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Having a snake of a time.
11 November 2025 | by In retirement, I want to keep my mind sharp, and to do that, I have to challenge myself. My latest adventure is learning Python coding.
A little history about Python coding: the founder, Guido van Rossum, a Dutch programmer, came from the Netherlands. His goal was to birth a code that was easy to read general purpose programming language. Why the name Python and not Rossum, you ask? The name came from Monty Python, and he felt that gave it a light-hearted name. In the Zen of Python, this phrase sums up the code experience: “Simple is better than complex.” Oh, and those who code in Python are known as Pythonista’s and I am striving to become just that.
So why all of a sudden my interest in coding……well, it has to do with my son Ben, who is a whiz kid at this stuff. Funny story…..Ben went to the University of Toronto and majored in cyber security. He wanted to get into a top tier program and had to have some interviews. He was given a few exams and then called in for an interview. The interview was conducted by the department head, the lead professor and the admin for the program. The main purpose he was called in was because the most complex question and the main question on the exam he left blank. When asked, he told them the question had incorrect coding and he was not going to waste time on it! He was asked to explain, and he did, and was told Thank you for coming in. Ben called me after the interview and told me the story. I could not believe what he did and was about to give him a piece of my mind. Before that could happen, he told me the professor called later in the day and told he was accepted, no more interviews or exams were required, and they were changing the question as he was correct.
In a phone conversation with Ben, he challenged me to pass some of my time learning Python coding. He said it was very user friendly and it could really help with my ham radio adventure. I took him up on the offer, and now I am in the process of coding to make ham radio at VE9KK a little more automated. More on how that is coming very soon, as I have already produced some coding that has shocked me and is helping VE9KK’s CW contesting station become a “Geek shack”
6 Responses to “Having a snake of a time.”
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I wish you a long, healthy retirement Mike, sounds a great project now you have more time on your hands, have fun!
I read your article and could not help but wonder if you or your son are familiar with the WC3schools site https://www.w3schools.com/python/. This site can be very helpful for alot of different code questions. One of my professors pointed it out to the class for pratice of different commands. Good luck and enjoy your coding! Tim
In my heyday, I learned C and C++. And guess what language the Python compiler is written in? C! While AI platforms are not primarily written, the many support libraries and frameworks are. C/C++ is known for its high performance and efficiency, making it suitable for rapid, real-time processing and complex algorithms required by AI systems. Languages such as Python are more common for rapid prototyping and ease of use for less complex programming jobs. AI can churn out code in any known programming language, and I’m using it to solve very complex C programming problems because it would take me weeks or months to do what AI can do in seconds. However, while it can untie a Gordian Knot-like problem, it writes code that isn’t very optimized. I still have to go over its code and cut out the fat and add the nuances. If I were your son’s age, I would learn C/C++ and AI neural net programming. Can you imagine what a ham rig with an embedded AI mind can do? Hard-core contestors will be in ham heaven! While I could just ask my rig to find a band based on current propagation conditions for QRP CW QSOs. If my dipole or vertical was better. Or monitor all the bands listening for a specific DX expedition CQ, then call my smartphone with the details, and let me control the rig with it! Or it could impersonate me and make the QSO. I can see that being a big issue in contests with AI hams modeled after your operating characteristics, including mimicking your fist and voice! Its a Brave New World! 73.
Good evening Jeff and thanks for the well wishes. I find I have less time on my hands now that I am retired. This is just one of the ways I pass time and best of all it keeps the brain going strong.
Have a good week
73,
Mike
VE9KK
Good evening Tim very nice to hear from you and thanks very much for the link. Next time I talk to be I will mention it to him. In the mean time I will give the link a go myself.
73
Mike
VE9KK
Well Robert all I can say is WOW I am very new at this game and was shocked to read your reply. I had no clue what AI could do and how in the future our hobby most likely be changed because of AI. Also this is a new avenue for younger folks to get into our hobby.
73 and have a good week.
Mike
VE9KK