I'm not a developer, but I'm interested in using Python at my firm. I know there are good reasons for restricting non-IT personnel from coding at work, mainly due to the potential for rogue code to cause major issues, especially when it happens at the worst times! However, I'm curious about some scenarios: 1) What if I run Python in Docker or some sort of cloud-based container? 2) What if I'm only trying to execute simple scripts in Power Automate Desktop? 3) What if I promise to only test my scripts in a safe environment and get IT's approval before any use in production? If you worked at my company, how would you respond to my request? I'm hoping for some constructive feedback. Thanks in advance!
6 Answers
People in GIS often use Python for mapping tasks, especially with ArcGIS. It's not uncommon for users to run Python without being from IT, but make sure you communicate your needs clearly to IT.
It's completely doable! Just make sure to explain your case to IT. If they’re a bit old-school, they might be hesitant, but if you present it as a helpful tool for efficiency, they might come around.
We recently put a policy in place allowing certain team members to use Python for automation after they demonstrated their scripts were safe. If it's done properly, it can really benefit the business, so make a solid case and you should be good to go!
Great advice! I’ll prepare a business case to present to them.
You definitely should have a chat with your IT team. In my workplace, we've got loads of non-IT folks running Python for data analysis. If Python helps your team, they might find a way to make it work for you without any serious restrictions.
Just be cautious if you're planning to run Python as an admin. If you don't have admin rights, you generally won't run into huge problems, but it's always best to keep security in mind when trying out new tools.
Python's pretty popular among scientists outside IT. If you're using a Linux system, Python is already built in! Check if your organization has any policies regarding similar tools like PowerShell scripting—it might pave the way for your Python request.
Thanks for that insight! I’ll definitely highlight how it would help with tasks like mapping.