David Beazley
@dabeaz.com
Free-range computer scientist living in Evanston, Illinois. I wrote some Python books. If you want to talk code, take a CS course https://www.dabeaz.com/courses.html. I'm mainly here for dogs, bikes, trombones, and other random stuff.
Pinned
David Beazley
@dabeaz.com
· Feb 19
Forgive the interruption, but if you're looking to take your mind off things and immerse yourself in some challenging programming instead, I have a pair of upcoming courses:
- Crusty Interpreter, April 7-11.
- Rafting Trip, April 21-25.
More details at dabeaz.com/courses.html.
- Crusty Interpreter, April 7-11.
- Rafting Trip, April 21-25.
More details at dabeaz.com/courses.html.
Reposted by David Beazley
Paula Kamen’s article on the new book by me and Andy Pierce:
As the shuttered Uptown Theatre turns 100, a new book relives its storied past and pleads for its restoration. Here’s what we learned.
Why the Uptown Theatre Is Worth Saving
As the shuttered Uptown Theatre turns 100, a new book relives its storied past and pleads for its restoration. Here’s what we learned.
buff.ly
August 18, 2025 at 12:31 PM
Paula Kamen’s article on the new book by me and Andy Pierce:
Reposted by David Beazley
One afternoon only! This Saturday at 3:30 @yippiefest.bsky.social in Chicago. A pilot for possible “Women Act Out” comedy fest on #invisible illness.
August 12, 2025 at 8:11 PM
One afternoon only! This Saturday at 3:30 @yippiefest.bsky.social in Chicago. A pilot for possible “Women Act Out” comedy fest on #invisible illness.
Reposted by David Beazley
good. Fuck BetterHelp and all these techbro therapy start-ups who think they can do an Uber to mental health care providers, then pull the rug by replacing their gig worker therapists with LLMs trained on all the calls they record
Illinois has banned AI therapy, making it the first state to regulate the use of AI in mental health services.
www.engadget.com/ai/illinois-...
www.engadget.com/ai/illinois-...
Illinois is the first state to ban AI therapists
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has signed a bill banning AI therapists into law, the first in the nation.
www.engadget.com
August 7, 2025 at 7:29 PM
good. Fuck BetterHelp and all these techbro therapy start-ups who think they can do an Uber to mental health care providers, then pull the rug by replacing their gig worker therapists with LLMs trained on all the calls they record
Reposted by David Beazley
In honor of my birthday (well, it COULD be, the dates are right 😜), @manning.com is having a 1/2 off sale from 12:10 AM ET on July 31 and ends at Midnight US Pacific Time (3:00 AM ET) on August 4. Also $10 liveProjects/ liveVideos and $199.99 Subscriptions.
mng.bz/ZlYR
mng.bz/ZlYR
July 31, 2025 at 6:51 PM
In honor of my birthday (well, it COULD be, the dates are right 😜), @manning.com is having a 1/2 off sale from 12:10 AM ET on July 31 and ends at Midnight US Pacific Time (3:00 AM ET) on August 4. Also $10 liveProjects/ liveVideos and $199.99 Subscriptions.
mng.bz/ZlYR
mng.bz/ZlYR
I think I'm playing on a truck right behind this Kat car in the Skokie parade.
Decorating our car for the Skokie parade and I’m so obsessed with our volunteer-made decorations 🥹🥹
July 4, 2025 at 4:56 PM
I think I'm playing on a truck right behind this Kat car in the Skokie parade.
Looks pretty similar to the Dachau tour I took the kid on a few years back.
This is a concentration camp.
Alligator Alcatraz from within
July 1, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Looks pretty similar to the Dachau tour I took the kid on a few years back.
With the Ray Tracer project done, I decided to post my "best effort" Rust solution as a kind of "ask me anything" project..
I've coded the project about six times. None of the code was written with AI or a coding assistant and can be explained further (by me).
github.com/dabeaz-cours...
I've coded the project about six times. None of the code was written with AI or a coding assistant and can be explained further (by me).
github.com/dabeaz-cours...
GitHub - dabeaz-course/rusty_raytracer: Ray Tracing in One Weekend in Rust (AMA)
Ray Tracing in One Weekend in Rust (AMA). Contribute to dabeaz-course/rusty_raytracer development by creating an account on GitHub.
github.com
June 27, 2025 at 5:14 PM
With the Ray Tracer project done, I decided to post my "best effort" Rust solution as a kind of "ask me anything" project..
I've coded the project about six times. None of the code was written with AI or a coding assistant and can be explained further (by me).
github.com/dabeaz-cours...
I've coded the project about six times. None of the code was written with AI or a coding assistant and can be explained further (by me).
github.com/dabeaz-cours...
Getting ready to spend the weekend writing a Ray Tracer in Rust. If this sounds like fun, you should skip work for two days next week and join me. dabeaz.com/raytrace.html.
Ray Tracer
You are registering for online attendance. Please provide a contact name and email address. No payment is necessary now, but you will be contacted to confirm details and arrange payment. Please see payment policies for more details.
dabeaz.com
June 21, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Getting ready to spend the weekend writing a Ray Tracer in Rust. If this sounds like fun, you should skip work for two days next week and join me. dabeaz.com/raytrace.html.
I've been having a lot of fun getting better at Rust this summer. Seriously, you should join me for one of my short courses before they're gone (dabeaz.com/summer.html). Next week's Ray Tracer course is a great way to get your feet wet with some Rust basics. dabeaz.com/raytrace.html.
The Summer of Rust
So, welcome to my summer project. Let's learn some Rust programming!
dabeaz.com
June 19, 2025 at 3:45 PM
I've been having a lot of fun getting better at Rust this summer. Seriously, you should join me for one of my short courses before they're gone (dabeaz.com/summer.html). Next week's Ray Tracer course is a great way to get your feet wet with some Rust basics. dabeaz.com/raytrace.html.
Reposted by David Beazley
My PyCon US 2025 talk was about the use and abuse of OCR, including license plate scanners. It may have come off as conspiracy theory thinking, but it's feasible w/ current technology. www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHUv...
And now our modern-day secret police Gestapo is using it: san.com/cc/ice-illeg...
And now our modern-day secret police Gestapo is using it: san.com/cc/ice-illeg...
ICE illegally gains informal access to nationwide license plate camera network
ICE accessed a vast license plate camera network, raising legal and privacy concerns over immigration-related surveillance practices.
san.com
June 1, 2025 at 6:23 PM
My PyCon US 2025 talk was about the use and abuse of OCR, including license plate scanners. It may have come off as conspiracy theory thinking, but it's feasible w/ current technology. www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHUv...
And now our modern-day secret police Gestapo is using it: san.com/cc/ice-illeg...
And now our modern-day secret police Gestapo is using it: san.com/cc/ice-illeg...
Reposted by David Beazley
The Quick Python Book, 4th edition, is now available in liveAudio format! If you prefer audiobooks, Manning Publications Co. now offers my book in autio format. Even better, you can use the code laceder40 to get a 40% discount on the liveAudio version at mng.bz/ZlYR #Python
May 27, 2025 at 12:29 AM
The Quick Python Book, 4th edition, is now available in liveAudio format! If you prefer audiobooks, Manning Publications Co. now offers my book in autio format. Even better, you can use the code laceder40 to get a 40% discount on the liveAudio version at mng.bz/ZlYR #Python
Managed to spot 11 more unreported ALPRs in less than about 3 miles of driving in the south suburbs. A new record for a single trip. deflock.me
Family thinks I'm a bit crazy... but, they knew that already.
Family thinks I'm a bit crazy... but, they knew that already.
DeFlock
Spot, map, and resist automated license plate readers (ALPRs) near you.
deflock.me
May 27, 2025 at 1:40 AM
Managed to spot 11 more unreported ALPRs in less than about 3 miles of driving in the south suburbs. A new record for a single trip. deflock.me
Family thinks I'm a bit crazy... but, they knew that already.
Family thinks I'm a bit crazy... but, they knew that already.
Oh sure, you'd rather "work" than spend two days writing a Ray Tracer in Rust this week? Meh. Call in sick if you must. dabeaz.com/raytrace.html
Ray Tracer
You are registering for online attendance. Please provide a contact name and email address. No payment is necessary now, but you will be contacted to confirm details and arrange payment. Please see payment policies for more details.
dabeaz.com
May 26, 2025 at 2:17 PM
Oh sure, you'd rather "work" than spend two days writing a Ray Tracer in Rust this week? Meh. Call in sick if you must. dabeaz.com/raytrace.html
Reposted by David Beazley
May 25, 2025 at 11:26 PM
Spotted on this morning's bike ride.
May 18, 2025 at 2:36 PM
Spotted on this morning's bike ride.
Reposted by David Beazley
The more I dig into generative AI from the prospective of a retired person, the less I want to be involved, or make use of the tools.
I want to focus on using my own model of the world to contribute to society for as long as possible.
I want to focus on using my own model of the world to contribute to society for as long as possible.
May 16, 2025 at 5:00 PM
The more I dig into generative AI from the prospective of a retired person, the less I want to be involved, or make use of the tools.
I want to focus on using my own model of the world to contribute to society for as long as possible.
I want to focus on using my own model of the world to contribute to society for as long as possible.
Just wait until the parents start finding out about all the college recommendation letters and admissions.
"It’s not just the students: Multiple AI platforms now offer tools to leave AI-generated feedback on students’ essays. Which raises the possibility that AIs are now evaluating AI-generated papers, reducing the entire academic exercise to a conversation between two robots — or maybe even just one."
May 15, 2025 at 8:32 AM
Just wait until the parents start finding out about all the college recommendation letters and admissions.
Reposted by David Beazley
I'll be at the JetBrains booth during PyCon 2025 signing copies of my book. Come by and say hi—I'd love to meet you!
I'll also be at the Python authors' open space on Saturday afternoon with other Python authors.
JetBrains/PyCharm booth, Friday May 16, 4:00-4:30PM
@manningbooks.bsky.social
I'll also be at the Python authors' open space on Saturday afternoon with other Python authors.
JetBrains/PyCharm booth, Friday May 16, 4:00-4:30PM
@manningbooks.bsky.social
May 14, 2025 at 6:26 PM
I'll be at the JetBrains booth during PyCon 2025 signing copies of my book. Come by and say hi—I'd love to meet you!
I'll also be at the Python authors' open space on Saturday afternoon with other Python authors.
JetBrains/PyCharm booth, Friday May 16, 4:00-4:30PM
@manningbooks.bsky.social
I'll also be at the Python authors' open space on Saturday afternoon with other Python authors.
JetBrains/PyCharm booth, Friday May 16, 4:00-4:30PM
@manningbooks.bsky.social
I think you ought to join me for my two-day elevator project next week. Learn a bit of Rust. Be challenged. Take the stairs afterwards. dabeaz.com/rusty_elevat....
Rusty Elevator
You are registering for online attendance. Please provide a contact name and email address. No payment is necessary now, but you will be contacted to confirm details and arrange payment. Please see payment policies for more details.
dabeaz.com
May 13, 2025 at 11:21 AM
I think you ought to join me for my two-day elevator project next week. Learn a bit of Rust. Be challenged. Take the stairs afterwards. dabeaz.com/rusty_elevat....
Reposted by David Beazley
I am unapologetically telling you right now that Chicago is going to be insufferable about this, there is still a fading cardboard John Paul II in a Michigan Ave storefront looking out at Grant Park because he spoke there *once.*
May 8, 2025 at 6:10 PM
I am unapologetically telling you right now that Chicago is going to be insufferable about this, there is still a fading cardboard John Paul II in a Michigan Ave storefront looking out at Grant Park because he spoke there *once.*
Introducing Lifty the elevator. github.com/dabeaz/lifty
Now, could you actually write code to properly control it? Who am I to say?
Now, could you actually write code to properly control it? Who am I to say?
GitHub - dabeaz/lifty: Lifty - The Elevator
Lifty - The Elevator. Contribute to dabeaz/lifty development by creating an account on GitHub.
github.com
May 2, 2025 at 8:04 PM
Introducing Lifty the elevator. github.com/dabeaz/lifty
Now, could you actually write code to properly control it? Who am I to say?
Now, could you actually write code to properly control it? Who am I to say?
Reposted by David Beazley
Happy Birthday BASIC! 🎂
1 May 1964
1 May 1964
May 1, 2025 at 12:10 AM
Happy Birthday BASIC! 🎂
1 May 1964
1 May 1964
Reposted by David Beazley
Big news! The 3rd edition of Automate the Boring Stuff with Python is now out! nostarch.com/automate-bor...
Automate the Boring Stuff with Python, 3rd Edition
Revised to include the latest Python features, even better explanations, and new chapters about databases and sound files.
nostarch.com
April 28, 2025 at 2:10 PM
Big news! The 3rd edition of Automate the Boring Stuff with Python is now out! nostarch.com/automate-bor...