#148 - Will McGugan: Rich, Textualize, Open Source and Developer Mindset

Join our Python Developer Community for free 🐍🌐👋 --- 🎙️ In this podcast episode, we're excited to dive into the world of Python with the remarkable Will McGugan! As the mastermind behind the Rich library and the founder of Textualize, Will has significantly impacted the Python community. In this episode we explore the journey and insights of this prolific open-source Python developer. 👨‍💻 From his initial steps into Python to the creation of Rich and Textual, Will shares the motivations and challenges that led to these widely-used tools. We delve into the intriguing comparison between web and terminal apps, uncovering Will's favorite features in his libraries. 💡 Ever wondered how experts tackle complex problems or balance coding with business? Will sheds light on these aspects, offering valuable advice for aspiring developers, including the importance of not fearing to publish your code. 🚀 Beyond coding, learn about the transition from hobby to business with Textualize, and how Will manages a team of developers amid coding and business challenges. Discover his tips for maintaining a sound work-life balance and managing the workload of open-source projects. 🔮 What's next for Will and his projects? And what are his side hobbies, passions, book recommendations, and thoughts on AI's rapid evolution in coding? 🎵 Don't miss this insightful conversation filled with Python, tech insight, personal stories which will surely inspire you. Enjoy! 🐍💻🌟 Chapters: 00:00 Intro 01:28 Will intro 01:57 Win of the week 02:48 How did you get into Python 04:44 What do you like about Python 06:04 What made you create Rich and Textual 09:20 Web vs terminal apps 11:02 Favorite library features 11:46 How you approach complex problems 14:32 Don't be afraid of publishing your code 15:43 Ad segment 16:26 Textualize - from hobby to business 17:55 Managing a team of developers 18:50 Coding vs business challenges 20:40 Coding (unlike business) you can brute force 21:58 Advice for sound work-life balance 24:12 Managing the open source work load 25:21 What's coming next? 26:45 Side hobbies / passions and how they inspire you 28:12 Book recommendation, tech books and JIT learning 30:18 ChatGPT for coding and AI's rapid evolution 32:26 Final call to action and how to reach out 33:42 Outro music 🔗 Check out Will's work at Textualize 📘 For a unique fiction recommendation, explore "Interview with the Vampire" 📢 Connect with Will on X, Fosstodon, and GitHub --- To get our weekly developer / mindset emails, sign up for free here 📈