Rodrigo Girão Serrão: Python Training, itertools, and Idioms | Real Python Podcast #252
Skills:
Python for Data80%
Once you've learned the vocabulary and syntax of the Python language, how do you progress into learning the right combinations to put into your code? How can Python's built-in itertools library enhance your skills? This week on the show, we speak with Rodrigo Girão Serrão about teaching Python through his blog and his passion for the itertools library.
👉 Links from the show: https://realpython.com/podcasts/rpp/252/
We discuss Rodrigo's different approaches to writing on his blog. He likes to document smaller concepts about Python and building code in his "Today I Learned" series. He's also been collecting advice about the best way to use core Python features in another series called "Pydon'ts."
We cover his recent PyCon US tutorial about the built-in itertools module. The functions contained in the module create iterators for efficient looping. We discuss the categories of tools inside the collection and ways to simplify your code.
We also explore the concept of vocabulary versus idioms in writing. Idioms are a group of words that hold a symbolic meaning that goes beyond the literal meaning of the individual words. We dig into how that applies to learning Python and building a personal collection of programming idioms.
This episode is sponsored by AMD.
Topics:
- 00:00:00 -- Introduction
- 00:02:34 -- Creating Polars video course
- 00:03:27 -- How did you start programming and teaching Python?
- 00:04:59 -- Where did mathspp come from?
- 00:05:38 -- Exploring math and programming in university
- 00:07:48 -- Learning APL
- 00:09:24 -- What goes into building the blog?
- 00:15:05 -- The Pydon'ts and writing books
- 00:18:37 -- PyCon US 2025
- 00:20:46 -- Sponsor: AMD
- 00:21:23 -- Teaching a tutorial about itertools
- 00:28:58 -- Categorizing itertools
- 00:40:39 -- Video Course Spotlight
- 00:41:55 -- The difference between me and Shakespeare
- 00:46:51 -- Learning and practicing with idioms
- 00:51:01 -- TIL and asking questions
- 00:53:54 -- What are you ex
Watch on YouTube ↗
(saves to browser)
Sign in to unlock AI tutor explanation · ⚡30
Playlist
Uploads from Real Python · Real Python · 0 of 60
← Previous
Next →
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
A better Python REPL – bpython vs python interpreter
Real Python
Introducing large-type.com – A Utility Website
Real Python
Reading Hacker News Without Wasting Tons of Time
Real Python
Forward References and Python 3 Type Hints
Real Python
Using Sublime Text as your Git Editor
Real Python
Python Code Linting and Auto-Complete for Sublime Text
Real Python
Make your Python Code More Readable with Custom Exceptions
Real Python
Write Better Tests with Sublime Text's Split Layout Feature
Real Python
How to Use Sublime Text from the Command Line
Real Python
Rename Variables with Multiple Selection in Sublime Text
Real Python
Sublime Text Settings for Writing PEP 8 Python
Real Python
Write Cleaner Python with Sublime Text's Indent Guides
Real Python
Sublime Text Whitespace Settings for Python Development
Real Python
Function Argument Unpacking in Python
Real Python
Python Code Review: Debugging and Refactoring "Conway's Game of Life" + Automated Tests
Real Python
Using "get()" to Return a Default Value from a Python Dict
Real Python
A Python Shorthand for Swapping Two Variables
Real Python
Python Code Review: Refactoring a Web Scraper, PEP 8 Style Guide Compliance, requirements.txt
Real Python
Click & Jump to Test Failures from the Command Line (iTerm2)
Real Python
Setting up Sublime Text for Python Developers
Real Python
Sublime Text + Python Guide Overview
Real Python
Python Code Review: Adding Pytest Tests to an Existing Python Web Scraper
Real Python
Type-Checking Python Programs With Type Hints and mypy
Real Python
A Shorthand for Merging Dictionaries in Python 3.5+
Real Python
Python Code Review Flask Web Security Tutorial + Virtualenvs, requirements.txt
Real Python
My Python Code Looks Ugly and Confusing – Help!
Real Python
Setting Up a Programmer Portfolio/Developer Blog – How To Get Started
Real Python
Do I Need a GitHub/GitLab/Bitbucket Profile as a Developer?
Real Python
Programmer Portfolio – Example and Walkthrough
Real Python
How to Get Your 1st Speaking Gig at a Tech Conference
Real Python
How to Build Your Public Speaking Skills as a Developer
Real Python
The Object-oriented Version of "Spaghetti Code" is "Lasagna Code" ?!
Real Python
Setting up Sublime Text for Python Developers – Lesson #1
Real Python
Cool New Features in Python 3.6
Real Python
"is" vs "==" in Python – What's the Difference? (And When to Use Each)
Real Python
Emulating switch/case Statements in Python with Dictionaries
Real Python
Python Function Argument Unpacking Tutorial (* and ** Operators)
Real Python
What Code Should I Put On My GitHub/GitLab/BitBucket Profile?
Real Python
A Crazy Python Dictionary Expression ?!
Real Python
String Conversion in Python: When to Use __repr__ vs __str__
Real Python
Method Types in Python OOP: @classmethod, @staticmethod, and Instance Methods
Real Python
Optional Arguments in Python With *args and **kwargs
Real Python
Python Context Managers and the "with" Statement (__enter__ & __exit__)
Real Python
Installing Python Packages with pip and virtualenv / venv
Real Python
"For Each" Loops in Python with enumerate() and range()
Real Python
Python Code Review: LibreOffice Automation and the Python Standard Library
Real Python
Managing Python Dependencies With Pip and Virtual Environments – Lesson #1
Real Python
Python Tutorial: List Comprehensions Step-By-Step
Real Python
Leveraging Python's Implicit "return None" Statements
Real Python
What's the meaning of underscores (_ & __) in Python variable names?
Real Python
Python Data Structures: Sets, Frozensets, and Multisets (Bags)
Real Python
Writing automated tests for Python command-line apps and scripts
Real Python
How to find great Python packages on PyPI, the Python Package Repository
Real Python
Immutable vs Mutable Objects in Python
Real Python
PyPI vs Warehouse, the Next-Generation Python Package Repository
Real Python
pep8.org — The Prettiest Way to View the PEP 8 Python Style Guide
Real Python
My Experience at PyCon 2017 in Portland
Real Python
Pylint Tutorial – How to Write Clean Python
Real Python
"Reverse a List in Python" Tutorial: Three Methods & How-to Demos
Real Python
Python Refactoring: "while True" Infinite Loops & The "input" Function
Real Python
More on: Python for Data
View skill →Related AI Lessons
⚡
⚡
⚡
⚡
I Stopped Losing Freelance Writing Clients the Moment I Started Using These Claude Prompts
Medium · AI
Revolutionizing Trading: Top 5 AI-Powered Finance Tools for 2026
Dev.to AI
No-Code AI Automation Tools: An Honest Comparison
Dev.to · AdamVibe
Paystack’s first Dashboard rebuild in a decade brings AI into merchant operations
TechCabal
🎓
Tutor Explanation
DeepCamp AI