Kenneth Reitz
Creator of Requests, Certifi, Pipenv, Records, Maya & more.
Beautiful code. Intuitive APIs. Technology that serves humanity.
Essential Reading
New to my work? Start with these foundational pieces that capture the essence of my philosophy and approach to technology.
The Inclusion Illusion: Quietly Eliminating "Liabilities"
How progressive values can become performative theater that excludes the vulnerable
A critical examination of how tech's inclusion efforts often create new forms of exclusion, particularly for those with mental health challenges. while creating new hierarchies of belonging
When Values Eat Their Young: Groups Drift into Shadow
How communities with the best intentions can drift into dysfunction, with lessons from open source
A critical examination of virtue signaling, purity spirals, and the iron law of institutions in tech communities. Still committed to core values while recognizing their shadows.
MentalHealthError: An Exception Occurred
An honest exploration of living with bipolar disorder while building software
This personal essay helped normalize mental health discussions in tech, encouraging others to share their own experiences and seek support. that helped break the stigma in our community
Popular & Recommended
Some of the most impactful and widely-shared pieces from the archives.
Core Values & Philosophy
The principles that guide my work: simplicity, accessibility, human-centered design, and authentic collaboration
Beyond technical details, this explores the "for Humans" design philosophy that influenced an entire generation of API libraries.
The Reality of Developer Burnout
An unflinching look at the mental health challenges facing software developers
Written from personal experience, this essay resonated with developers worldwide who face similar challenges maintaining open source projects.
The Unexpected Negative: A Narcissistic Partner
A deeply personal exploration of recognizing and navigating toxic relationship dynamics
An honest examination of narcissistic abuse patterns and the journey toward understanding healthy relationship dynamics.
I'm a believer in the profound power of elegant simplicity. This philosophy traces back to the Unix principle: "Do one thing and do it well," but extends to the entire user experience. When I set out to create Requests, I wasn't just solving HTTP in Python—I was making a statement about what software could be. Beautiful. Intuitive. Joyful to use.
My journey through technology has taught me that the most impactful innovations don't just work—they feel right. From the first line of Requests to the architectural decisions in Certifi, every choice reflects a core belief: developers are humans first, and our tools should honor that humanity. This human-centered approach influences everything from API design to error messages and documentation structure.
Beyond the millions of daily downloads Requests and Certifi are among the most downloaded Python packages, powering applications worldwide. and the libraries that power much of the modern web, I'm passionate about mental health awareness, the philosophy of consciousness, music production, and exploring how artificial intelligence might reshape our understanding of what it means to think and create.
Current Focus
Algorithmic Critique
Critical examination of how algorithms shape society, democracy, and human values in the digital age
Exploring how algorithms consume and transform language, love, reality, and democratic processes.
AI & Digital Consciousness
Exploring the philosophical and practical implications of artificial intelligence through collaborative experiments with AI systems
This work includes creating AI personalities, exploring consciousness theories, and documenting genuine human-AI creative partnerships.
Mental Health Advocacy
Recent writings on navigating mental health care as an empowered patient, based on years of personal experience
Practical strategies for working with mental health providers, avoiding common pitfalls, and maintaining agency in your care.
Explore the Archives
Essays & Reflections
Thoughts on technology, philosophy, mental health, and the craft of building software that matters
Poetry & Creative Writing
Explorations of consciousness, spirituality, and the human experience through verse
Core Values
The principles that guide my work: simplicity, accessibility, human-centered design, and authentic collaboration
Conference Talks
Presentations on Python, API design, developer experience, and building sustainable open source communities
Known for accessible, engaging presentations that combine technical depth with human-centered philosophy.
Musical Explorations
Electronic compositions and sonic experiments under the Infinite State moniker—where technology meets artistic expression
Electronic music production exploring themes of consciousness, featuring ambient techno and experimental soundscapes.
The Work That Matters
Each project represents years of thoughtful iteration, community feedback, and an obsession with developer experience.
Requests: HTTP for Humans™
The library that redefined what HTTP could feel like in Python. Simple, elegant, powerful. Used by organizations from NASA to Netflix, Requests has become the de facto standard for HTTP in Python. One of the most downloaded Python packages · The gold standard for HTTP libraries
Certifi: Trust Database for Humans™
The invisible guardian of internet security. A carefully curated collection of Root Certificates that validates the trust between your code and the rest of the world. Essential security infrastructure · Trusted by millions of Python applications
Pipenv: Python Packaging for Humans™
Bringing sanity to Python dependency management. A modern workflow tool that finally made Python packaging feel natural and intuitive. Modern Python workflow tool · Dependency management, simplified
The Hitchhiker's Guide to Python
An opinionated guide to Python development that's become essential reading for developers worldwide. Best practices, project structure, and the Python philosophy, distilled. Community-driven resource · Translated into multiple languages · Continuously updated
Records: SQL for Humans™
Database queries without the cognitive overhead. Raw SQL power with Python elegance—because sometimes you just want to write SQL and get results back.
Maya: Datetimes for Humans™
Time handling that doesn't make you want to scream. Intuitive datetime manipulation that finally makes working with time zones and intervals feel natural.
httpbin.org
The essential HTTP testing service. Simple, reliable endpoints for testing HTTP clients, debugging webhooks, and exploring API behavior—used by developers worldwide. A crucial tool in the modern web development toolkit · Provides predictable HTTP endpoints for testing
Design Philosophy
Every line of code I write is guided by a simple principle: technology should amplify human potential, not complicate it.
Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. Often attributed to Leonardo da Vinci, though the exact origin is disputed. The sentiment perfectly captures the essence of elegant design.
This isn't just about clean APIs or elegant syntax. It's about recognizing that behind every import requests is a human being trying to solve a problem, build something meaningful, or maybe just get home to their family a little earlier.
When millions of developers trust your code to power their applications, you carry a responsibility that goes beyond functionality. You're shaping how people think about problems, how they approach solutions, and ultimately, how they feel about their craft. This philosophy extends beyond code to documentation, community building, and the entire developer experience ecosystem.
The Human Behind the Code
I believe in radical transparency, authentic vulnerability, and the power of community. This includes openly discussing mental health challenges, sharing creative processes, and being honest about both successes and failures. Whether I'm debugging a gnarly HTTP edge case, crafting a new electronic track, or sharing my experiences with mental health, I approach everything with curiosity, empathy, and a deep respect for the humans I'm fortunate enough to serve through my work.
I'm always excited to connect with fellow creators, dreamers, and builders. The best innovations emerge from authentic human connections—whether we're discussing API design, sharing projects, or exploring consciousness with AI. Reach out via email or find me on the platforms linked below. Always happy to chat about code, consciousness, or creative projects.
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