Byte-sized RSE
Byte-sized RSE is a series of events providing key research software skills in just 1 hour!
Run by the UNIVERSE-HPC project, the byte-sized RSE series began in October 2022. We are currently running a second series of sessions during the 2023-24 academic year.
Each session has a companion podcast episode in the Code for Thought podcast series.
See below for details of upcoming sessions and links to podcasts and other outputs from previous byte-sized RSE sessions.
For any questions related to the series, or if you’d like to run a session on a topic that we’ve not yet covered, you can get in touch with Jeremy Cohen or Steve Crouch.
Future Byte-sized RSE events
Series 2, Episode 2: Python Web Application Development with Django
Date: Tuesday 5 December, 2023 13:00-14:30 GMT
Instructors: Jeremy Cohen and Steve Crouch
Links:
This session looks at the development of web applications with Python using the Django web framework.
It will begin with some general background on web framework and application structures and then look at where Django fits in and its architecture.
After looking at the structure of Django and the different parts of a Django application, we’ll move on to the interactive part of the session where you’ll have a chance to build a simple Django web application from scratch!
(Please check session prerequisites on the registration page)
Past Byte-sized RSE events
Series 2, Episode 1: Software Task Estimation
Date: Tuesday 7 November, 2023 13:00-14:00 GMT
Instructors: Peter Schmidt
Links: Slides, Code for Thought podcast
In the first session of season 2 of byte-sized RSE, we’ll look at that challenging question that many software developers or researchers will be familiar with being asked: “How long will it take?”!
It’s also the question most, if not every, software engineer dreads! Often, it feels like asking: “how long is a piece of string?”
Luckily, there are some common techniques and practices we can use to help us to give reasonable estimates and avoid common pitfalls. In this session, we’ll be looking at and trying out a couple of them.
Research Software Camp #5: Git Version Control - Beyond Beginner Level
Date: Wednesday 28 June, 2023 10:00-12:00 BST
Instructors: Jeremy Cohen and Steve Crouch
Links: Slides
A re-run of Byte-sized RSE session 7 from series 1 as part of the 5th SSI Research Software Camp, which looked at intermediate and advanced use of Git version control. This included looking at the feature branch workflow model and features such as rebasing and cherry-picking.
A companion podcast is now available as part of the Code for Thought series.
Research Software Camp #5: Code Review
Date: Friday 23 June, 2023 10:00-12:00 BST
Instructors: Jeremy Cohen and Steve Crouch
Links: Slides
A re-run of Byte-sized RSE session 2 from series 1 as part of the 5th SSI Research Software Camp, which looked at collaboration and code review via GitHub.
A companion podcast is now available as part of the Code for Thought series.
Series 1, Episode 8: README files
Date: Tuesday 6 June, 2023 13:00-14:00 BST
Instructors: Jeremy Cohen and Steve Crouch
Links: Slides, Code for Thought podcast
Byte-sized RSE session 8 looked at README files. Not a default and often ignored file in the top-level folder of your project but a hugely important place for a range of information that can make or break the success of your project - either inspiring potential users to adopt your software or contribute to your project, or, putting them off entirely and sending them running in the direction of a competing tool or codebase!
A companion podcast is now available as part of the Code for Thought series.
Series 1, Episode 7: Intermediate/Advanced Git
Date: Wednesday 10 May, 2023 13:00-14:30 BST
Instructors: Jeremy Cohen and Steve Crouch
Links: Slides, Code for Thought podcast
Byte-sized RSE session 7 looked at intermediate and advanced use of Git version control. This included looking at the feature branch workflow model and features such as rebasing and cherry-picking.
A companion podcast is now available as part of the Code for Thought series.
Series 1, Episode 6: Integrated Development Environments (IDEs)
Date: Tuesday 28 March, 2023 13:00-14:30 BST
Instructors: Jeremy Cohen and Steve Crouch
Links: Slides, Code for Thought podcast
Byte-sized RSE session 6 looked at how Integrated Development Environments (IDEs) can help you to be more efficient in writing, managing and debugging your code.
A companion podcast is now available as part of the Code for Thought series.
Series 1, Episode 5: Code Style and Linting
Date: Tuesday 28 February, 2023 13:00-14:30 GMT
Instructors: Jeremy Cohen and Steve Crouch
Links: Slides, Code for Thought podcast
Byte-sized RSE session 5 looked at the importance of code style in supporting readability and maintainability of your code. We also looked at tools for checking your code for potential errors (linters) and checking for conformance with styling specifications.
A companion podcast is now available as part of the Code for Thought series.
Series 1, Episode 4: Continuous Integration
Date: Tuesday 17 January, 2023 13:00-14:00 GMT
Instructors: Jeremy Cohen and Steve Crouch
Links: Slides, Code for Thought podcast
Byte-sized RSE session 4 looked at Continuous Integration providing some background on the topic and then focusing on the use of GitHub Actions to set up a pipeline to automatically run tests and related processes on your codebase in response to specific actions such as merging new code.
A companion podcast is now available as part of the Code for Thought series.
Series 1, Episode 3: Testing your Python code
Date: Tuesday 13 December, 2022 13:00-14:00 GMT
Instructors: Jeremy Cohen and Steve Crouch
Links: Slides, Code for Thought podcast
Byte-sized RSE session 3 looked at testing your Python code. The session started with a general introduction to software testing applicable across many languages followed by an interactive tutorial based on testing of Python code.
A companion podcast is now available as part of the Code for Thought series.
Series 1, Episode 2: Collaboration and Code Review via GitHub
Date: Tuesday 15 November, 2022 14:00-15:00 GMT
Instructors: Jeremy Cohen and Steve Crouch
Links: Slides, Code for Thought podcast
Byte-sized RSE session 2 looked at collaboration and code review via GitHub.
A companion podcast is now available as part of the Code for Thought series.
Series 1, Episode 1: Software Licensing
Date: Tuesday 18 October, 2022 13:00-14:00 BST
Instructors: Jeremy Cohen and Steve Crouch
Links: Code for Thought podcast
Byte-sized RSE session 1 looked at open source software licensing.
A companion podcast is now available as part of the Code for Thought series.