PyData Boston February 2026 Recap

· Sal Darji
A high-contrast grayscale image captures a tech workshop. A presenter in a hoodie points animatedly at a large screen displaying lines of code. Several attendees, visible from behind, sit at tables with laptops, engrossed. The modern, bright room exudes a focused, educational atmosphere.

My Takeaways from the PyData Meetup in Boston

A few nights ago, I attended the PyData Meetup in Boston and left with some valuable insights:

1. Rethinking the “You’re an Expert in…” Prompt

One of my key takeaways was the shift away from using the “you’re an expert in…” prompt. While it used to be useful, the evolution of LLMs has made it unnecessary in many situations. I’ve stopped using it in most of my interactions, and it was great to hear something similar from experts.

2. Exploring Cursor’s Features

The meetup included a comprehensive introduction to Cursor’s less obvious features, such as rules, skills, and commands. I’m excited to dive deeper into them.

3. Breaking Down AI-Assisted Coding Goals

Many developers struggle with AI-assisted coding because they are expecting it to take on a lot of scope. The consensus was that trying to accomplish too much at once yields poor results. Instead, breaking down goals into smaller, manageable steps and planning them out beforehand leads to better results.

My biggest takeaway from the meetup was that AI-assisted coding has come a long way. If you’re a developer who tried it six months or a year ago and was disappointed by the results, I recommend giving it another shot.

It was a great night and I enjoyed reconnecting with others in the community. And also to be updated on the latest advancements in AI-assisted coding.