By Aaron García, Development Engineer at AIDA.
I was super excited to attend my first software conference, eager to immerse myself in the world of technology and learn from the experts in the field. Before the event, I made sure to research the topics that would be covered and made a list of the talks and workshops that interested me the most. Although I had doubts about what open spaces were, once I learned what they were, they became my favorite part. For those who are not familiar with open spaces, basically, at the beginning of the day, the session title is written on a piece of paper, the speaker or speakers explain a bit about what the session will be about, and it’s listed on a board. Then, together, we rate the sessions that interest us the most, and the sessions with the most votes are the ones that fill the open space slots.
During the conference, I was able to attend a bunch of talks, from anecdotes from Tuenti workers about their experience in Spain’s largest social network in 2010 to technical sessions analyzing testing anti-patterns. Some of these sessions are available on YouTube and can be checked out. It was great to discover that many of the talks were about techniques and methodologies that we have already internalized at AIDA. This made me feel even more that I’m in a company that cares about its developers and strives to create the best possible applications using the best methodologies.
Besides the talks, there were also networking opportunities during the breaks. It was an incredible experience to connect with other professionals in the field, exchange ideas, and make valuable contacts.
At the end of the conference, I felt inspired and motivated by some techniques, such as integration monitoring or a prioritized list of refactors, which facilitate future changes during development. I thought it would be interesting to implement these techniques in our team as they will allow me to continue learning and improving my skills.
The conference provided me with a broader perspective of the software industry and helped me understand current and future trends.
In summary, my first software conference was a super enriching experience. I learned a lot, made contacts, and gained a deeper understanding of the industry. This experience has laid the foundation for my professional growth and inspired me to continue on my career path as a software developer.
I recommend anyone who is curious to attend the Pamplona Software Crafters conference!