Python Party II : Struggling, Labbing, and Learning

Learning Python as a network engineer isn’t easy. It’s frustrating. It’s humbling. And sometimes… It’s downright boring.

But it’s also necessary.

In this episode of The Art of Network Engineering, Jeff Clark and Andy Lapteff 🛠️💬 continued our “Python Party” experiment; a live, unfiltered journey through the basics of Python, as seen through the eyes of two networking folks who are learning as we go. If you’ve ever tried to level up your automation skills and felt overwhelmed, this one’s for you.

Why We’re Doing This

The networking world is evolving fast. Job descriptions are packed with terms like Python, Git, Terraform, YAML, and Infrastructure as Code. To stay relevant, we can’t avoid automation; we have to get comfortable with it.

For us, that starts with the basics: learning Python properly. Not vibe-coding our way through random scripts (though that has its place!), but actually understanding variables, strings, and methods so that we can read code with confidence and eventually build our own tools.

Jeff learns by diving straight in and breaking stuff. Andy learns by following the book slowly, line by line, then applying the knowledge in a lab. This mix of styles makes for some great conversations, and plenty of hilarious confusion.

What We Covered This Session

1. Variables & Strings

We revisited the concept of variables, naming something and assigning a value to it, and looked at strings, which are just sequences of characters inside quotes. Simple enough, but the lightbulb moment was seeing how Python executes code line by line and how variables can be reassigned.

2. Methods and .title() Magic

We learned that you can attach “methods” to variables to make them do things. For example, using full_name.title() capitalizes each word in a string. Seeing this in action was satisfying, and it clicked why methods are so powerful for data cleanup and formatting.

3. F-Strings and String Formatting

F-strings (f"Hello {name}") felt confusing at first, but they’re actually a slick way to combine variables inside a string. It’s a tool you’ll use constantly for automation tasks like building configs or generating emails.

For example:

first_name = "andy"
last_name = "lapteff"
full_name = f"{first_name} {last_name}"
print(full_name.title())
        

Outputs: Andy Lapteff

4. Whitespace: The Silent Script Killer

We spent time talking about why extra whitespace matters. A stray space might not look like much to a human, but to Python, "Jeff " is not the same as "Jeff". Methods like .strip() and .rstrip() are crucial for cleaning up user input and avoiding subtle bugs in scripts.

5. Learning Styles & Real Talk

We got real about how differently people learn. Jeff’s “just do it” approach works well for him, while Andy needs structure, repetition, and note-taking to make concepts stick. Neither is wrong. What matters is finding a way to keep moving forward, even when it’s uncomfortable.

Why This Matters for Network Engineers

Python basics may seem dry compared to pushing configs or troubleshooting BGP flaps, but these building blocks are exactly what enable us to automate those tasks later.

Understanding variables, strings, and methods isn’t about becoming a full-time developer. It’s about becoming fluent enough to read, modify, and build scripts that solve real networking problems, whether you write them yourself or use AI as your digital coding buddy.

Automation isn’t optional anymore. It’s the path to staying relevant in an industry that’s changing fast.

Final Thoughts

To be honest, halfway through this session, we started to doubt the format. Reading a Python textbook on a livestream isn’t exactly edge-of-your-seat entertainment. But the real value wasn’t in being perfect coders; it was in being honest about the struggle.

If you’ve ever opened a Python book and wanted to slam it shut 10 minutes later, you’re not alone. Keep going. Lab it out. Ask dumb questions. Break things. And keep showing up.

This is a journey worth taking, and we don't have to trudge it alone.

Listen to the full episode: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2127872/episodes/17974724

Watch the full episode: https://youtu.be/NRi0ah0-Z6Y