C3 Dev Festival 2024

Tech startups require scaling the business, the team, and the tech. The goal of an engineering team at a startup is to not be the reason for the business to slow down. Engineers prioritize business outcomes over code debates. Simplify your code and prioritize solving the specific problem. Organize your code vertically to limit complexity and improve clarity. To avoid code problems in the future, focus on getting the data and architecture right rather than striving for perfection today. Balancing dry and duplicating code can be achieved by allowing patterns to develop and observing for common solutions.

This talk focuses on the powerful features of CSS and HTML that can level up developer skills and enhance web UI. Scroll-driven animations, popover API, and anchor positioning are explored as ways to create dynamic effects, improve performance, and increase accessibility. The talk also emphasizes the benefits of building presentations with CSS and HTML, separating logic from styling, and leveraging core platform features. Wishlist features for the web platform and the challenges of pushing updates across browsers are discussed.

AI in game development has evolved rapidly, with generative AI being a focus. However, game developers like Romero Games have concerns about ethics and prefer using AI to automate processes and make creative work easier. AI has been used in games for decades, from path-finding AI to decision trees. Procedural world building and advanced AI technology are pushing the boundaries of FPS games. Different teams within a company have different approaches to the use of AI, depending on their specific needs and requirements.

AI design challenges include bias, safety, and security. Trust and transparency are important in AI. Design principles for AI include user control, fighting bias, and promoting good decision-making. AI can enable the design process and investors expect to see it included in products. AI empowers individuals to create and share ideas, but managing expectations is crucial.

The Talk explores the AI-assisted programming paradigm shift and the evolution of software engineering. It discusses the limitations of large language models (LLMs) and highlights the importance of balancing forces in software engineering. The future of programming is seen as models solving problems based on datasets. The Talk emphasizes the responsibility of creating a better future and the need to strike a balance between utilizing tools and building problem-solving skills. It also touches on the human dependence on AI and recommends resources for further learning.

May 25th, 1977, the first Star Wars movie inspired generations with its space travel and lightsaber fights. Goran Vukicic built replicas of the P-Droid and found a community of designers who sell 3D designs for printing. Bringing the droid to a conference is challenging but rewarding. The NVIDIA Jetson Ori Nano is a powerful device for running AI models. Building Star Wars droids at home is possible with open-source development.

Tech leadership is more about people than tech, as tech problems are usually people problems. Developing soft skills, such as active listening and giving feedback, is crucial for tech leaders to build high-performing teams. To solve people problems, step away from the issue, reflect, and communicate with others. Transitioning to a tech leadership role requires specific education and resources, while choosing between management and specializing involves understanding personal strengths and goals. Maintaining momentum and support requires tracking progress, building a CV, and seeking assistance when needed.

The Talk emphasizes the importance of maintaining a second brain, a curated collection of digital notes, to enhance memory retention in software engineering. Building a second brain helps in recalling information, problem-solving, and retention. It is easy to create your own second brain using various tool options like Notion, Obsidian, Reflect, Rome Research, and Tana. Starting with small, self-contained notes and gradually expanding to form a mesh of related information is recommended for effective learning and retention.

The Talk discusses the challenges faced by engineering leaders in their daily work and offers strategies to manage chaos and improve productivity. It emphasizes the importance of organizing, prioritizing, and delegating tasks, as well as maintaining focus and managing overload. Delegation is presented as a way to scale as a leader and promote growth within the team. The Talk also suggests using techniques like the Eisenhower matrix and protecting focus time to enhance productivity.

As a software engineer, achieving success in software development requires having a strategy and tactics. However, obstacles such as unnecessary meetings and miscommunication with clients can hinder progress. The methodology used in software development is more important than the programming language. Soft engineering is about understanding strategy and tactics and finding efficient solutions to problems. Software architecture should be aligned with business goals and objectives. Documentation is important for scalability and avoiding miscommunication, but finding the right balance is key. Task efficiency and simplicity in code design are crucial. Embracing simplicity and improving documentation can lead to better software architecture. Communication and collaboration between management and engineering teams is essential for making informed decisions.

This Talk introduces WebXR and VR experiments, showcasing examples and encouraging audience engagement. It explores the possibilities of WebXR and AR games, emphasizing the versatility of A-frame for creating AR and VR projects. The Talk also covers asset customization, animations, and augmented reality using LiDAR scanners. It highlights different types of virtual reality experiences and the potential of Apple Vision with WebXR. The speaker emphasizes the importance of community, developer experience, and starting early in WebXR development.

Today's Talk discusses the importance of technical content creation for developers, including the benefits of becoming a technical content creator and the personal growth it offers. It emphasizes the value of sharing knowledge and experiences through articles, videos, and open source projects to gain recognition and respect from the community. The Talk also provides tips for creating engaging technical content, sharing it across social platforms, and staying connected with the developer community.

This talk explores the use of AI in the interviewing process for software engineering. It discusses the history of interviewing and the skills needed for future interviews. The speaker questions the relevance of traditional coding challenges and highlights the shift towards evaluating specific programming languages and debugging skills. The talk also emphasizes the importance of understanding the uses and limitations of AI and the value of communication skills in technical interviews.

In interviewing senior talent, it's important to find the intersection between the candidate's knowledge and the company's requirements. Traditional assessments have shifted focus from technical skills to soft skills. Problem-solving approach, ownership, independence, and emotional intelligence are key traits to assess in senior candidates. Evaluating mindset, career stage, and judgment based on feelings can provide insights into a candidate's characteristics and progression.

The Talk focuses on providing debugging tools for human interactions in software development. It emphasizes the importance of soft skills in programming and suggests strategies such as depersonalization, giving a good apology, understanding power dynamics, emotional regulation, setting boundaries, and rupture and repair. It highlights the need to avoid a self-centered mindset and take responsibility for one's own actions and reactions. The Talk also discusses power dynamics in relationships and the importance of recognizing and navigating them. It emphasizes the significance of setting boundaries, prioritizing, and managing time effectively. Additionally, it addresses the importance of regulating emotions, showing compassion, and repairing ruptured relationships. The Talk concludes by encouraging the embrace of repair and revolutionizing human interactions in the software development field.

This Talk explores the role of mindset in software development and the use of AI assistants. It emphasizes the importance of training the AI assistant and the potential impact of outdated beliefs. The conscious mind is discussed as the gatekeeper to thoughts and feelings, influencing our actions and results. Mindful media consumption and prioritizing mental health are also highlighted, along with the need to support team well-being. The Talk concludes with the significance of fitness in supporting mental health.

The Talk explores the art of influence and collaboration in software development. It emphasizes the importance of effective communication, building relationships, and using social proof to increase influence. The speaker highlights the challenges that arise in cross-functional teams and the need for better collaboration skills. Building connections, fostering trust, and addressing team issues openly are crucial for successful collaboration.

The speaker, Christian Heilmann, is a VP of DevRel and has worked at Yahoo, Mozilla, and Microsoft. He emphasizes the importance of exploring and modifying games as a way to learn new skills and innovate. He also highlights the value of working in a limited environment and the opportunities it presents for creativity. He encourages developers to contribute to the web and be in control of their own creations. Lastly, he discusses the challenges of navigating the job market and the state of the web in relation to frameworks and npm packages.

Open source is a decentralized software development model driven by passion, improving software quality. Kindness is crucial in the open source community to prevent burnout and maintain healthy dynamics. When asking for help, do thorough research and communicate effectively. Reporting issues should be detailed and provide relevant information. Follow-up and engagement are important in finding solutions and expressing gratitude to maintainers.

Design systems are accelerators for development and every web or app developer will come in close contact with them. The design system maturity model simplifies the stages of maturity from Nebula to Supernova. Building a full-fledged design system requires close collaboration between designers and developers, a clear vision and strategy, and strong governance. Continuous improvement and evolution are essential for a mature design system, as well as aligning the design system with business goals and accommodating changes in organizational structure. Documentation and culture compatibility play a crucial role in the success of a design system.

Transitioning from being a software developer to a manager can be challenging, but offers the opportunity to have a greater impact on the organization. However, some people may miss the hands-on aspect of coding and choose to return to development. The transition may involve changes in company size, hierarchy, and product focus. Soft starts and gaining new skills and perspectives are helpful in navigating the challenges of being a manager. Feedback and further discussions are encouraged, along with sharing presentation materials.

This Talk explores the world of coding assistants powered by language models (LLMs) and their use cases in software development. It delves into challenges such as understanding big code and developing models for context in LLMs. The importance of ranking and code context is discussed, along with the use of weak supervision signals and fine-tuning models for code completion. The Talk also touches on the evaluation of models and the future trends in code AI, including automation and the role of tasks, programming languages, and code context.

In this Talk about finding balance in leadership, the speaker discusses the importance of prioritizing self-care and delegating tasks. They introduce the concept of glass threads as high priority tasks that require close attention and provide examples of how to manage them effectively. The speaker also emphasizes the value of collaborative task management and execution, as well as the benefits of delegating tasks to empower team members and promote their growth. Overall, the Talk highlights the need for leaders to find a balance between their own well-being and the success of their team.

Hello, everyone. My name is Johnny Feket, and I'm a software engineer and an entrepreneur. Today, I'm here to talk about something we all need a little reminder of from time to time. Finding joy in our work. Did you know that over 80% of tech workers have felt burnout at some point during their career? And maybe you have felt it too. That's a lot of geeks out there. But you know what could help? Bringing back playfulness so that the otherwise mundane tasks can become exciting once again. How can you incorporate this into your daily grind? Well, you like tech and you like challenges. So why don't you organize mini-hackathons where you and your colleagues can intensively focus on creatively solving projects with new technologies? Or consider pair programming not just as a tool for code review, but as an exciting opportunity to collaboratively debug and creatively solve problems. Or dedicate time for curiosity hours where you can explore a new tech gadget, experiment with a new programming language, or just dive into some interesting coding challenge. Hobby projects are also a perfect way to try out the latest technologies without any external pressure. Helping others and participating in hackathons can also bring joy and sustain your passion for the tech industry.

The Talk covers the importance of preventing and dealing with bugs in software development, with the speaker sharing their experiences and solutions. They discuss the impact of bugs on user experience and revenue, the importance of stress testing and implementing alerts, and the surprising impact of CSS. The speaker also emphasizes the importance of simplicity, monitoring, and refactoring, as well as the need to address security threats and learn from failure. They provide tips for writing postmortems and highlight common mistakes to avoid, especially for junior developers.

The Talk discusses the importance of prioritizing mental health in software development, highlighting the increase of mental health issues in the tech industry. It emphasizes the need to address mental health conditions and their impact on productivity. The challenges faced in the tech industry, such as imposter syndrome and burnout, are highlighted, along with strategies to promote well-being and support in the industry. The importance of self-care, seeking support, and managing mental health is emphasized.

Active listening is crucial for effective leadership, as it fosters trust, empathy, and meaningful relationships. The BREW framework, which emphasizes being present, reflecting, encouraging, and withholding judgment, can help develop active listening skills. By actively listening, we can understand unspoken words, create a safe environment for expression, and improve relationships. Practicing active listening leads to more fulfilling relationships and effective leadership.

Cognitive load is the thinking load that can lead to cognitive overload. Disabilities can increase cognitive load, and reframing tasks can reduce it. Information presentation affects cognitive load, with intrinsic, extraneous, and germane cognitive load. Focus and context switching should be managed to optimize workflow and reduce cognitive load. Opening a PR can be simplified with task automation, and optimizing workflow involves reducing distractions and utilizing tools. Prioritizing personal coding skills and reducing cognitive load are key to success.

As a software developer, the entanglement between people and the software they develop is important. Legacy software poses challenges due to lack of time, understandability, and optimization. Legacy systems in health care face similar challenges. Microsoft's evolution and innovation highlight the value of change. Developing adaptable and user-friendly software requires considering the interconnectedness of all actors.

Today's Talk discusses the competition between a developer and ChatGPT in building a data visualization platform. Generative AI is widely used, but ChatGPT is not a direct replacement for developers. Prompt engineering enhances ChatGPT's performance. The future of AI is promising, with open source models and proactive AI agents on the rise. Leveraging prompt engineering and dedicated LLM tools can improve code generation and automation.

The AmazingRFCs initiative was created to improve deliveries and collaboration at Quintana Roo. Two key actions were forming the RFCs Advisors group and optimizing the design and review process. By including interested and key people in discussions and implementing daily training initiatives, the density of capable decision makers increased, resulting in more high-quality RFCs and improved solutions in production.

This Talk focuses on the importance of productivity, efficiency, and effectiveness in software development. It highlights the evolving role of leadership, the need for clarity in understanding these terms, and the significance of metrics in driving behaviors and outcomes. The Talk emphasizes the value of aligning with business goals, involving teams in defining productivity measures, and continuously improving productivity to achieve goals.