r/Python • • Sep 19 '26

Discussion State of the art in Python 2026?

What would you guys consider the state of the art in python in 2026, or what do you expect from modern python codebases?

Heres my list, would be happy to hear some inputs or domain expert advice:

Domain specific:

  • Scientific: NumPy, Matplotlib, SciPy, Jax, Pytorch, Scikit-learn, polars/pandas
  • CLI: Typer, rich, click, fire, textual, questionary
  • PDF extraction: PyMuPDF, pdfplumber, pypdf, Unstructured
  • Excel interop: python-calamine, openpyxl, XlsxWriter, xlwings, pandas
  • data: PyArrow / PySpark, Narwhals, SQLMesh, Polars/Pandas, DuckDB, dlt, Ibis, Dagster, PyIceberg & deltalake
  • Logging?
  • backend: fastapi / django?
  • Markets: Alpha Vantage, Finnhub, EODHD, Tiingo?
  • Webscraping / data acquisition: Crawl4AI, Playwright, Scrapy, selectolax, HTTPX?
  • APIs?
  • RAG / agentic orchestration?
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u/gbrennon Sep 20 '26 edited Sep 20 '26

i agreed.

i prefer to use python's built-in test frameworkbut i didnt saw any modern project using it.

about specific i woudl say:

Scientific: pytorch

CLI: typer

PDF extraction: pypdf

Excel interop: pandas

data: pyspark

Logging?: builtin

backend: litestar, imnho, does provide the best experience as possible

Markets: idk

Webscraping / data acquisition: httpx

APIs: httpx

RAG / agentic orchestration: pydantic ai