Securing Your Python Software Supply Chain With Dustin Ingram

How well do you know your software supply chain? When you PIP install a package, what steps can you take to minimize the risk of installing something malicious? This week on the show, we have Dustin Ingram, a director of the Python Software Foundation (PSF) and a maintainer of the Python Package Index (PyPI).

We talk about Dustin’s PyCon 2021 talk titled “Secure Software Supply Chains for Python”. Dustin shares the types of attacks you should be aware of and how you can make your supply chain more trustworthy. We cover tools, techniques, and best practices.

Dustin also discusses what it takes to keep the Python Package Index running and the players working to keep it going into the future.

Course Spotlight: A Beginner’s Guide to Pip

This course is a great introduction to pip for those who are getting started Python, and for those who want to understand more about what is happening when you install new packages into your environment. It’s a worthy investment of your time to understand the fundamentals of pip.

Topics:

• 00:00:00 – Introduction
• 00:01:51 – Developer Advocate at Google
• 00:04:34 – A director of the PSF
• 00:06:27 – A maintainer of PyPI
• 00:12:29 – Secure Software Supply Chains for Python - PyCon 2021
• 00:15:53 – Do I need to be a security expert as a Python developer?
• 00:17:23 – Typo-squatting of package names
• 00:19:46 – Sponsor: Scout APM
• 00:20:52 – Dependency confusion and private repos
• 00:26:00 – What are some best practices?
• 00:31:55 – How to lessen the scale of “I don’t know what I don’t know”?
• 00:36:33 – Tools and techniques that can help
• 00:44:11 – Video Course Spotlight
• 00:45:30 – Namespaces on PyPI
• 00:53:03 – What does it take to power the Python Package Index?
• 01:01:57 – What are you excited about in the world of Python?
• 01:03:55 – What do you want to learn next?
• 01:05:52 – What is something you thought you knew about Python, but were wrong about it?
• 01:08:46 – Shout outs and social information
• 01:10:16 – Thanks and goodbye

Show Links:

• Dustin Ingram: Personal Website
• Python on Google Cloud
• Cloud Run: Develop and deploy highly scalable containerized applications on a fully managed serverless platform
• Python Software Foundation
• PSF Membership FAQ
• PyPI: The Python Package Index
• Secure Software Supply Chains for Python: PyCon 2021 - YouTube
• pip Documentation: Requirements Files
• pip Documentation: Hash-Checking Mode
• PEP-0440: Direct references for pip
• pip-tools: pip-tools keeps your pinned dependencies fresh
• PyPA: Python Packaging User Guide
• The Update Framework (TUF)
• tuf: A secure updater framework for Python
• pipx: Install and Run Python Applications in Isolated Environments
• How to Publish an Open-Source Python Package to PyPI - Real Python Article
• Poetry: Python packaging and dependency management made easy
• PyUp: Python Dependency Security
• Dependabot: Automated dependency updates
• Why Package Signing is not the Holy Grail: Donald Stufft
• Dependency Confusion: How I Hacked Into Apple, Microsoft and Dozens of Other Companies
• What Is Pip? A Guide for New Pythonistas - Real Python Article
• A ‘Worst Nightmare’ Cyberattack: The Untold Story Of The SolarWinds Hack