindset: overcoming imposter syndrome, using AI without becoming dependent on it, and why going it alone often makes your journey harder than it needs to be. Download the Free 7-Engineering Shifts Guide Here: https://pybit.es/escape-tutorial-hell/Books mentioned:Fundamentals of Software Architecture -https://pybitesbooks.com/books/yClOEQAAQBAJBefore We Say Goodbye - https://pybitesbooks.com/books/GMGhEAAAQBAJ___💡🧑‍💻 Want to become a more focused, motivated, and effective Python developer? The Pybites Developer Mindset (PDM) Program helps you build strong habits, deepen your skills, and make real progress in just six weeks. Join us for mentorship, accountability, and a supportive community that keeps you moving forward. Start your PDM journey now! 🌟✅ https://pybit.es/catalogue/the-pdm-program/___If you found this podcast helpful, please consider following us!Start Here with Pybites: https://pybit.es
undefined
Jan 20, 2026 • 1h 1min

#212: Elmer Bulthuis on Rust, WebAssembly, and Sustainable Design

Change is unavoidable in software, so how do you make it safe to evolve systems without breaking trust? In this episode, we’re joined by Elmer Bulthuis for a wide-ranging conversation about building software that can adapt over time. We explore how Rust’s ownership model shapes clearer thinking about design, why WebAssembly is becoming a practical way to share complex logic across platforms, and how Elmer has used Rust and WASM in real projects to keep behaviour consistent across TypeScript and .NET without duplicating effort.We also dig into the everyday practices that make long-lived systems possible: choosing names that work in context, designing abstractions that don’t leak, and treating tests as living documentation rather than a checkbox. Elmer shares thoughtful perspectives on local-first development, keeping CI honest, and using AI as a helpful power tool for refactoring without outsourcing engineering judgement. Along the way, we touch on team culture, ego-free collaboration, and even yoga — because sustainable software is ultimately built by sustainable people.Connect with Elmer:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elmerbulthuisGithub: https://github.com/elmerbulthuis___💡🧑‍💻 Want to become a more focused, motivated, and effective Python developer? The Pybites Developer Mindset (PDM) Program helps you build strong habits, deepen your skills, and make real progress in just six weeks. Join us for mentorship, accountability, and a supportive community that keeps you moving forward. Start your PDM journey now! 🌟✅ https://pybit.es/catalogue/the-pdm-program/___If you found this podcast helpful, please consider following us!Start Here with Pybites: https://pybit.es
undefined
Jan 14, 2026 • 36min

#211: Keeping the joy in coding - a new year's resolution

Join us as we catch up in the first Pybites podcast of 2026. We chat about how it feels to build software with AI today. We're moving faster than ever, but are we losing the joy of coding along the way?Julian shares a recent Django build and how he used AI to ship quickly while still keeping good habits around code quality, testing, and reviews. We talk about why small steps, clear prompts, and staying involved in the code matter more than handing everything over to AI.We also reflect on the value of taking proper breaks, resetting habits, and the impact of simple weekly rituals. Along the way, we celebrate a community career win and challenge you to choose one meaningful focus that would make 2026 a great year.If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed by AI or worried about falling behind, this episode is a reminder to slow down, build well, and enjoy the craft again.Episode Links:Charlie Marsh tweet - https://x.com/charliermarsh/status/2008665789709382130Escape tutorial hell guide - https://pybit.es/escape-tutorial-hell/Tony's New Years Intentions - https://pybites.circle.so/c/open-discussion/new-year-s-intentionBob's Books:Vibe Coding - https://pybitesbooks.com/books/ktVcEQAAQBAJ From Strength to Strength - https://pybitesbooks.com/books/BKZPEAAAQBAJJulian's Books:The Rose Field - https://pybitesbooks.com/books/vq1a0QEACAAJ Pybites Books - https://pybitesbooks.com___💡🧑‍💻 Want to become a more focused, motivated, and effective Python developer? The Pybites Developer Mindset (PDM) Program helps you build strong habits, deepen your skills, and make real progress in just six weeks. Join us for mentorship, accountability, and a supportive community that keeps you moving forward. Start your PDM journey now! 🌟✅ https://pybit.es/catalogue/the-pdm-program/___If you found this podcast helpful, please consider following us!Start Here with Pybites: https://pybit.es
undefined
Jan 5, 2026 • 50min

#210: Codeflash and continuous Python performance with Saurabh Misra

In this discussion, Saurabh Misra, founder of CodeFlash and a software engineer with a rich background at NVIDIA, reveals how to make Python performance optimization part of everyday coding practices. He shares insights on using LLMs to automate performance checks, profiling techniques, and real-world examples like improving Bokeh and Pydantic. Saurabh explains the importance of maintaining code behavior while delivering faster execution, and offers practical advice for integrating performance into team workflows.
undefined
Dec 14, 2025 • 42min

#209: Transforming the hiring process with JobHive

Aaron Jorgensen, the founder of JobHive and a seasoned tech leader, shares insights on his AI-powered interview platform designed to enhance the hiring process. He discusses the evolution from a résumé parser to a comprehensive interview solution that minimizes bias through multi-agent scoring and transparent decision-making. Aaron also delves into the challenges of building the platform, the importance of user feedback, and how his fitness discipline influences his coding mindset. Plus, he offers valuable advice on persistence and learning in tech.

The AI-powered Podcast Player

Save insights by tapping your headphones, chat with episodes, discover the best highlights - and more!
App store bannerPlay store banner
Get the app