Book Image

Developer, Advocate!

By : Geertjan Wielenga
Book Image

Developer, Advocate!

By: Geertjan Wielenga

Overview of this book

What exactly is a developer advocate, and how do they connect developers and companies around the world? Why is the area of developer relations set to explode? Can anybody with a passion for tech become a developer advocate? What are the keys to success on a global scale? How does a developer advocate maintain authenticity when balancing the needs of their company and their tech community? What are the hot topics in areas including Java, JavaScript, "tech for good," artificial intelligence, blockchain, the cloud, and open source? These are just a few of the questions addressed by developer advocate and author Geertjan Wielenga in Developer, Advocate!. 32 of the industry's most prominent developer advocates, from companies including Oracle, Microsoft, Google, and Amazon, open up about what it's like to turn a lifelong passion for knowledge sharing about tech into a rewarding career. These advocates run the gamut from working at large software vendors to small start-ups, along with independent developer advocates who work within organizations or for themselves. In Developer, Advocate!, readers will see how developer advocates are actively changing the world, not only for developers, but for individuals and companies navigating the fast-changing tech landscape. More importantly, Developer, Advocate! serves as a rallying cry to inspire and motivate tech enthusiasts and burgeoning developer advocates to get started and take their first steps within their tech community.
Table of Contents (36 chapters)
34
Other Books You May Enjoy
35
Index
36
Packt

The social side of conferences

Geertjan Wielenga: There's also a social aspect to all the travel and the developer advocacy. Do you have some stories around favorite places you go to, favorite conferences, and the things you experience there?

Matt Raible: Yes, my favorite is Devoxx because it's in Antwerp, which is the home of excellent beers. I certainly enjoy that!

I think that's also something you have to be careful of. If you go to a conference for four days and you're out drinking every night and socializing with everyone, you're probably going to get sick.

One of the things I started doing a few years ago is monitoring my health. I do try to be conscious when I'm on the road to exercise and not drink too much, but it probably doesn't work when I'm with friends at a conference!

I feel a little guilt when I'm doing overseas conferences because there's a certain sense of my wife being at home with the children, when I'm off...