The wind might carry shards of cold, and the weather might be gloomy, but there is much to see and still plenty that remains to be explored. I had the chance to tour Oxford with a couple of friends and took walking tours to discover its history and the secrets it holds.

In the English-speaking world, Oxford is regarded as the oldest university. The university consists of independent colleges that compete with each other, fostering a loyalty that surpasses allegiance to the university itself. The Bodleian Library is a network of 23 libraries serving the University of Oxford. It holds around 13 million items and functions as a copyright library, meaning publishers are required to send it a copy of every book published in the UK.

I love book stores and libraries, and I found the Blackwell’s bookstore to be utterly staggering. The Norrington Room is one of the largest single rooms selling books, with 10,000 sq ft and more than 160,000 books. During WWII, they stored stock in the tunnels beneath to protect them from bombing. They also invented “Folded Proof.” Folded proofs involve sending unbound book proofs, folded in brown paper, to academics for review, which revolutionised academic publishing.

Every day we wake up with capitalism choking us and threatening to slice the jugular. On some days, it demands hard and clever work as a sacrifice. On other days, it demands blood by strings laced with hooks, testing what you are willing to rip apart to move forward.

The choice was presented to the PSF when the US government’s National Science Foundation (NSF) recommended their proposal for funding under the Safety, Security, and Privacy of Open Source Ecosystems program to address structural vulnerabilities in Python and PyPI. The terms the PSF received included agreeing not to operate DEI programs that break federal anti-discrimination laws, and not to start any during the funding period. Any violation of the terms gave the NSF the right to withdraw funding and request repayment of utilised funds. The opportunity promised growth, but the cost was unacceptable. The demand was to cost the PSF its commitment to diversity and inclusion, principles fundamental to the PSF’s mission. The PSF decided to withdraw from the program.

The PSF needs our support more than ever. You can support by becoming a member, donating or, if your company uses Python and is not a sponsor yet, head to the sponsors page and let’s fix that.

PyCon US will be in Long Beach, California, from May 13th, 2026, to May 19th, 2026. Call for proposals is open and will close on December 19th, 2025.

PyPI usage has exploded over the past decade, and sustaining it has become critical. Core features will always be free, but they have introduced paid PyPI Organisations for corporate publishers who drive heavy traffic.

PSF’s Security Developer-in-Residence published a white paper on 10 vulnerabilities in the ZIP and tar formats that can cause different tools to see other contents in the same Python package, breaking malware scanners and integrity checks. PyPI can proactively block these “parser confusion” attacks, and the paper recommends fixes for Python’s standard library archive modules.

Design decisions create ripple effects beyond their intended purpose. Engagement algorithms, for example, can hook users but also generate significant CO2 emissions annually from data centres. Designers can anticipate these unintended consequences by using systems maps and impact ripple canvases to visualise second and third-order effects before they materialise.

Open Source Tools Directory with over 200 open-source tools. It’s a good resource to find alternatives to popular or commercial software.

Run a Container Without Setting the Tag? 3 Painful Reasons to Never Use the latest.

API Documentation That Actually Helps Developers: Focus on Their Needs, Not Just the Checklist.

The word of the day is Fidelity. Fidelity means loyalty to a person or cause, or accuracy in reproducing details or effects.

Example in a sentence:
After nearly three decades, her fidelity to the company is unquestionable.

I am making my grand departure into the unknown.

Until the next fortnight, my treasured reader, go forth, and may the odds be ever in your favour! 👏 🤖 ✊ ☠️ 🏹 🪖

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