Serdar Yegulalp
Senior Writer

The Python AI library hack that didn’t hack Python

There are some critical takeaways from the Ultralytics AI Python library hack, but they're not the ones you might expect. Also, 10 tips for making Python faster and a look at uv—the all-in-one Python project management tool that replaces pip and venv.

Missed target, missed bullseye. Classic dartboard with green and yellow darts wide of the mark.
Credit: focal point / Shutterstock

Guess what’s both one of the fastest-growing and most popular languages of 2024? (Hint: It’s not Java.) Also in Python this month: A clever hack of a popular Python AI library offers some hard security lessons, a new Python package management tool accelerates your workflow, and 10 tips for making your Python programs faster.

Top picks for Python readers on InfoWorld

Python a shoo-in for Tiobe language of the year
Survey says! Turns out Python isn’t only the most popular language but also the fastest-growing one for 2024.

3 takeaways from the Ultralytics AI Python library hack
Yes, the hack points to critical vulnerabilities in the Python ecosystem, but not where you might think. (And no, it wasn’t PyPI.)

How to use uv: A superfast Python package installer
The all-in-one Python project management tool written in Rust replaces pip, venv, and other tools. And guess what? It breaks speed records, too.

10 tips for speeding up Python programs
Python’s conveniences don’t have to get in the way of performance. Here’s how to get the best of both worlds.

More good reads and Python updates elsewhere

Icecream: Never use print() to debug again
Not that print() is bad, but IceCream makes print-style debugging a joy instead of a chore.

The python-build-standalone project is now part of Astral
The stewards of the wicked fast uv package manager for Python are now also governors of the widely used automated build project for no-dependency Python runtimes.

Create QR codes in pure Python
Check out this handy no-dependency library for generating QR codes. (You can add the Pillow imaging library for extra features.)

Historical flashback: The Honeywell Kitchen Computer
Because it made total sense to spend $10,000 in 1969 dollars for a glorified recipe book. Hey, at least it looked snazzy.

Serdar Yegulalp

Serdar Yegulalp is a senior writer at InfoWorld. A veteran technology journalist, Serdar has been writing about computers, operating systems, databases, programming, and other information technology topics for 30 years. Before joining InfoWorld in 2013, Serdar wrote for Windows Magazine, InformationWeek, Byte, and a slew of other publications. At InfoWorld, Serdar has covered software development, devops, containerization, machine learning, and artificial intelligence, winning several B2B journalism awards including a 2024 Neal Award and a 2025 Azbee Award for best instructional content and best how-to article, respectively. He currently focuses on software development tools and technologies and major programming languages including Python, Rust, Go, Zig, and Wasm. Tune into his weekly Dev with Serdar videos for programming tips and techniques and close looks at programming libraries and tools.

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