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

Venkat's motivation

Venkat Subramaniam: I'm pretty loyal to user groups and on average, I speak at 15 user groups every single year, even today. I feel that this is part of me giving back to the community and my loyalty to the user groups is because that's where I started.

I am here because so many people inspired me when I was young, and after that as well. If I can inspire just one other person, I think my purpose in this industry will be fulfilled. I think that it's important for students to know that as a child, I had learning disabilities. I was a failure in school. A lot of people, when I say this, laugh and think I'm kidding. Students should know that your education and your ability to do well in school is something that you can turn around.

It took me a while to realize that I really hated studying, but I loved learning. This was a remarkable realization on my part because studying is boring. You have to sit there and read stuff you don&apos...