Episode 152
Automate Processes and Distribute Python Tools With RPA and RCC
The Real Python Podcast · Real Python
April 7, 202349m 45s
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Show Notes
<p>Are you exploring automation of your repetitive business tasks with Python? How are you going to share your helpful tools with co-workers? This week on the show, Sampo Ahokas from Robocorp is here to discuss robotic process automation (RPA) and distribution of these robots.</p>
<p>Sampo is a co-founder and VP of engineering at Robocorp. We talk about using Robot Framework, an open-source RPA tool, to develop bots that implement your existing Python skills. Sampo shares example projects and additional resources for new users.</p>
<p>We discuss the typical difficulties of sharing automation tools with a team and trying to avoid the dreaded “works on my machine” problem. Sampo describes how their group worked to develop a Conda-based tool for creating shareable packages and environments. </p>
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<p>Topics:</p>
<ul>
<li>00:00:00 – Introduction</li>
<li>00:02:25 – What is robotic process automation (RPA)? </li>
<li>00:03:55 – What do you mean by automation?</li>
<li>00:05:56 – Additional examples of RPA</li>
<li>00:07:41 – What is the RPA platform?</li>
<li>00:10:06 – What is the Robot Framework?</li>
<li>00:12:42 – Robocorp portal</li>
<li>00:14:09 – Python integration</li>
<li>00:17:06 – Sponsor: REVSYS</li>
<li>00:17:56 – Distribution with RCC</li>
<li>00:20:24 – Why does the system use conda under the hood?</li>
<li>00:24:12 – What hurdles did you face creating RCC?</li>
<li>00:27:51 – Steps for the end user</li>
<li>00:30:52 – Making the project open source</li>
<li>00:35:20 – Video Course Spotlight</li>
<li>00:36:42 – Tips for someone starting with automation</li>
<li>00:42:17 – Integration with VSCode</li>
<li>00:44:18 – Intelligent document processing (IDP)</li>
<li>00:45:36 – What are you excited about in the world of Python?</li>
<li>00:47:46 – What do you want to learn next?</li>
<li>00:48:13 – How can people follow the project online?</li>
<li>00:48:46 – Thanks and goodbye</li>
</ul>
<p>Show Links:</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://robocorp.com/">Open Source RPA - Intelligent Automation Software - Robocorp</a></li>
<li><a href="https://robocorp.com/blog/what-is-rpa-a-breakdown-of-rpa-and-its-benefits">What is RPA? A breakdown of RPA and its benefits - Robocorp</a></li>
<li><a href="https://robocorp.com/portal">Robocorp Portal</a></li>
<li><a href="https://robocorp.com/docs">RPA Documentation, Training Courses, Certificates - Robocorp documentation</a></li>
<li><a href="https://github.com/robocorp/rpaframework">rpaframework: Collection of open-source libraries and tools for Robotic Process Automation (RPA), designed to be used with both Robot Framework and Python</a></li>
<li><a href="https://github.com/robocorp/rcc">rcc: RCC is a set of tooling that allows you to create, manage, and distribute Python-based self-contained automation packages - or ‘robots’ as we call them.</a></li>
<li><a href="https://docs.conda.io/projects/conda/en/latest/index.html">Conda - documentation</a></li>
<li><a href="https://quantstack.net/">QuantStack</a></li>
<li><a href="https://mamba.readthedocs.io/en/latest/installation.html#micromamba">micromamba - documentation</a></li>
<li><a href="https://robocorp.com/products/automation-studio">Low-code RPA Development Solution | Automation Studio - Robocorp</a></li>
<li><a href="https://dzone.com/articles/bolster-intelligent-document-processing-with-robot">Bolster IDP With Robotic Process Automation - DZone</a></li>
<li><a href="https://code.visualstudio.com/">Visual Studio Code - Code Editing. Redefined</a></li>
<li><a href="https://python.langchain.com/en/latest/index.html">Welcome to LangChain - 🦜🔗 LangChain 0.0.131</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/sahokas/?originalSubdomain=fi">Sampo Ahokas - LinkedIn</a></li>
<li><a href="https://twitter.com/RobocorpInc">Robocorp (@RobocorpInc) - Twitter</a></li>
<li><a href="https://forum.robocorp.com/">Community for Software Robot Developers</a></li>
<li><a href="https://robocorp.com/resources">RPA Resources, White Papers and Case Studies - Robocorp</a></li>
</ul>
<p>Level up your Python skills with our expert-led courses:</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://realpython.com/courses/reading-and-writing-files-python/">Reading and Writing Files in Python</a></li>
<li><a href="https://realpython.com/courses/testing-your-code-with-pytest/">Testing Your Code With pytest</a></li>
<li><a href="https://realpython.com/courses/zipfile-python/">Manipulating ZIP Files With Python</a></li>
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