Python in the Sky - In-Flight Entertainment with Python

Explore a case study of Immfly's Wireless In-Flight Entertainment system built using Python in this EuroPython 2015 conference talk. Dive into the basic requirements, architecture decisions, and unique challenges faced when running software at 10,000 meters. Learn about the system's frontend apps, backend API, HTTP server, databases, and network infrastructure, including Wireless Access Points and Aircraft Servers. Discover how the team handled avionics data bus integration, discrete-time signals, and ground operations. Gain insights into atypical challenges such as regulations, certifications, intermittent connectivity, and hard shutdowns. Understand the importance of eventual consistency in distributed systems and the lessons learned from attempting to beat the CAP theorem. Perfect for developers interested in real-world applications of Python in aerospace technology and distributed systems.

Python in the sky
Abstract
Immfly
The product requirements
How does it work?
What kind of services?
We need eventual connectivity
The Architecture
Frontend apps
Backend API
HTTP server
Databases
Network
Wireless Access Points
Aircraft Server
Avionics data bus
Discrete-time signals
The Hangar
Hangar Operations
Resource ingest
Ingesting videos
Ingesting reading
Ground mode
Atypical challenges
Regulations & Certifications
Certificate everything!
Intermittent connectivity
Hard shutdown
Mistake: trusted the hardware
The CAP Theorem
Big mistake: try to beat the CAP
Settled for "Eventual Consistency"
Recap
Conclusions
Questions?