Maintaining Your Python Developer Instincts While Using LLM Tools

Do you feel like your Python skills are atrophying after using LLM coding tools? How do you add the right kind of friction into your coding routine to keep your developer instincts sharp? Christopher Trudeau is back on the show this week with another batch of PyCoder’s Weekly articles and projects. We discuss a recent article by previous guest Bob Belderbos about developers keeping their instincts when AI is writing the code. He stresses the importance of the right kind of friction for maintaining skills and scheduling a deliberate coding practice routine. We also share other articles and projects from the Python community, including new releases, a roundup of recent Real Python tutorials and video courses, sending emails with Python, libraries to enhance your Python Polars workflows, exploring Django Integrity-Policy, a next-generation HTTP client for Python, and a project to detect lazy imports incompatibilities. This episode is sponsored by AURI by Endor Labs **Course Spotlight:** Accessing Multiple AI Models With the OpenRouter API Access models from popular AI providers in Python through OpenRouter’s unified API with smart routing, fallbacks, and cost controls. Topics: - 00:00:00 – Introduction - 00:02:53 – Python 3.14.6, 3.13.14, and 3.15.0b2 Released - 00:03:20 – Django Security Releases Issued: 6.0.6 and 5.2.15 - 00:03:35 – PyPy v7.3.23 Released - 00:04:25 – Python sleep(): How to Add Time Delays to Your Code - 00:04:59 – Structuring Your Python Script - 00:05:36 – How to Use GitHub Copilot Code Review in Pull Requests - 00:06:13 – Accessing Multiple AI Models With the OpenRouter API - 00:07:25 – Cursor vs Windsurf: Which AI Code Editor Is Best for Python? - 00:08:28 – Sending Emails With Python - 00:16:31 – Sponsor:AURI from Endor Labs - 00:17:17 – Announcing Polars 1.41 - 00:19:43 – Libraries for Your Python Polars Workflows - 00:23:42 – Django: Introducing Django-Integrity-Policy - 00:28:39 – Video Course Spotlight - 00:30:21 – Keep Your Developer Instincts When AI Writes the Code - 00:39:58 – Lifeguard: Detect Lazy Imports Incompatibilities - 00:42:46 – httpx2: A Next Generation HTTP Client for Python - 00:45:34 – Thanks and goodbye News: - Python 3.14.6 and 3.13.14 Released - Python 3.15.0b2 Released - Django Security Releases Issued: 6.0.6 and 5.2.15 - PyPy v7.3.23 Released Real Python News: - Python sleep(): How to Add Time Delays to Your Code - Tutorial - Structuring Your Python Script - Video Course - How to Use GitHub Copilot Code Review in Pull Requests – Tutorial - Accessing Multiple AI Models With the OpenRouter API – Video Course - Cursor vs Windsurf: Which AI Code Editor Is Best for Python? – Tutorial Show Links: - Sending Emails With Python – Learn how to send emails with Python using SMTP, attach files, format HTML messages, and personalize bulk emails for your contact list. - Announcing Polars 1.41 – Polars 1.41 is out and this post covers the new features it includes. Learn about faster parquet metadata decoding, nested subplan elimination, and more. - Libraries for Your Python Polars Workflows – Four excellent libraries for your data science workflow with support for Polars DataFrames - Django: Introducing Django-Integrity-Policy – Recently, browsers have added support for the new Integrity-Policy response header (Firefox 145+, Chrome 138+). Adam quickly went to work to build a library that enables your Django project to take advantage of the feature. - How to Keep Your Developer Instincts When AI Writes the Code – The promise was less friction. The cost, it turns out, is instinct, a high price to pay. Bob’s answer: add deliberate practice to your routine, and keep the struggle. Projects: - Lifeguard: Detect Lazy Imports Incompatibilities - httpx2: A Next Generation HTTP Client for Python Additional Links: - OpenRouter - Episode #214: Build Captivating Display Tables in Python With Great Tables - Using ggplot in Python: Visualizing Data With plotnine – Tutorial - Learning Rust Made Me a Better Python Developer - HTTPXYZ - AURI for Developers - AI-Native AppSec Platform - Endor Labs Level up your Python skills with our expert-led courses: - Graph Your Data With Python and ggplot - Structuring Your Python Script - Accessing Multiple AI Models With the OpenRouter API Support the podcast & join our community of Pythonistas