[python-advocacy] Marketing Python - An Idea Whose Time Has Come

[sdeibel]

Hi,

These are all great, and I think well thought out ideas.  What's 
interesting is the resounding silence that followed... is there 
some way to facilitate actually producing some of these things?

The PSF membership ranked advocacy high on the PSF's goals at the 
member meeting at PyCon so there is certainly the possibility of 
funding or other support from the PSF if someone generates 
proposals. The board is too busy to lead anything but it has 
resources to allocate to good ideas in this area.

In short, what we need is a leader on the advocacy front.

Stephan Deibel
Chairman of the Board
Python Software Foundation

http://python.org/psf

On Sat, 11 Mar 2006, Jeff Rush wrote:

> Cameron Laird wrote:
> > 
> > What's the goal(s) of advocacy among these acquaintances?
> > Do people want Python to smash False Languages and frighten
> > heretics?  Do corporate developers want an easier time when
> > they say to their bosses, "Sure, it's already done; I used
> > Python"?  Do they want "Python" as a resume entry to have
> > higher standing with Human Resource departments?
> 
> Corporate use was only one aspect, and not one I'd like to see dominate the
> conversation.  It's not all about "getting a Python job".  There were several
> audiences:
> 
> 1. The above mentioned corporate use, focused on "how do I convince mgmt to
> let me use my favorite tool?"
> 
> 2. Corporate again, but directed at the professional C++/Java programmer to
> get him to appreciate the value of dynamic languages.  Also those advanced
> programmers who enjoy advanced levels of algorithm design and language
> features i.e. the Alex Martinelli's of the world.
> 
> 3. University people; seeding the college scene to get students to form
> on-campus Python user groups, and lobbying the professors to give Python
> airtime in classes.  Whether A -> B or B -> A is an open debate.  At PyCon it
> was offered that until Python appears in the curriculum students won't use it
> because they only want to learn skills with vocational value, and so
> professors must drive the issue.  Others thought the students were in a good
> position to lobby their school to teach Python, if not for credit then evening
> talks and non-credit courses.
> 
> 4. This category got little coverage but I think it is key -- that of the
> hobbyists or enthusiast.  Here at the Dallas Pythoneers, I run into a lot of
> people who want to learn Python, are not professional programmers but still
> skilled professionals in some field who want to learn something fun and
> potentially useful.  This might also be the category for scientists and
> (non-computer) engineers -- smart, professional but don't program for a
> living.
> 
> 
> > How will we know when to declare victory?
> 
> Advocacy of any topic is not a hard-and-fast finish, but there are progress
> markers:
> 
> 1) An info kit for reaching out to non-programmers, showing what Python is and
> why it is fun (some neat algorithms or example of a game; NOT necessarily
> web-related).  Something with slides and perhaps a take-away paper for a
> 30-min or 60-min talk that any local club member could present.
> 
> 2) An info kit for developers to give upper mgmt, that contrasts Python with
> Java and other competitors, that addresses licensing issues and the job market
> for Python programmers.  Also success stories, but it needs to have a story
> that flows, not just a list of quotes.  This should be a PDF on python.org,
> along with a powerpoint presentation.
> 
> 3) A starter kit for Python user groups that offers ideas on finding members,
> how to run meetings, how to find speakers.  We also need that registry of
> available Python speakers, organized by region, with pricing or free.  This
> kit should also have a section for addressing the college scene.
> 
> 4) An info kit for key students to give their professors, outlining what
> Python is (so many haven't even heard of it) and why it is educationally and
> vocationally relevant today.
> 
> 5) Some canned talks on Python topics that user groups can use to seed their
> presentation queue.  Given a talk on Python something before?  Are your slides
> reasonably clear?  Donate it to the cause.  License people to slice-and-dice
> your slides to create new talks.
> 
> 6) A growing collection of open-licensed pod and screen casts, especially for
> those people in remote areas that cannot easily form a face-to-face users
> group.  This allows them to virtually attend meetings until they reach
> critical mass.
> 
> 7) A collection of Python-related T-shirt/button/other swag logos and sayings,
> that are -freely licensed-.  Some user groups may do a group purchase and
> produce T-shirts for their members, especially students. T-shirts are a
> powerful advertising channel.  Imagine 20 students wearing "Ask Me About
> Python".
> 
> 8) A concisely designed business card with keywords/concepts about Python and
> links to base Python resources.  When you meet someone unexpectedly, as the
> PyCon planners did in Dallas at Denny's diner one late night, after preaching
> Python you can give them the card for follow-up and remembering the morning
> after.  Allow local user groups to put their name/URLs on the back.
> 
> I also think making some freely available CDROMs, similar to Knoppix, that
> contains a bootable Python interpreter, docs, ebooks, some sample code for
> those who want to run-and-go in trying it out.  I continually run into people
> who lose interest in Python because they can't get the Python 2.4 (and they
> always want the latest because they think its better) installed into the
> system -- it has an older version and they spend weeks either erroneously
> upgrading or trying to get them to co-exist.  And then more weeks installing
> sqlite, numeric or some package they want to play with. There is some project
> to make a usable Python setup on a USB fob, that perhaps we could leverage but
> I can't remember the name offhand.  Some of the Python IDE vendors could
> bundle demo packages on that CDROM/Flash.
> 
> I can also see us developing some roadmaps, decision trees for helping people
> get started in certain areas of Python -- gaming/audio, scipy/rationals, etc.
> I often hear "I didn't know Python could do X."
> 
> The registry of speakers is also important because I have several
> opportunities here for speakers and not enough people to fill them.  The
> Dallas PHP Users would like someone come and talk about how Python web
> creation compares to PHP.  The Dallas .NET Users Group wants a speaker to come
> talk about Python and .NET.  This 200-strong user group has never heard that
> Python can talk .NET.  They were surprised and excited.  The Apple User Group
> also wants someone to talk about Python and OSX.
> 
> I'm sure there are similar speaking opportunities in other towns, and speakers
> just looking for opportunities.  Want to get started in professional training
> or get your foot in the door for a job or contract position?  Give a
> presentation.  If we provide a global registry, I think those speakers will
> come out of the woodwork.  It should be a part of python.org.
> 
> The Linux community has also benefited greatly from "install fests" in
> converting toe-dippers.  Some printed guidelines on how to get Python packages
> installed on the various platforms would be useful.  People ask whether to use
> a source release or a package, and which version?
> 
> Lots of ideas and others have many more than I.  But it takes volunteer energy
> and a few resources re web space and such, with easy-to-find URLs and mentions
> in podcasts, newsletters and such.  And perhaps some leadership/funding from
> the PSF as well as, in some cases above, a dynamic content and database
> solution on python.org.
> 
> I seriously believe that the Python star is accelerating, that Python is
> poised to become the dominant language in key sectors over the next five
> years.  It's why I started the DFW Pythoneers, why I invested so much energy
> into PyCon this year, and why I hope to see the Python community come together
> and surprise many with its come-from-nowhere flash finish.  There are some key
> Python technologies just now arising, such as eggs and and components and PyPy
> and ..., and we need to get the message out re this cool stuff we're grinning
> about.
> 
> -Jeff
>