Conference Season Insights and Reflections
The hottest conference season is in full swing. We’ve seen major events like Google I/O, KotlinConf, Droidcon Berlin, and FlutterConfEurope. Social media is buzzing with tech conference highlights, breaking news, speculations, and even some confusion among programmers.
With that in mind, I’ve put together a blog post exploring how this exciting atmosphere impacts our daily work.
The Excitement and Reality of New Announcements
Do you know that thrill when groundbreaking news is announced at a conference? We get excited, thinking these innovations will change the way we work. But then we return to our jobs and usually face one of two scenarios:
- Struggling with a lack of understanding.
- Pushing our team to adopt a new technology too early, often at a high cost.
The Need for Patience and Practicality
Technology adoption takes time. Companies need to make money, and constantly refactoring code without a good reason doesn’t make sense. Investors won’t want to waste money just because a major player changes how programming should be done. Code needs to provide value and generate revenue. As developers, we all want to earn more year after year.
This doesn’t mean we shouldn’t follow trends and stay up to date. Consider this example: Compose for Android was announced in 2019, and by this year’s Google I/O, it was reported that 40% of apps use Compose. It took five years to get there. How many of those apps are fully adopted? This is why many job postings still require knowledge of XML.
The Flutter Debate
Another hot topic recently is whether Flutter is dead. This speculation arose from rumors of layoffs and Google’s announcement of supporting Kotlin Multiplatform. Then there’s Compose for iOS, which is still in beta. Despite these speculations, Google’s official stance is that Flutter remains a recommended technology.
The AI Race Continues
When it seems like the AI topic has been exhausted, the giants in the industry are still racing forward. Presentations are often summarized by counting the number of times AI is mentioned or questioning whether the presentations even touch on AI. After the initial fascination with large language models (LLMs), we are now at a stage of discovering how this technology can be used in our daily developer work. This topic has become more mature, and we are also considering how it will affect regulations, morality, and our place in the job market as AI takes over some tasks. It seems reasonable to learn how to use different tools to elevate our daily work to a higher level.
Balancing Excitement with Practicality
While some people might be confused by these changes, it’s important to remember that just because a technology isn’t the newest doesn’t mean it’s obsolete. Headlines play on our emotions, but the world of conferences and news is different from our day-to-day business.
Key Takeaways
- Tech Companies Aim High: Big tech companies strive to be the best and first in the world. They announce new technologies and encourage us to test and improve them.
- Stay Excited, But Think Critically: It’s great to be excited about the latest advancements, but critical thinking is essential for making sound business decisions.
- Trends vs. Practicality: Don’t base your career decisions solely on trends. Focusing on early adoption without real experience might not be the best choice.
- Enjoy the Ride: Follow trends and stay passionate, but don’t let them drive you mad. Many hot topics will fade over time, giving you a chance to learn and adapt at a manageable pace.
Finding Balance During Vacation Time
As it’s vacation time in Europe, use this opportunity to find balance and recharge your batteries for the autumn. This is exactly what I plan to do. Taking a break now will help us approach the upcoming season with renewed energy and focus.
Remember to balance excitement with practicality in your professional journey. Enjoy the summer, stay curious, and come back refreshed and ready to tackle new challenges.
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