Kenneth Reitz
Creator of Requests, Certifi, Pipenv, Records, Maya & more.
Simple, intuitive tools that work the way you think, written for humans.
The Algorithm Eats
My most urgent work examines how engagement-optimized algorithms systematically consume the foundations of human flourishing. These systems don't just change what we see—they transform how we think, what we value, and who we become.
Through personal observation, I trace how optimization for engagement creates recursive loops that consume their own substrates: virtue, language, love, democracy, reality, and time—until finally, in the algorithm eats itself, revealing the first crack in an otherwise totalizing system.
Mental Health & Technology
Beyond the sanitized wellness culture lies the messy technical reality of consciousness maintenance in digital environments. This work exposes the gap between mental health awareness theater and the brutal reality of living with serious psychiatric conditions in tech.
These essays expose how technological systems exploit psychological vulnerabilities: the professional cost of honesty, algorithmic psychological damage, how communities betray their vulnerable, AI reality-checking, and MentalHealthError.
What Schizoaffective Disorder Actually Feels Like cuts through clinical descriptions to document the raw lived experience of psychosis, paranoid spirals, and reality-checking challenges.
Essential Reading
New to my work? Start with these foundational pieces that capture the essence of my philosophy and approach to technology.
MentalHealthError: An Exception Occurred
An honest exploration of living with bipolar disorder while building software and what it means to be transparent about psychological reality
Programming as Spiritual Practice
How code becomes meditation, debugging becomes self-inquiry, and software architecture mirrors inner development
When Values Eat Their Young
How communities with the best intentions systematically betray their stated values through predictable social dynamics
Popular & Recommended
Some of the most impactful and widely-shared pieces from the archives.
The Cost of Transparency
How openness about mental health can become a professional liability in tech culture
The Reality of Developer Burnout
An unflinching look at the mental health challenges facing software developers
The Unexpected Negative: A Narcissistic Partner
A deeply personal exploration of recognizing and navigating toxic relationship dynamics
I believe simple tools should feel natural to use. When I created Requests, the goal was straightforward: make HTTP in Python feel as simple as it should be.
The best tools don't just work—they feel right. Whether it's an API call or an error message, I try to design things the way developers actually think.
I'm also interested in mental health, consciousness research, music production, and how AI might change the way we think about creativity and collaboration.
Explore the Archives
Poetry & Creative Writing
Explorations of consciousness, spirituality, and the human experience through verse.
Musical Explorations
Electronic compositions and sonic experiments under the Infinite State moniker—where technology meets artistic expression.
Essays & Reflections
Thoughts on technology, philosophy, mental health, and the craft of building software that matters.
Conference Talks
Presentations on Python, API design, developer experience, and building sustainable open source communities.
Core Values
The principles that guide my work: simplicity, accessibility, human-centered design, and authentic collaboration.
Design Philosophy
I try to build things that make developers' lives easier, not harder.
Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.
Behind every import requests is someone trying to solve a problem or get something done.
If the tool is confusing or awkward, that's friction they don't need.
When people use your code daily, you want it to feel helpful rather than frustrating.
The Human Behind the Code
I believe in radical transparency, authentic vulnerability, and the power of community. 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.
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