PythoC: An alternative to Cython

Cython has been the most viable option for converting Python code to C, but PythoC could change that—with distinct compile-time advantages. We also have a first look at Databot, a new LLM add-on for the Positron IDE; a chance to learn the finer points of debug logging in Python and Java; and a report on Django developers’ use of AI coding tools, which appears to be on the rise. All that and more, in this week’s report.

Top picks for Python readers on InfoWorld

PythoC: A new way to generate C code from PythonInstead of converting Python to C, as per Cython, PythoC uses Python as a code generation tool to create standalone C-style programs with powerful compile-time features. Let’s take a look.

Databot: AI-assisted data analysis in R or PythonA new add-on for the Positron IDE (for developing Python and R data science apps) analyzes imported data, offers suggestions for how to analyze it, and can even generate the needed code for those analyses.

More Django developers turning to AI – reportAccording to the State of Django 2025 report, more Django developers are using AI tools like GitHub Copilot and Anthropic Claude to write code or expand their understanding of Django.

Advanced debug logging techniques: A technical guideGet fast pointers for making the best use of debug logging in Python and Java.

More good reads and Python updates elsewhere

PyCharm 2025.3 is outThe latest edition of JetBrains’ flagship Python IDE offers remote Jupyter notebooks, uses uv as the default package and project manager, adds Ruff and Pyright for linting and language services, and much more.

PyAtlas: Explore 10K popular Python packages on an interactive mapCurious about what’s out there in the galaxy of Python packages? PyAtlas is a visual tool that clusters common packages together, letting you explore them by topic (testing, async, static analysis, etc.) and similarity.

Tacopy: Tail-Call optimization for PythonThey said it wasn’t possible to make tail-call optimizations for faster recursive operations in Python. Well, this project makes the impossible possible, by way of some fiendishly clever AST transformation hackery.

Slightly off-topic (but very useful): The very unofficial Microsoft Download Center ArchiveCan’t find a legacy download for Windows, Office, Visual Studio, or another Microsoft product? This entirely unofficial third-party archive keeps backup copies of hundreds of service packs, redistributable runtimes, and toolkits no longer maintained by the folks in Redmond.