This week we welcome Melanie Crutchfield as our PyDev of the week! Let’s spend some time getting to know her better!
Can you tell us a little about yourself (hobbies, education, etc):
I have a background in fine art photographic printmaking and I spent nearly a decade with Photoshop as my best friend. In 2010 my oldest daughter was born and I had grand delusions of taking care of her full time and working half time. [Insert all the parents in the world laughing until they can’t breathe.] I eventually left my job to care for my daughter and pursue my other interests: blogging, script writing, design and (as you may have guessed), coding.
Why did you start using Python?
I started using Python because a mentor told me it was a great starting language. I had some experience with obscure scripting languages and and markup languages, but Python would be my first foray into object-oriented programming.
What other programming languages do you know and which is your favorite?
I’ve dabbled in a lot of languages but Python is my favorite. A close runner up, though, is Swift. It’s really clean AND you can use emojis in your code. You better believe I’m gonna work in that weird dancing lady somehow.
What projects are you working on now?
In the last 9 months or so I’ve been working on a personal project called FiveUp that uses Python and the Django web framework. FiveUp sends five happy text messages to you every day at random times. Some are from a database that I’m curating and, if you chose, some are messages from your friends and family. (Well, when it’s completed that’s what it will do. Sigh.) It’s been a lot of fun and also really frustrating. Is ‘funstrating’ a word? It should be.
Which Python libraries are your favorite (core or 3rd party)?
Come back to me in a year on this one when I have a bit more experience.
Is there anything else you’d like to say?
Newbies out there: Pyladies and the San Diego Python User Group have proven to be invaluable in my learning. Great folks, encouraging environment, and study groups keep you from watching cat videos instead of busting your butt on your code. If you’re a woman in San Diego or know a woman in San Diego looking to get into tech, come to a Pyladies Meetup. You won’t regret it. (Probably. Unless you skip your previously-scheduled brunch with President Obama to come code. You’ll probably regret that.) (Also, full disclosure: I’m a co-organizer of PyLadies San Diego, and have diabolical plans to bring support and encouragement to women in tech which will surely result in our world domination. Bwah ha ha ha.)
Thank you!