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Can someone explain what a "wheel" has anything to do with "cheese"? Every time I come across the term "wheel" in Python, it makes no sense to me. I believe it

Can someone explain what a "wheel" has anything to do with "cheese"? Every time I come across the term "wheel" in Python, it makes no sense to me. I believe it has something to do with Monty Python. I think I have watched the skit that involves the cheese, but it's beyond my understanding how it's related to wheel. Maybe I watched the wrong skit. Maybe it's because I don't understand Monty Python.

geertj 2y ago
Because of a "wheel of cheese," usually referring to Parmezan cheese.
- AnimalMuppet 2y ago
  No, not just Parmezan. Gouda and similar cheeses often come in wheels.
  - jrvieira 2y ago
    as an european i can't think of any cheese that is not produced in wheels
ddulaney 2y ago
It’s not a Monty Python thing. Some cheese is made in a wheel shape as part of the manufacturing process. If you buy some kinds of bulk cheese, you will get it in wheels. https://dibruno.com/whole-wheel-parmigiano-reggiano/ https://dibruno.com/whole-wheel-parmigiano-reggiano/
- Tempest1981 2y ago
  Some think it is. Excerpt from this talk by Dustin Ingram: https://dustingram.com/talks/2018/10/23/inside-the-cheeseshop/ https://dustingram.com/talks/2018/10/23/inside-the-cheesesho... (halfway through) PyPI is sometimes called the Cheeseshop. This is a reference to this Monty Python skit, where a man goes into a cheeseshop which has no cheese for sale. The joke is that when PyPI was first created, there was nothing in it. Hence, "The Cheeseshop". But it does have stuff in it now, so it's not really even appropriate to call it that anymore.
- bxparks 2y ago
  Good lord, I have never heard of the term "wheel of cheese", thanks! Probably because I rarely eat cheese. 20+ years of using Python on and off, and I finally understand what a "wheel" is. Addendum: Every time I tried to understand Python packaging, I would come across the term "wheel" and my eyes would glaze over because I couldn't figure out what it was from context ("what the heck is a wheel?"). Maybe now I'll go back and finally understand Python packaging.
  - chefandy 2y ago
    While I find the tongue in cheek, punny naming in the Python ecosystem (mostly the modules these days,) charming, I find the straightforward and predictable naming in other ecosystems useful. When I'm programming, I really prefer useful. Naming hints reduce cognitive load and reduce time looking things up. When you've got arbitrary names for a bunch of things, that requires a lot more rote memorization which isn't one of my strengths. People having fun naming their projects with references or puns or whatever might make them more likely to make the project to begin with, which is probably more important. But even within Python, it's much easier for me to remember "ok, I need install numpy and requests," than "ok I need Beautiful Soup and Twist" or whatever.
deleted 2y ago
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avianlyric 2y ago
Cheese is traditionally made I large round blocks called “wheels”. I.E. A wheel of cheese. So wheel is to cheese, as loaf is to bread. https://www.chucklingcheese.co.uk/news/cheese-gift-guides/what-is-a-cheese-wheel https://www.chucklingcheese.co.uk/news/cheese-gift-guides/wh...
JKolios 2y ago
Cheese was, and to a degree still is, stored and distributed in wheels. As a retail buyer you rarely encounter an entire wheel, but it's definitely a common sight in wholesale.
cqqxo4zV46cp 2y ago
It’s not that you haven’t seen enough Monty Python, it’s that you seemingly haven’t been to a supermarket before.
- bxparks 2y ago
  Ha, no, it's because I don't (or rarely) eat cheese.
barkingcat 2y ago
cheese are made in wheels. that's 1 unit of a production of cheese is called a wheel.

geertj 2y ago

Because of a "wheel of cheese," usually referring to Parmezan cheese.

AnimalMuppet 2y ago
No, not just Parmezan. Gouda and similar cheeses often come in wheels.
- jrvieira 2y ago
  as an european i can't think of any cheese that is not produced in wheels

ddulaney 2y ago

It’s not a Monty Python thing. Some cheese is made in a wheel shape as part of the manufacturing process. If you buy some kinds of bulk cheese, you will get it in wheels. https://dibruno.com/whole-wheel-parmigiano-reggiano/ https://dibruno.com/whole-wheel-parmigiano-reggiano/

Tempest1981 2y ago
Some think it is. Excerpt from this talk by Dustin Ingram: https://dustingram.com/talks/2018/10/23/inside-the-cheeseshop/ https://dustingram.com/talks/2018/10/23/inside-the-cheesesho... (halfway through) PyPI is sometimes called the Cheeseshop. This is a reference to this Monty Python skit, where a man goes into a cheeseshop which has no cheese for sale. The joke is that when PyPI was first created, there was nothing in it. Hence, "The Cheeseshop". But it does have stuff in it now, so it's not really even appropriate to call it that anymore.
bxparks 2y ago
Good lord, I have never heard of the term "wheel of cheese", thanks! Probably because I rarely eat cheese. 20+ years of using Python on and off, and I finally understand what a "wheel" is. Addendum: Every time I tried to understand Python packaging, I would come across the term "wheel" and my eyes would glaze over because I couldn't figure out what it was from context ("what the heck is a wheel?"). Maybe now I'll go back and finally understand Python packaging.
- chefandy 2y ago
  While I find the tongue in cheek, punny naming in the Python ecosystem (mostly the modules these days,) charming, I find the straightforward and predictable naming in other ecosystems useful. When I'm programming, I really prefer useful. Naming hints reduce cognitive load and reduce time looking things up. When you've got arbitrary names for a bunch of things, that requires a lot more rote memorization which isn't one of my strengths. People having fun naming their projects with references or puns or whatever might make them more likely to make the project to begin with, which is probably more important. But even within Python, it's much easier for me to remember "ok, I need install numpy and requests," than "ok I need Beautiful Soup and Twist" or whatever.

deleted 2y ago

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avianlyric 2y ago

Cheese is traditionally made I large round blocks called “wheels”. I.E. A wheel of cheese. So wheel is to cheese, as loaf is to bread. https://www.chucklingcheese.co.uk/news/cheese-gift-guides/what-is-a-cheese-wheel https://www.chucklingcheese.co.uk/news/cheese-gift-guides/wh...

JKolios 2y ago

Cheese was, and to a degree still is, stored and distributed in wheels. As a retail buyer you rarely encounter an entire wheel, but it's definitely a common sight in wholesale.

cqqxo4zV46cp 2y ago

It’s not that you haven’t seen enough Monty Python, it’s that you seemingly haven’t been to a supermarket before.

bxparks 2y ago
Ha, no, it's because I don't (or rarely) eat cheese.

barkingcat 2y ago

cheese are made in wheels. that's 1 unit of a production of cheese is called a wheel.