Hello guys, if you want to learn Python and looking for the best Python books then you have come to the right place. In the past, I have shared the best Python 3 courses, best websites to learn Python, Python Developer RoadMap, Python questions for interviews, and today, I am going to share the best books to learn Python programming in 2026. Whether you are an AI expert or a Computer Science student, you will come across Python Programming language sooner or later in your career. Starting its journey in 1991, Python has now captured the Programming world. Started as just a scripting solution for trivial stuff, Python is now everywhere. With its excellent libraries and frameworks, Python is driving Data Science, Web Development, Machine Learning, Server Side development, Automation, and General Programming stuff, and that's why it makes sense to Learn Python. Unlike some programming languages like Java or C++, which is good for server-side and complex programs but not suitable for simple things, because of its excellent libraries and vibrant community, you can do almost everything using Python from object-oriented programming to writing simple scripts. Being an author of a technical blog and editor of a Medium publication (see), I often receive queries like _what is the best way to learn Python_? _Which are the best books to learn Python_? Which online courses should I join to learn Python, etc.? While online courses are great to start with, and I did share some of the best Python online courses before, I feel, books still have their place. They are the most comprehensive and authoritative source of knowledge for any technology, and Python is no different. Even if you don't know anything about Python, you can use these books to kick-start your Python career, I have specially chosen books that promote hands-on learning and are easy for beginners to follow on and a few titles for advanced Python programmers to explore further. Once you find your feet using an online course like **The Complete Python 3 Bootcamp**, you can dig deeper into the massive world of Python by following these books. ## _8 Best Python Books for Beginners and Experienced in 2026_ So, without wasting any more of your time, let's start with some of the best books to learn Python for beginners and intermediate developers: ### **1.Automating Boring Stuff with Python** This is the first book I had read along with _Head First Python_ when I started learning Python a couple of years back. Since then, this is my go-to book for Python. I started learning Python to automate a few things, and the title got me, but I didn't get disappointed as the book truly lives the title. It will straightway teach you all practical stuff like sending an email notification, reading files, appending into XLS, scrapping data on the web, and automating trivial things using Python without you spending days and night learning sorting algorithms, object-oriented programming, and all kinds of computer science stuff. If you are someone who learns by doing real things, then this book is for you. Another great thing is that author Al Sweigart has also created an online course on Udemy with the same title **"Automate the Boring Stuff with Python Programming,"** so if you want to listen to him for more active learning you can also join that course along with reading this book. ### **2.Learn Python The Hard Way, by Zed A. Shaw** If you ask about a Python book for beginners, a lot of people will recommend "Learn Python The Hard Way, by Zed A. Shaw," and this happens to me as well. This was one of the books which were suggested to me by my Python buddy, but I didn't get a chance to look because I was more hooked with the "Automating Boring Stuff with Python" and "Head First Python" book. I did read it later and learned a lot from it as it fills many gaps in my learning. Reading books from multiple authors also helps you to grasp the concept better because some explain one topic better while others explain other topics. If you like Zed A. Shaw learning a hard way approach, then you will love this book. I also suggest combining this with this **Python Programming MasterClass** to get the best of both worlds. ### **3. Python Crash Course** The Python Crash Course: A Hands-On, Project-Based Introduction to Programming, by Eric Matthes, is another awesome, hands-on book to learn Python, and it's very much like the first book in this list. If for some reason, you won't be able to connect with AI Sweigart, author of the first Python book on this list, then you should try this one. It's a fast-paced, thorough introduction to Python that will have you writing programs, solving problems, and making things that work in no time. If you want to combine with an online course, I suggest you join the **Python for Everybody** course on Coursera, which is just amazing and goes nice with these books. ### **4.Head First Python: A Brain-Friendly Guide, by Paul Barry** Well, this is the book that has taught me Python. I am a big fan of the Head First series of books and having gone through most of their best-sellers like Head First Java and Head First Design Pattern, I really like the way they make learning fun. Their unique style not only encourages you to read the book for a long time without getting bored but also pushes you to do stuff along the way. This work and fun model also helps you to retain the knowledge. When it comes to the subject matter, the book is great for beginners but not as practical as the **"Python Crash Course"** or **"Automating Boring Stuff with Python"** book, but it still is a very good book to start learning Python. ### **5.Fluent Python: Clear, Concise, and Effective Programming, by Luciano Ramalho** "Fluent Python: Clear, Concise, and Effective Programming 2nd Edition" by Luciano Ramalho stands as a highly acclaimed guide with a stellar 4.8 out of 5 stars from 353 ratings, earning the title of #1 Best Seller in Object-Oriented Design on Amazon. In this updated edition, Luciano Ramalho invites Python developers to move beyond basic productivity and explore the language's full potential. The book provides hands-on guidance on writing effective, modern Python 3 code by emphasizing best practices and idiomatic features. Ramalho delves into Python's core language elements, libraries, and advanced concepts, offering insights on making code shorter, faster, and more readable. The new edition is structured into five parts, functioning as individual books within the book, covering diverse topics such as data structures, functions as objects, object-oriented idioms, control flow, and metaprogramming. This comprehensive guide is tailored to developers looking to deepen their understanding of Python, enabling them to apply its features more effectively and adopt a clear and concise programming style. This is also my favorite book for advanced Python programmers, as it will help you to learn the best techniques to write better Python programs. Applying the lessons from the book will help you to write a clearer, shorter, and faster Python code for your real-world Python Projects. Now, there is also the second edition of this book available which will help you to learn Python better. It's like Effective Java for Python Programmers, and if you need more advice, you can combine this book with**"Python Tricks: A Buffet of Awesome Python Features"** by Dan Bader, other awesome books to learn some advanced Python tips. ### 6. Effective Python: 90 Specific Ways to Write Better Python (Effective Software Development Series) "Effective Python: 90 Specific Ways to Write Better Python (Effective Software Development Series) 2nd Edition" by Brett Slatkin stands as an indispensable resource for Python developers, earning a remarkable 4.7 out of 5 stars from 407 ratings. As part of the Effective Software Development series, this updated and expanded edition is tailored for Python 3, offering valuable insights to help developers harness the full power of Python and write robust, high-performing code. Drawing from his extensive experience building Python infrastructure at Google, Slatkin introduces 90 Python best practices, tips, and shortcuts using a concise, scenario-driven style. The book addresses common pitfalls and nuances of the language, guiding developers to adopt a truly "Pythonic" approach. With realistic code examples and detailed explanations, Slatkin covers key areas such as statements, expressions, built-in types, functions, comprehensions, generator functions, classes, interfaces, metaclasses, concurrency, parallelism, debugging, testing, and collaborative development. This edition also includes 30 new actionable guidelines, reflecting the evolution of best practices in the Python ecosystem. Whether you're a seasoned Python developer or just starting, "Effective Python" prepares programmers to make a significant impact by mastering the languages' nuances and best practices. You can also combine this book with **Google IT Automation with Python professional certificate** to learn more practical usage of Python. ### 7. Python for Beginners: A Crash Course Guide to Learn Python in 1 Week "Python for Beginners: A Crash Course Guide to Learn Python in 1 Week" by Timothy C. Needham, narrated by Zac Aleman, is a comprehensive audiobook designed to make Python programming accessible to learners of all levels. Boasting a 4.3 out of 5 stars rating from 3,744 reviews, this audiobook provides a stress-free introduction to Python, focusing on its simplicity and power. Timothy C. Needham guides listeners through a seven-day learning journey, emphasizing hands-on experience to solidify concepts and paradigms of programming. The audiobook covers essential topics such as installing Python, working with Python glossary, interacting with Python, using Turtle for drawing, understanding variables, loops, native Python datatypes, dictionaries, boolean logic, conditional statements, constructing 'while' and 'for' loops, and creating classes and defining objects. The structured approach makes it ideal for total beginners with zero programming experience, returning professionals, or seasoned individuals seeking a fast and straightforward crash course in Python. With practical examples and clear explanations, this audiobook is a valuable resource for those eager to grasp Python fundamentals in just one week. If you need an online course to go along with this book, I recommend you to join **100 Days of Code: The Complete Python Pro Bootcamp for 2026** course by Angela Yu. This course will teach you Python by building 100 projects in 100 days. Along the way, you will also learn data science, automation, build websites, games and apps! ### 8. Python Programming for Beginners: The Complete Guide to Mastering Python in 7 Days with Hands-On Exercises "Python Programming for Beginners: The Complete Guide to Mastering Python in 7 Days with Hands-On Exercises" by Philip Robbins is a comprehensive guide designed to empower individuals with the skills needed to master Python programming swiftly. With a noteworthy 4.3 out of 5 stars from 404 reviews and the tag of #1 Best Seller in Functional Software Programming, this book is tailored for those seeking to enhance work-life balance and explore new job opportunities in the ever-expanding field of programming. Philip Robbins emphasizes the importance of Python, the most sought-after programming language globally, particularly in the post-pandemic age where remote and non-remote programming positions have proliferated. The book adopts a learner-friendly approach, focusing on synthesis, simplicity, and practicality. It covers essential topics like installing Python, understanding Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) principles, maximizing script efficiency, and delves into advanced programming concepts like Github, pip, Virtual Environment, and Unit Testing. With practical codes, exercises, and bonus content on Python interview questions and answers, this guide is suitable for both beginners and those with some programming experience. Whether you've never written a line of code or are looking to advance your programming skills, For active learning, you can also combine this book with the "**Introduction to Python"** course from Datacamp which is very active and engaging. This will also help you to learn Python better and quicker. "Python Programming for Beginners" is positioned to open doors to new, high-paying job opportunities, making it a valuable resource for anyone aspiring to land their dream job in the realm of Python programming. That's all about some of the **best books to learn Python in 2026** and beyond. These are some of the timeless Python books and deserve a place in every serious Python programmer's bookshelf. No matter whether you are doing Data Science with Python or creating a web application using Django or Flask, learning Python programming better will only make you a better Python developer. If you are serious about learning Python in-depth, here are some more free and paid resources for Further Learning * 10 Reasons to learn Python in 2026 * 15 Free Python Programming Courses for Beginners * The 2026 Web Developer RoadMap * Top 5 Web Development Frameworks for Python Developers * Python vs. JavaScript - Which is better to start with? * 10 Free Online courses to learn Python in depth * Top 8 Python libraries for Data Science and Machine Learning * Python vs. Java - Which Programming language Beginners should learn? * 5 Data Science and Machine Learning course in Python * 10 Python Courses and Certifications For Programmers * Top 5 Python books to learn Data Science * 10 Free Python Programming Books for Programmers * 8 Python Projects for Beginners to learn Python * Why Python is the best Programming language for Data Science * Top 5 Websites to learn Python Coding for FREE Thanks for reading this article so far. If you like these best Python books, then please share this article with your friends and colleagues. If you have any questions or feedback, then please drop a note, and if you have a Python book which I should read, feel free to share it with us. **P. S. -** If you prefer interactive reading and learn-by-doing rather than reading books or watching videos then you can also take a look at **_CodeCademy_** Learn Python 3 course, it's an awesome course to learn Python by doing. It's part of their Pro Package but worth learning.

Dustin Ballard of There I Ruined It created an amusing song featuring the voices of 50 different artists singing the names of 50 cities in the United States. Ballard said that he made this mashup in honor of the country’s 250th anniversary on July 4, 2026. > Happy birthday, America! ### Related Posts

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Spring framework is one of the most famous structures in the Java world, which used to develop Java applications, both core Java and web application. It is also one of the most job-oriented skills for Java developers; hence many beginners and intermediate Java programmers try to learn the Spring framework on their own. Though there are some excellent Spring training courses available online, books are still the most popular and preferred way to learn Spring frameworks like Spring core, Spring Boot, Spring MVC, Spring Batch, or Spring Security. I often receive queries for Spring book recommendations e.g., which Spring book is suitable for beginners, or which Spring book is good for intermediate and advanced developers, which book should I read to learn Spring boot, Spring Cloud, Spring Batch, or Spring security, etc.? In this article, I have tried to answer those questions by recommending some of the best Spring frameworks related to books currently available in the market. The list is not very different from my earlier list of recommended books in Spring, but I have made some changes to include an updated version of books that covers the latest versions of the Spring framework, the latest Spring 5. I have also included books to learn Spring batch, Spring Boot, and Spring Security along with Spring core and Spring MVC. So, now the list is more complete, relevant, and covers most of the Spring ecosystem. As I told you before, the Spring framework is the most popular framework or library used in the Java world. It is also the most sought-after skill among Java Web developers. Though limiting Spring to web developers will not do justice to its capability and importance in the Java world. It is quite as popular in the core Java world as it is for web development, but it was Spring MVC, which initially make Spring framework famous by providing an MVC platform to develop Java web application, but the actual difference was made by Spring's dependency Injection idea. There was a popular MVC framework available when Spring first came into the scene around 2004-05, Struts was the leading web framework at that time, but the simple idea that you don't need to create an object and manage dependency helps Spring big time. It not only simplifies the code but also promoted good coding practice, which results in better software. Btw, if you are just starting with Spring and want to learn the latest version of Spring 5 in a more interactive way, I also suggest you join a comprehensive online Spring course like **Spring Framework 6: Beginner to Guru**, along with the following one of these books. This provides the best of both worlds, and you will learn quickly and learn better. ## _6 Best Spring Framework Books for Java Developers in 2026_ Since most Java developers know that Spring is an important skill, the next step for them is how to learn the Spring framework and how to become a star developer by fully utilizing Spring's capability. ### **1.Spring in Action (6th Edition) by Craig Walls** This is THE Spring book that most of Java developer read and has read in the past to learn the Spring framework. The author Craig Walls is one of the project lead in the Spring Social project lead and frequently speaks at local user groups and conferences about Spring. I myself read the older version of Spring in Action to learn the Spring framework. The best part of the book is that it is now updated to cover Spring 5, so you must buy the latest edition of the Spring in Action, which is the 5th Edition. This book will teach you everything about Spring core and Spring MVC. You will learn the fundamentals and principles of the Spring framework like DI and IOC, wiring beans, aspect-oriented programming in Spring. You will also learn Spring MVC like developing Java web applications using Spring MVC, rendering web views, advanced Spring MVC, working with Spring flow, and how to secure web applications. The book also covers Spring's support for JDBC, messaging, remote method invocation, sending emails using Spring, Web Socket, JMX, and how you can simply Spring development with Spring Boot. If you want, you can also combine this book, along with the **Spring Boot 3, Spring 6 & Hibernate for Beginners course** by Chat Darby on Udemy to learn better and quicker. In short, this is the best Spring framework book that will teach you the latest features, tools, and practices, including Spring MVC, REST, Security, Web Flow, and more. If you want to read just one book on Spring, this should be it. ### **2.Getting Started with Spring framework 4th edition** This is another one of the best books to learn about the Spring framework. It is a little late entrant on Spring world, but both authors J. Sharma and Ashish Sarin have done a wonderful job of keeping the book updated and relevant even today. The latest edition, the 3rd one is updated to cover Spring 4.3 and Java 8. So, it is one of the rare books which includes Spring with Java 8. The book is full of examples, containing almost 74 sample projects and the best part of the book is that it shows you how to develop a full-scale Spring application step by step by demonstrating how to develop a simple internet banking application in Java incrementally in each chapter. This is an excellent example, and quite close to real-world experience, you will get by actually working for any company which uses Spring to develop Java applications. It covers almost everything with Spring core and Spring MVC but doesn't touch on Spring Batch or Spring boot, which makes sense because they are not part of the core Spring framework. It also teaches you how to configure Spring using Java configuration, using annotation for dependency injection, SpEL (Spring expression language), caching using Spring's cache abstraction, sending and receiving emails, and JSM messages using Spring, aspect-oriented programming, etc. Though, if you want to learn faster, I also recommend you to combine this with an online course like **[NEW] Spring Boot 3, Spring 6& Hibernate for Beginners** by Chad Darby on Udemy. Chad is a very experienced and responsive instructor and he will help you to learn Spring Framework better and quicker. Along with that, you can also learn task scheduling, database interaction using JDBC in Spring, programmatic and declarative transaction management, Spring Data, Spring MVC, Spring Security, and also teach how to develop RESTful Web Services using Spring. In short, certainly one of the best and most complete books on the Spring framework, much recommended to Java developers, both beginners and intermediate. ### **3.Spring Boot in Action** This is another great book by Craig Walls, which will help you to learn the Spring framework faster. The initial trouble with Spring was so much configuration, and you often get lost on that until you have someone who can help you with those nasty configurations, particularly the XML ones. The **Spring boot** made developing Spring application a lot easier; hence it makes learning Spring simpler. Spring Boot in Action is a useful guide on writing Java applications using Spring Boot. It will teach you how to avoid tedious configuration to focus more on application development rather than dealing with framework nuisance. The book will also teach you testing with Spring Boot, which is a very important concept. You can also combine this book with a comprehensive Spring Boot course like **The Complete Spring Boot Development Bootcamp** by Jose Portilla and Rayan Slim on Udemy. ### **4.Spring Batch in Action** If you have worked on enterprise Java applications like Trading GUIs or E-commerce projects, you know how important and common it is to run batch applications. Even though batch jobs are so common, there were no standard ways to develop them, Spring batch filled that gap. It provides a reusable component and a solid runtime environment to write batch jobs. Since it uses Spring's popular and well-known programming model to simplify configuration and implementation, comfortable for many Java developers. The Spring Batch in action book provides you everything you need to write batch jobs. It's an in-depth guide to the Spring Batch project. It teaches you how to monitor, tune, and test batch jobs with lots of practical examples. And, if you need a course, you can also combine this book with the Batch Processing with**Spring Batch& Spring Boot course** on Udemy. This combination of book and course works really well to learn Spring Batch. ### **5.Spring Security in Action 2nd Edition** One of the things any Java developer really likes to improve is their understanding of security in the web application. I have interviewed so many experienced developers not knowing much about common security exploits like SQL injection, Cross-site scripting, session hijacking, etc. If you are a Java developer who is familiar with Spring and you are looking to explore its security features, then this book is for you. Created by Laurentiu Spilca, this is the most up-to-date course on Spring Security and also covers OAuth2 and JWT. All beginners and experienced Java developers will benefit from this Spring Security Essentials since it explores both the theory and practical usage in detail. You can also benefit a lot from reading this book and joining one of the comprehensive **Spring Security training courses** from Eugen Paraschiv or online portals like Udemy or Pluralsight. Good knowledge of Security also gives you an edge when you go for a Job interview, so I highly recommend improving your knowledge and understanding of web security and how to implement those using the Spring Security framework in Java. Obviously, you have to code, and you have to talk to people who are using it already, but before you do, you must know some fundamentals, and there these Spring framework books will help you there. Once you learn the fundamentals, you can take advanced Spring training courses like **REST with Spring** or the **Learn Spring Security** courses to learn more practical skills and get some hands-on practice. ### 6. Spring Start Here: Learn what you need and learn it well "Spring Start Here" by Laurentiu Spilca is a comprehensive and hands-on guide designed to help Java developers quickly master the expansive Spring ecosystem. With a high rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars from 51 reviews, this book focuses on core concepts essential for building applications using the Spring framework. The author Laurentiu Spilca, is a skilled Java and Spring developer with experience as a technology instructor. He provides a practical and concise approach, teaching readers how to build web applications, manage application objects with Spring context, implement data persistence, exchange data using REST services, and leverage Spring Boot's convention-over-configuration approach. The book emphasizes minimizing repetition and manual work, guiding readers through the fundamentals and implementation details, including aspects of Spring AOP. With an informative table of contents, it covers topics such as Spring Boot, Spring MVC, web scopes, REST services, data sources, transactions, and Spring Data. The book is suitable for readers with beginning to intermediate Java skills and aims to provide a solid foundation for exploring the rich ecosystem of Spring. Purchasing the print book also includes a free eBook in PDF, Kindle, and ePub formats. Whether you are refactoring an existing application or securing projects with Spring Security, "Spring Start Here" is a valuable resource for those embarking on their journey to master the Spring and if you need a course to go along with this book, then you can check **Master Spring Boot 3& Spring Framework 6 with Java **by In28Minutes on Udemy. That's all about the **best books to learn Spring framework, Spring MVC, and Spring Security in 2026**. As I said, Spring is a very important skill for a Java developer, more for a Java web developer, and it gives you more job opportunities in the application development space. It also helps in your current job because you can deliver your solutions more easily and quickly, and can maintain and support them better. Other **Java and Spring Articles** you may like * 15 Spring Boot Interview Questions for Java Developers (questions) * Top 5 Courses to Learn and Master Spring Cloud (courses) * 5 Free Courses to Learn Spring Framework in depth(free courses) * 5 Courses to Learn Spring Security in depth (courses) * Top 5 Spring Boot Annotations Java Developers should know (read) * The Complete Java Developer RoadMap (article) * 10 Advanced Spring Boot Courses for Java developers (courses) * How Spring MVC framework Works Internally (article) * 5 Spring Books Experienced Java Developer Should Read (books) * Top 5 Frameworks Java Developer Should Know (frameworks) * Top 5 Spring and Hibernate training courses. (courses) * How to Crack Spring 5.0 Developer Certification (guide) * 10 Courses to learn Microservices in Java with Spring (courses) * How HTTP Basic Authentication works in Spring Security (article) Thanks for reading this article so far. If you like these Spring Framework books then please share with your friends and colleagues. If you have any questions or comments feel free to drop a note. **P. S. -** Books are also great for self-learning, but if you are someone who learns more from an online course or training, then you can also take a look at the **Learn Spring: The Master Class** course by Eugen Paraschiv of Baeldung. One of the better courses to learn Spring 65and Spring Boot 6 from scratch, in a guided, code-focused way.

> View this post on Instagram Sound explorer Nathan Tipton used a contact mic to record the soothing purrs and meows of his cat, then remixed the sounds through a granular synthesizer to create a cat-chy bass line. > Using Grainferno plus a contact mic to pick up purr’s plus meows leads to some wild sounds ### Related Posts

Large Language Models (LLMs) have rapidly proliferated, driving widespread adoption of AI applications. Most deployments rely on centralized infrastructures such as Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud, or AWS, requiring users to share sensitive data and training or fine-tuning code. This dependence raises significant security and privacy concerns, as cloud providers must be trusted to ensure confidentiality and integrity. Trusted Execution Environments (TEEs) e.g., Intel SGX/TDX, AMD SEV-SNP, and ARM CCA have been introduced to mitigate these risks. More recently, NVIDIA has developed GPU TEEs (e.g., H100/H200), yet comprehensive evaluations of end-to-end workflows that integrate CPU and GPU TEEs remain limited. Critical aspects, including performance overhead, remote attestation, and security guarantees for AI/LLM applications, have not been sufficiently studied. This paper addresses this gap by presenting an end-to-end workflow that combines CPU and GPU TEEs. We propose mechanisms to ensure confidentiality and integrity at both the VM level (via Intel TDX and AMD SEV-SNP) and the application level, highlighting vulnerabilities such as Kubernetes administrators' ability to access confidential VM contents. Finally, we evaluate the performance overhead of our system using industry benchmarks, focusing on configurations that integrate Intel TDX with NVIDIA H200 GPUs.

Your agent calls a tool. The tool times out at the network layer but _actually succeeds_ on the server. Your harness sees no response, so it retries. Now `charge_customer` ran twice, `send_email` fired twice, and `create_ticket` left two tickets. The model did nothing wrong. Every eval you have is green. And a customer just got billed $198 for a $99 plan. This is the failure mode nobody puts in a demo, because demos don't retry and demos don't have side effects that matter. Production has both. If your agent takes _actions_ — not just generates text — then retry safety is not a nice-to-have, it is the difference between an autonomous system and a liability with a scheduler. I want to argue two things. First: side-effect safety is a **Tier 1 evaluation problem** , not a prompt problem. Second: you cannot even _see_ this class of bug without a trace of what the agent actually did, which is where the eval story and the observability story become the same story. ## Why the model can't save you here The instinct is to make the agent smarter. "Tell it to check whether the charge already went through before retrying." Please don't. You are asking a non-deterministic component to enforce an invariant that must hold _every single time_. The model will comply 95% of the time and the other 5% is a chargeback. Retries don't come from the model anyway. They come from your harness, your HTTP client, your queue's at-least-once delivery, a Kubernetes pod restart mid-execution. The agent's "reasoning" is nowhere near the retry. So no amount of judging the agent's output tells you whether the _effect_ happened once or twice. This is exactly why I think about evidence on an **independence axis** , not a cost axis. Evidence is only worth what the agent couldn't forge: * **Tier 1 — proof the agent can't fake.** The side effect is externally observable. Did exactly one charge with this idempotency key hit Stripe? Does exactly one ticket exist? This is a deterministic yes/no you read from the _world_ , not from the agent. * **Tier 2 — statistical signal vs a baseline the agent didn't author.** Retry-rate per tool trending up, duplicate-detection hits, latency distributions shifting. Signal, cheap, real-time. * **Tier 3 — model-as-judge.** Useful for "was this refund reasonable?" Useless for "did it happen twice." A judge is a _shared-substrate opinion_ : a signal, never a verdict, and never allowed in the hot path. Double-execution lives entirely in Tier 1. It's binary, it's forgery-proof, and it's the 80% of production incidents that never needed an LLM to catch. ## The actual fix: idempotency keys the agent doesn't control The correct architecture makes double-execution _impossible_ , then evaluates that the invariant held. The key insight: the idempotency key is derived by the harness from the intent, not minted by the model on each attempt. import { createHash } from "node:crypto"; type ToolCall = { tool: string; args: Record<string, unknown>; runId: string }; // The key is a pure function of intent — identical across retries, // because the AGENT never generates it. The harness does. function idempotencyKey(call: ToolCall): string { const canonical = JSON.stringify({ tool: call.tool, args: call.args, runId: call.runId, // one logical action per run, not per attempt }); return createHash("sha256").update(canonical).digest("hex"); } async function executeOnce(call: ToolCall, sideEffect: (key: string) => Promise<unknown>) { const key = idempotencyKey(call); // Tier 1 proof, checked BEFORE the effect: has this exact intent run? const prior = await ledger.get(key); if (prior?.status === "committed") { return { key, result: prior.result, replayed: true }; // no second charge } await ledger.put(key, { status: "in_flight" }); const result = await sideEffect(key); // pass key downstream to Stripe et al. await ledger.put(key, { status: "committed", result }); return { key, result, replayed: false }; } Now the retry is safe _by construction_ : a second attempt with the same intent replays the recorded result instead of firing the effect again. But — and this is the part people skip — **being safe is not the same as knowing you're safe.** You still have to prove it in your evals. ## The eval and the trace are one system Here's where I'll stop describing generic hygiene and tell you what I actually run: **agent-eval** to score and gate the output, and **AgentLens** to capture the trace it scores against. They ship as a unit for a reason I only appreciated after getting burned. agent-eval owns the Tier 1 gate. After every run it asserts the invariant against ground truth the agent could not author: import { evaluate } from "agent-eval"; const report = await evaluate(run, { checks: [ // Tier 1: externally observable, unforgeable proof. { id: "single-charge", tier: 1, run: async ({ trace }) => { const key = trace.toolCalls.find(t => t.tool === "charge_customer")?.idempotencyKey; const hits = await stripe.charges.list({ metadata: { key } }); return { pass: hits.data.length === 1, detail: `charges=${hits.data.length}` }; }}, // Tier 2: statistical signal vs a baseline the agent didn't set. { id: "retry-rate", tier: 2, run: ({ trace }) => { const retries = trace.toolCalls.filter(t => t.replayed).length; return { pass: retries <= baseline.p95, detail: `replays=${retries}` }; }}, ], }); Notice `trace.toolCalls` and `t.idempotencyKey`. Where does that come from? **AgentLens.** It records every model step and every tool step — resolved inputs, the idempotency key the harness derived, the raw provider response, whether the attempt was a replay or a fresh effect. Without that trace, the "single-charge" check has nothing to read. The agent's own summary ("I charged the customer once") is exactly the self-report you must not trust — it's shared-substrate, the agent authored it. That's the whole thesis of pairing them. Tier 1+2 only mean something if they run over data the agent _didn't get to write_. AgentLens produces the unforgeable substrate; agent-eval renders the verdict. One captures how the agent got there, the other decides whether "there" was correct — and critically, Tier 1+2 run over trajectories in real time at roughly $0, while the judge stays offline for the subjective tail where it belongs. ## Ship the 80% You do not need a smarter model to stop double-charging customers. You need: 1. Idempotency keys the model never touches, so retries are safe by construction. 2. A Tier 1 check that reads the _world_ and asserts exactly-once — the deterministic, real-time gate. 3. A trace (AgentLens) unforgeable enough that the check has real ground truth to read. Reserve the model-as-judge for the genuinely subjective 20% — "was this refund fair?" — and label its output _opinion, not evidence_. The retry storm quietly draining your customers' cards is not in that 20%. It never was. It's the most catchable bug you have, sitting in Tier 1, waiting for you to look at the trace.

Change/Remove Subscription Hello Hiring Manager / Recruiter, I would like to present Uday Bukke, a highly skilled Senior **DevOps / DevSecOps / Site Reliability Engineer (SRE)** with 8+ years of experience supporting enterprise-scale **cloud infrastructure, Kubernetes platforms, CI/CD automation, cloud governance, observability** , and **AI-assisted** engineering solutions across **AWS, Azure, and GCP** environments. **_Candidate Snapshot:_** • Role: **Senior DevOps Engineer / DevSecOps / Site Reliability Engineer (SRE)** • Visa: H1B • Current Location: Marietta, GA • Experience: 8+ Years • Availability: Immediate • Relocation: Yes • Work Preference: **Open to Onsite** / Hybrid / Remote Opportunities **_Key Highlights:_** • Strong expertise in Multi-Cloud Infrastructure across **AWS, Azure, and GCP** • Extensive hands-on experience with **Kubernetes** platforms including **EKS, AKS, GKE** , and **OpenShift** • Proven success in designing and automating **CI/CD** pipelines using Jenkins, GitHub Actions, Azure DevOps, Bamboo, GitLab CI, and Argo CD • Expertise in Infrastructure as Code (IaC) using **Terraform, CloudFormation, ARM** Templates, Bicep, and Ansible • Strong background in **SRE** practices including **Incident Management, RCA, SLI/SLO** implementation, **MTTR** reduction, and 24/7 production support • Achieved 99.9% uptime and reduced MTTR by 30–35% through **observability and reliability** engineering initiatives • Implemented cloud governance and automation strategies resulting in 25% cloud cost optimization • Hands-on expertise in observability and monitoring using **Prometheus, Grafana, Dynatrace, CloudWatch, Splunk, and Datadog** • Experience integrating security and compliance controls including IAM, RBAC, SSO, MFA, SAST, DAST, Secrets Management, and **DevSecOps** practices • Strong scripting and automation skills using **Python, Bash, and PowerShell** • Experience leveraging AI-assisted engineering tools including **GitHub Copilot, Cursor, Claude, MCP** Servers, and **AI-driven** automation workflows **_Recent Experience:_** _• Senior Cloud DevOps Engineer / Site Reliability Engineer |**Nike**_ Leading multi-cloud infrastructure automation, Kubernetes platform reliability, CI/CD modernization, observability, governance, and AI-assisted automation initiatives across AWS, Azure, and GCP. _• DevOps Engineer |**Elevance Health**_ Built enterprise CI/CD ecosystems, automated cloud infrastructure provisioning, implemented monitoring solutions, and improved deployment reliability across hybrid cloud environments. _• Cloud Engineer |**IPsoft Global Services**_ Supported cloud infrastructure operations, automation, monitoring, OS hardening, and configuration management across enterprise environments. Uday is a strong fit for organizations seeking a highly technical **DevOps / SRE** professional who can **modernize cloud infrastructure, automate deployments, improve reliability** , strengthen **cloud governance** , and support **enterprise-scale Kubernetes** and **CI/CD ecosystems.** Please let me know if you would like to schedule a discussion or need additional details. **Thanks & Regards** **Alfaz Karaami** TEK TREE LLC Email: alfaz@tektreeinc.com Phone: 302-248-8015 LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/alfazkaraami/ Website: www.tektreeinc.com Address: 1106 Drummond Plaza Newark, DE 19711 Change/Remove Subscription | Powered by Zoniac ---|--- TekTree LLC, 3104 Polly Drummond Hill Rd, Newark, Delaware 19711 Phone: 3022488015 Uday_Bukke_Resume.docx ### _Related_

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