Topics covered in this episode:

httptap
10 Smart Performance Hacks For Faster Python Code
FastRTC
Explore Python dependencies with pipdeptree and uv pip tree
Extras
Joke

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Michael #1: httptap

Rich-powered CLI that breaks each HTTP request into DNS, connect, TLS, wait, and transfer phases with waterfall timelines, compact summaries, or metrics-only output.
Features
- Phase-by-phase timing – precise measurements built from httpcore trace hooks (with sane fallbacks when metal-level data is unavailable).
- All HTTP methods – GET, POST, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS with request body support.
- Request body support – send JSON, XML, or any data inline or from file with automatic Content-Type detection.
- IPv4/IPv6 aware – the resolver and TLS inspector report both the address and its family.
- TLS insights – certificate CN, expiry countdown, cipher suite, and protocol version are captured automatically.
- Multiple output modes – rich waterfall view, compact single-line summaries, or -metrics-only for scripting.
- JSON export – persist full step data (including redirect chains) for later processing.
- Extensible – clean Protocol interfaces for DNS, TLS, timing, visualization, and export so you can plug in custom behavior.
Example:

Brian #2: 10 Smart Performance Hacks For Faster Python Code

Dido Grigorov
A few from the list
- Use math functions instead of operators
- Avoid exception handling in hot loops
- Use itertools for combinatorial operations - huge speedup
- Use bisect for sorted list operations - huge speedup

Michael #3: FastRTC

The Real-Time Communication Library for Python: Turn any python function into a real-time audio and video stream over WebRTC or WebSockets.
Features
- 🗣️ Automatic Voice Detection and Turn Taking built-in, only worry about the logic for responding to the user.
- 💻 Automatic UI - Use the .ui.launch() method to launch the webRTC-enabled built-in Gradio UI.
- 🔌 Automatic WebRTC Support - Use the .mount(app) method to mount the stream on a FastAPI app and get a webRTC endpoint for your own frontend!
- ⚡️ Websocket Support - Use the .mount(app) method to mount the stream on a FastAPI app and get a websocket endpoint for your own frontend!
- 📞 Automatic Telephone Support - Use the fastphone() method of the stream to launch the application and get a free temporary phone number!
- 🤖 Completely customizable backend - A Stream can easily be mounted on a FastAPI app so you can easily extend it to fit your production application. See the Talk To Claude demo for an example of how to serve a custom JS frontend.

Brian #4: Explore Python dependencies with <code>pipdeptree</code> and <code>uv pip tree</code>

Suggested by Nicholas Carsner
- We have covered it, but in 2017 on episode 17.
pipdeptree
- Use pipdeptree --python auto to allow it to read your venv
uv pip tree
- Also check out uv pip tree and some useful flags
  - --show-version-specifiers to show the rules
  - --outdated notes packages that need updated

Extras

Brian:

Lean TDD 0.1.1 includes an updated intro and another chapter, “Essential Components”
VSCode Peacock Extension - color code your different projects

Joke: Sure Grandma

#457 Tapping into HTTP

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