Python busting out

[Vepxistqaosani]

At my firm -- which must remain anonymous, I guess -- I'm the only 
Pythoneer. We are strongly encouraged to use only "Approved Technologies".

However, we are even more strongly encouraged to get the job done; when 
Python is obviously superior to the alternatives, I can use Python.

For instance, our Approved Technology for database reporting is Cognos 
Impromptu. But a recent report I had to write in Cognos involved a 
20-way self-join of a 90-column view (don't ask). This was not an ideal 
solution. Since the final format was an Excel file, I volunteered to do 
it in Python. Python can run the same report in 1/20 the time and do all 
the formatting via Excel VBA.

They still want me to figure out how to do this with Cognos, but they're 
so happy with the Python solution, they've forgotten to pressure me on 
the issue.

The end result is that other folks around the company are getting 
interested in Python.

So who needs books when you can offer performance?