Proposal: Understanding strings in Python

[satwikkansal]

The talk is designed to give the audience a better insight of Python strings by first demonstrating them snippets with unexpected outcomes and then later diving into the concepts behind the outcomes.

Consider these snippets

    >>> a = "some_string" # first snippet
    >>> id(a)
    140420665652016
    >>> id("some" + "_" + "string")
    140420665652016

    >>> a = "foo" # second snippet
    >>> b = "foo"
    >>> a is b
    True

    >>> a = "foo!"
    >>> b = "foo!"
    >>> a is b
    False

    >>> 'a' * 20 is 'aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa' # third snippet
    True
    >>> 'a' * 21 is 'aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa'
    False

These outcomes may seem baffling to some programmers at first, but all of them are consequences of how (native) string interning works in Python.

So there are 3 key things I’d be explaining in the talk one by one with the help of “examples and then explanation” approach:

1. Strings are immutable sequences.
2. String interning (which is possible because strings are immutable)
3. Best ways for string concatenation (based on the knowledge of above two and some CPython optimizations)

And there are few more tricky snippets (related with concepts like “implicit string literal concatenation”, “backslashes in raw string literals”, etc) which I’ll be explaining at the end (if time allows).

• Time required for the talk 30-45 mins

• Link to slides / demos / any other content (if any) I wrote a blog post recently on similar lines. Here's the link: Do you really think you know strings in Python

• About yourself I'm a freelance developer, programming in Python for 3 years now. https://satwikkansal.xyz

[aktech]

@satwikkansal Thanks for the proposal. Will you be available for the talk on the meetup after the next on 17th Feb, 2017?

[satwikkansal]

Hey @aktech, 17th Feb is my college fest day (and it's kind of my last fest), can it be considered for the next available slot?

[aktech]

@satwikkansal Yes, sure it's up to you.

[satwikkansal]

Alright, I guess I'd prefer to wait for the next meetup then 😅

[rajataaron]

@satwikkansal are you available to deliver your talk on 14th April meetup?

[satwikkansal]

@rajataaron I'm afraid it won't be possible on 14th April.

[satwikkansal]

Can you please let me know the dates of next meetups? I guess it happens every alternate week, right?

[rajataaron]

You can check every possible date of our meetup here.

[satwikkansal]

Thanks, I can't make it to this one, but I'll definitely inform you at least a week before next meetup?

[Pradhvan]

This would be an interesting talk.

[satwikkansal]

Hey all, I'd love to have this session considered for upcoming meetups. Please let me know if there are slots available :)

[rajataaron]

Hi @satwikkansal you can choose a slot from 9th June and 7th July which feels right for you.

[satwikkansal]

9th June works

[satwikkansal]

If it's selected for 9th June, I'd appreciate a confirmation for the same :)

[aktech]

@satwikkansal Confirming this talk for 9th June 2018. Looking forward to it.

[rajataaron]

@satwikkansal as per the availability for 9th June I am putting you on schedule. You can check schedule here

[satwikkansal]

Location is Gurgaon, right?

[satwikkansal]

Never mind, just checked the event description, it's yet to be decided :+1:

[rajataaron]

Location is not confirmed yet @satwikkansal

[utkarsh2102]

Hi @satwikkansal. We have your talk planned on this Saturday, 9th June. And the venue has been updated for the same. Details of the venue are as follows: Fueled Noida A-20, Block A, Sector-3, Noida The meetup will start at 11AM. Requesting you to be on time :) Also, please reply to this comment once acknowledged.

[rajataaron]

@CuriousLearner now you can close this issue. The talk has been delivered successfully.