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It's tricky for one who's enjoying This site to be cool with destroying All semblance of why They'd have good api Hey but nah rather it's all /anneueing/ - Mod B
Building a bot using Twitter API which will like & retweet #100daysofcode tweets. One & half-hour of footage in 6sec looks cool. #timelapse #coding #python #twitter #bot #programming #api #100daysof2020 #developer #lockdown https://www.instagram.com/p/CCbpMsYgU3t/?igshid=ccc7lv2c8en1
Defrag's Predictions for the Future of Tech
So what is in and growing in the world of technology? For sure containers, clouds and APIs. Containers allow developers to run more applications simultaneously and currently Docker is the king of containers. Docker provides open source application deployment through containers creating an additional layer of abstraction and replaces virtual machines. Google has developed Kubernetes, an open source container cluster manager to manage your Dock containers. IBM recently launched Bluemix, a platform that enables developers to launch applications on a cloud and scale up to handle increases of traffic. Personally I will be playing with Bluemix because a representative of IBM shared how Bluemix was used at a hackathon to quickly deploy an app. APIs (Application Programming Interface) are a set of tools used to build software applications. Each layer of APIs abstract from machine code, make interfacing with the machine easier by using more human language, and become more relevant to the application being designed. Managing APIs makes sense for developers especially because those in computing value abstraction and code reuse. Platforms for sharing, storing, and developing APIs are popular since developers will not have to reinvent the wheel to get an application running. Many companies need the same kinds of applications. Pools of APIs provide an interface for these generic needs.
Philosophy of Defrag
Nerd Nite is an event where science meets good times. Individuals present about their tech passion while the crowd enjoys a drink. Presentations from Nerd Nites have been memorable to me due to the pure energy driving the presentation and the motivation behind the presenter to simply share their ideas. There has been presentations about Star Wars, creating a to scale replica of the Big Dipper, and our Mayor's take on the method of choosing political delegates. Defrag is like Nerd Nite on crack. It is two days of back to back Nerd Nite-ish presentations topped with an evening of networking. Defrag's philosophy is to provide a conference for people to share their ideas while attendees to enjoy without being bored by sales pitches. Sure speakers are a part of a company but the focus of their presentations are bigger ideas. Defrag did such a good job implementing this philosophy that I felt uncomfortable when a speaker tried to make a plug for their product. It was like they were tarnishing Defrag's pure intent to simply share ideas. As I am sure many other Defraggers agree, it was refreshing to hear the tech industry is still human.
What I Learned
As a sophomore in college I'm sure what I got out of this conference was pretty different than the majority of attendees working in industry. I could talk to you all day about new applications/technologies I learned about, but mostly I felt relieved about the kind of environment, although still not ideal, tech industry will provide in my career. IBM's Most Prolific Female Inventor, Lisa Seacat DeLuca, presented about her daily life patenting, inventing, and raising two awesome kids. She is the proof of concept of work life balance; pursuing your personal and career goals. In tech industry, getting eight hours of sleep and having a social life is possible! Author Jane Miller wrote this kick butt book debunking stereotypes in the workplace, "Sleep Your Way to the Top", after someone in her workplace questioned if her current position in the company was not due to her ability alone. While flipping through my copy I see great tips on how to handle awkward situations in the workplace, how to defend yourself in industry, and how leaders in these companies can be good leaders. Miller's advice to the audience is "give honest feedback, don't be a jerk, and mentor". At Defrag I saw people aware of the change needed in industry to make work environment more female friendly, as well as more friendly in general, and an attitude to make that change.
Experience at the conference confirmed my decision to study what I am and motivated me to continue pursuing what I love. I enjoyed representing NCWIT as an Aspirations in Computing Award winner, representing University of Minnesota Duluth for the first time at a tech event and meeting others with similar passions in technology. Defrag you rock!
Links to Check Out (Basically what I will be doing, reading, and playing with over winter break)
"We'll do it live!!" Bluemix where I will be making apps this winter: https://console.ng.bluemix.net/
Docker/ Container Links: https://www.docker.com/ http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Docker_(software)
NCWIT National Center for Women in Information Technology go to for Women in Tech stats and proven ways to close the gender gap in tech: http://www.ncwit.org/
SKYNET IS REAL bow down: http://developer.octoblu.com/
Robots that forecast weather: http://understoryweather.com/
Defrag Conference: http://www.defragcon.com/2014/
Drones, APIs, and Raspberry Pi, Defrag 2014 is a unique tech conference which the coordinators describe "explores the frontiers of technology's intersections with society". Recently I was granted a scholarship, sponsored by True Ventures, to attend Defrag in snow capped mountainous state of Colorado. Thousands of the scientifically savvy will be gathered at Omni Interlocken Resort to take part in a two day tech intensive filled with keynote speakers, break outs, and networking galore. Representatives of big name companies like IBM, Microsoft, Google, Dell, and AT&T will be attending. Aside from from my anticipation of the innovative atmosphere, I am excited to attend keynotes with the names "Robots Take Flight", "Monkey Selfies and Other Conundrums: Who Owns Your Data?", and "Can you Handle the Big Data Explosion?" name just a few. With pen, legal pad, and ideas to contribute I am ready for Defrag 2014 to blow my mind.
Where does the word defrag come from?
Defrag is short for defragmentation. When a file is stored in memory, space which that file takes up may not necessarily be continuous. Meaning, pieces of the file could be stored in chunks separate from each other. Defragmentation matches the pieces that correspond to one another and puts them next to each other. This makes retrieving files faster.
How can I get in on the action?
Throughout both days I will be blogging about my experience which you can follow here. Defrag has their own Twitter tag #defragcon which will provide updates on happenings during the conference. Check out Defrag: http://www.defragcon.com/2014/