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My name is Tri Hari. I work at Flipkart. Hi everyone, I'm Shari and I'm a partner at Nenzo.
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We are going to talk about the impact of our work. So what do we mean by impact? Let's start with a question.
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As programmers, what problems do we face? Generally, we may have to quickly fix a bug in production, or a demanding client may come up with a requirement that is very hard to fulfill.
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Moreover, our code quality might not be up to the mark, and the test suite can be so large, as Chad mentioned yesterday, that it takes a long time to run.
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These are the common problems we face, but let's consider the issues faced by people in rural India. They confront very different challenges.
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For instance, while most of us enjoyed a nice lunch today with delicious food, many people out there don't even get a square meal once a day.
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Many people in India have accepted that they do not have access to clean water for bathing. They manage with the drinking water they have, which is often contaminated.
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Additionally, a significant portion of the population—over 60%—does not have access to a toilet. This is unfortunately a reality that cannot be overlooked.
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When it comes to education, it is quite fortunate if someone receives schooling up to the 10th grade.
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So let me ask you: How many of you have written a line of code that has impacted someone's life, even in a small but meaningful way?
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Can anyone raise their hands? What about the number of you who genuinely want to help those living in such circumstances? It’s disheartening to see that only a few are interested.
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But let’s discuss how you can contribute. Some of us from Nenzo and previously C42 have been fortunate enough to work on a survey project.
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We have impacted the lives of approximately 6,000 people in our initial run of the project. This is an open-source initiative, and we would love for you all to check it out.
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We worked with five major cities, helping children and pregnant women through nutritional surveys. This was our first run, and later we conducted another survey targeting women in agriculture.
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We managed to assist about 3,000 families, and I want to highlight that vast amounts of data were collected leading to powerful insights.
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The inferences drawn from the data illustrate the need for action. Understand that there is a wealth of information that we can utilize.
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You might wonder why we are presenting this information here and what relevance it has for you. Beyond the technical aspects, the volume of data that is being collected is staggering.
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Part of our roadmap includes creating a separate closure app to address the Big Data issues. Personally, I have invested a lot of time in improving its UX.
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These applications need to cater to users at the grassroots level, in areas that lack internet access. In some places, people have only about an hour of internet in a week, leading to data integrity issues.
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Sadly, our progress has slowed recently as we haven’t had enough time to focus on this project. However, I hope many of you here can spare some time to help.
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Consider sending us a pull request or any other form of support. We are committed to helping those in need.
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Rather than focusing solely on optimizing algorithms for performance, let us also invest our skills and efforts into projects that support these individuals.
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It’s important to remember that we don’t all have to be billionaires to make a difference. Every small contribution counts, whether through writing technical projects or aiding those in need.
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This is where you can find our projects and start contributing. Thank you.
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Next up, we have Kab on stage. Time starts now.
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Hi everyone, today I'll be talking about Sinatra, providing a basic introduction. Many of you might already be familiar with it, but I will also cover how to write an extension for Sinatra.
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The basic structure of Sinatra consists of a request class extending from the rack response. Extended rack includes additional methods not originally included in rack.
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There is a common logger that extends from rack's common logger. Essentially, there are three ways to extend Sinatra: through extensions, helpers, and middleware.
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I will not discuss middleware, as there is ample information available for that topic. However, I found using extensions and helpers somewhat challenging, which is why I have created a small presentation.
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The primary difference between helpers and extensions lies in their applications. Helpers are used when functionality is required in route blocks, such as for GET or POST methods. Extensions, on the other hand, enhance the functionality of Sinatra itself.
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For instance, if I need to return a JSON response every time within a GET block, I can define a method, which converts a hash into a JSON string.
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To implement this, one would write a method in a module called helpers. You define the method, and when included, it enables your application to return a JSON string.
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To turn this into a gem, you should include it under Sinatra’s namespace. Additionally, 'base.helpers' is similar to adding helpers to your app file, while 'base.set' defines the JSON content type for each request.
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Moving on to extensions, Sinatra allows you to extend by defining new routes. I would like to demonstrate a small route I created today.
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In this example, I created a module named Sinatra with an extension providing an additional route. By calling this route, instead of the standard GET or POST, it returns an alternative response.
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This extension enables us to define more complex routes without compromising the existing Sinatra structure. Essentially, registering a module allows you to define routes that would not typically be available in Sinatra.
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The difference between extensions and helpers is that extensions modify Sinatra’s existing functionality, while helpers allow the addition of simpler functionalities directly in your app.
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That concludes my section. Thank you for your attention.
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Next up is Avinash from Mumbai RB. I wanted to take this opportunity to introduce Mumbai RB, which has completed seven meetups so far.
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We are organizing a big meetup soon, perhaps in June or later. Our regular audience comprises 10 to 20 people who attend our events actively.
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Our format typically includes one or two talks followed by discussions. During our last session focused on Rails, although we didn't push through any projects, we managed to network and share knowledge.
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A perception exists that living in Bombay has its downsides, such as high living costs and job scarcity. However, with the growth of startups in the city, we are seeing favorable salary trends.
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If you are from Bombay or have roots here, I encourage you to return instead of moving to Bangalore or Pune. We need passionate individuals like you to help elevate the tech status of the city.
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It's important for us to communicate that there is a growing community of developers here who are proficient in Ruby on Rails and other technologies.
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We are actively working on building our brand and establishing Mumbai RB as a serious player in the tech community.
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Hi everyone, I'm Satya from Hyderabad. I want to discuss the importance of technology meetups. I've been part of various tech meetups for some time now.
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I have some insights to share on how we can maximize the value we derive from these gatherings. So, let's differentiate between local and regional technology meetups.
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Local meetups are informal gatherings where we share knowledge and experiences among peers. They do not need to be grand events like those in hotels and conventions.
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In contrast, larger technology conferences serve as a platform for networking and connecting with communities and sub-communities.
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My concern lies with how we can improve these smaller technology meetups, as they frequently fall short in attendance, limiting their effectiveness.
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So what constitutes a successful technology meetup? It’s a space for tech enthusiasts to collaborate, learn, share knowledge, and solve each other’s doubts.
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It's essential to establish that these meetups are not meant for job seekers, but rather for techies who share a common interest in technology.
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If you are looking for job opportunities, a tech meetup is not the right place. Let's keep these sessions productive.
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Additionally, cultivating a strong identity online is crucial. Many attendees lack presence on platforms like Twitter or Stack Overflow, which hinders networking and communication.
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Please take RSVPs seriously; when many RSVP and few show up, it discourages others from attending future events. This affects the entire community's dynamics.
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In terms of participation, you don't always need a massive turnout. Even a meetup of just two people can yield valuable discussions.
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Actively engaging on platforms like Stack Overflow, whether by asking or answering questions, is an excellent way to contribute and learn.
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The more you contribute, the more confidence you'll gain in your knowledge and skills, and you might discover new areas of interest.
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Another way to support the community is to spread the word about your local meetups via social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter.
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Together, we can strengthen these technology meetups and foster collaboration among tech enthusiasts. Thank you.
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Before I start, I want to give a thumbs up to the people who care about social issues in tech. I will discuss Milap, a crowdfunding platform for communities.
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Milap connects those in need with people who want to help them. Many of us have the desire to do good, but giving financial aid can be tricky.
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With Milap, individuals can browse various profiles and choose whom to support based on various criteria, thus making informed decisions.
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The process is straightforward: find a cause, make a loan, and observe the impact. Using Milap, your money is loaned, and eventually, you get repaid.
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For example, if someone needs ₹10,000 to build a toilet, you could contribute ₹500, and over time, you’ll receive the principal back into your account.
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This process allows you to repeat your impact with the same contribution in the future by helping multiple individuals.
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You can find out more about Milap by visiting our website, liking us on social media, or even starting your campaign to support specific causes.
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If you’re skeptical, we are offering free credits of ₹500 for anyone interested to try Milap without spending their own money.
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You can use the gift code 'GCRC14' to redeem your credit and start exploring how Milap can work for you.
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Moving on, I'm Sarup, a 19-year-old college student. Over the summer, I participated in Google Summer of Code with the Fedora project.
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I developed a GitHub project tailored for designers. My goal today is to pitch the idea and receive feedback from design-oriented startups.
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The primary challenge designers face is organizing collaboration over mailing lists, which can lead to a cluttered and unorganized feedback process.
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I aim to create a platform, currently in development, where designers can initiate projects, upload designs, and receive structured feedback from peers.
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The platform facilitates commenting and allows designers to create 'issue trackers' for actionable feedback. We want it to be a collaborative space for design growth.
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After making changes to designs, users can post progress updates documenting their design processes.
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I would like to gather some insights from designers on improving the collaboration methods implemented in my project. This is an open-source initiative, and I welcome students interested in contributing.
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I appreciate the opportunity to present, and I look forward to your feedback.
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Thank you. I want to acknowledge the wonderful efforts of those behind this event for emphasizing social issues. As for my contribution, I will briefly share my journey.
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Having arrived in India as a programmer, I faced challenges adapting to the local culture. I realized a crucial aspect of open source is that it encourages self-taught learning.
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Working on open-source projects requires individuals to learn independently and read through code without relying solely on documentation, which can often be outdated.
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The consequences of rush decisions can be detrimental, especially when working with complex projects. It's crucial to take time to understand the problem before proposing solutions.
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Maintain humility in your programming, focusing on solving small problems rather than attempting to tackle complex challenges.
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Furthermore, it’s important to remember that clients are not gods. It’s perfectly fine to disagree with them. Be honest about timelines and what’s realistically achievable.
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It's crucial to maintain predictability in your work for the sake of the entire team. Your progress should always be clearly communicated.
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Finally, let’s acknowledge the efforts made by the community in promoting open source, even in situations where economic barriers exist.
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For many newcomers, the challenge is accessing paid resources that could enhance their learning. Your efforts contribute significantly to bridging that gap.
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It's been inspiring to see how dedicated people are in this community. I appreciate the support and look forward to continuing the conversation. Thank you!
