If you aren’t closely following the Open Source world, you might not have heard that Python 2 is going to be officially retired as of April 2020. After nearly 20 years of service, Python 2 will no longer be receiving updates and security fixes after this spring. The core developer community for Python is looking to direct all of their focus to Python 3, which has been available since 2008. Like some other updates from the Open Source world, not all code is compatible with the new version, and consulting with experts can keep your software running smoothly.
Machines have been "seeing" for decades. Early uses of machine vision included a wide range of applications, from medical imaging to checking products for defects. More recent work has focused on improving image recognition: looking at a picture and (somehow) determining what it might be a picture of. Uses range from tagging and cataloging images for retrieval, to determining whether images violate Terms of Service.
On March 22nd, for two and a half hours, programmers discovered that they couldn't build or install some of their code written in JavaScript. Widely used software such as Node (used by LinkedIn and PayPal) and Babel crashed along with many individual projects. Those of us who didn't discover the crashes in our own projects learned about it from this article. Business people may now be asking, “How could the actions of just a few people break the internet? Do I have to worry about this happening with my software?”
Fear can keep companies from using software to solve business problems. Stories from past projects can make programming seems like magic – and just as hard to evaluate. Below are tips to manage risk and plan for success.
Software developers can do a wide variety of tasks, from fixing problems, to adding features, to building entirely new systems. You can save developers' time - and your money – by clearly describing what you would like them to change.