Our colleagues recently returned from the Build Stuff 2024 conference, where they had the chance to connect with industry leaders, exchange ideas, and gain fresh insights into the tech world.
Build Stuff is the so called “Event of the year” in the software development industry. The engaging conference is held by top-notch guest speakers sharing the latest trends, innovations, and exciting developments.
Here are 5 sessions they found particularly impactful:
A developer’s guide to managing attention
Jiachen Jiang, Product Manager at Microsoft, offered an interesting take on ways in which developers can solve problems like managing their attention. By applying mental models from software development – such as technical debt, serialization, dependency management or context-switching – she showed how these concepts can be reframed to tackle everyday productivity challenges.
The goal is to ditch the guilt & shame often tied to these problems and encourage developers to create their own tools and solutions that work for them.
Developer joy: how great teams get s%t done
This talk was all about creating an environment where developers thrive. Sven Peters, DevOps advocate at Atlassian, looked beyond productivity metrics to address the human side of engineering: reducing frustration and wait times, and fostering a sense of joy in the craft.
The big takeaway? Happy teams build better software, and maintaining a healthy culture is just as important as hitting delivery goals.
Digital spit-fire interface rage: how to calm the savage user
Dean Schuster explored user experience, emphasizing the importance of performance. His research showed that speed is often the most critical factor in keeping users satisfied. Even if an interface doesn’t meet all their expectations, a fast and responsive experience can make all the difference.
It was a great reminder to prioritize optimization in everything we build.
Learn to say “No!” without being a jerk
This one was for those who struggle with overcommitment. The session provided practical advice on setting boundaries. The speaker, a self-proclaimed recovering “people pleaser,” shared personal experiences and strategies to simply be able to say “no”.
The key takeaway from this talk was learning to prioritize what truly matters & only saying “yes” to those things that will push you forward in life.
Closing keynote
The final keynote reinforced the value of experience and adaptability in tech. While tools and trends evolve, the fundamental skills of problem-solving and innovation remain constant.
Simply put, those who continue learning will stay relevant, even as the landscape shifts.
Our team came back energized, inspired, and ready to bring these lessons to their daily work life. Ok, this is a lie. They were mentally energized, but physically – they’ll be ready to get s%t done after a good ol’ nap.
Until next time,
Tschuss!
