Ruby for All

Vegas Vibes — Sin City Ruby 2024 Recap with Drew Bragg

Apr 4, 2024

Drew Bragg, a Ruby expert, discusses Sin City Ruby conference - mix of tech and lifestyle talks, benefits of regional events, importance of Ruby in tech, personal experiences with organizing events, and value of strengthening Ruby community through gatherings.

33:04

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Episode guests

Drew Bragg

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Regional conferences like Sin City Ruby offer a mix of technical and lifestyle talks, building community and networking opportunities.

Diverse range of talks at the conference blend technical topics with business strategies, providing valuable insights to attendees.

Deep dives

Highlights of the Conference Experience

The conference was a laid-back and enjoyable experience, with the organizer being accommodating of schedule adjustments and creating a relaxed atmosphere for attendees and speakers. The setting allowed for interactive talks, such as guessing Ruby snippets, and provided a friendly environment for meaningful interactions amongst attendees.

Introduction

3min

Ruby Conference Experience and Interactive Talks

7min

Morning at the Conference, Breakfast, and Socialization Event Recap

3min

Diverse Talks and Interactive Presentations at Sin City Ruby 2024

6min

Comparing Big Conferences to Small Conferences for Speakers

3min

Embracing the Laid-back Vibes of a Ruby Conference in Vegas

12min

In this episode of 'Ruby for All', host Andrew is joined by guest Drew Bragg to talk about the ins and outs of the Sin City Ruby conference. Drew provides a comprehensive breakdown of the event, highlighting the mix of technical and lifestyle talks presented, the benefits of regional conferences for building community and networking, and the unique atmosphere that smaller, regional conferences offer. Additionally, the episode covers the importance of Ruby and Rails in current technology, personal experiences with speaking and organizing community events, and thoughts on the future of regional programming conferences. The conversation concludes with Drew emphasizing the value of these gatherings in strengthening the Ruby community and encouraging participation in future events. Hit download now to hear more!

[00:00:29] Drew introduces himself and tells us what he does, and Andrew explains why he didn’t attend the conference and what he did instead.

[00:02:45] Drew talks about his game show-style talk he gave, which is interactive and challenges attendees’ knowledge of esoteric Ruby syntax.

[00:05:31] Andrew brings up seeing Jason’s talk and the attendee makeup at Sin City Ruby, noting many new faces and speculating on the impact of regional conferences bringing in local attendees who might not travel to larger conferences.

[00:07:51] Andrew asks about the speakers’ dinner, which Drew describes as a communal eating experience.

[00:11:42] Drew explains the first day began with a forced socialization event which Drew found more pleasant in a smaller conference setting.

[00:12:44] Andrew inquires about the style of talks at Sin City Ruby, wondering if there was a particular focus. Drew describes the conference as having a mix of topics with some technical, business-related, and lifestyle-oriented tasks related to Ruby and Rails.

[00:14:01] Drew mentions enjoying Stéfanni Brasil’s talk, Jason’s live coding dressed as Elvis was very entertaining and hilarious, and Obie Fernandez’s closing keynote offering a different perspective on AI’s impact on the industry.

[00:15:40] Regarding lack of recordings at the conference, Drew sees benefits form a speaker’s perspective, and acknowledges that recordings can be valuable for review and as a portfolio asset.

[00:18:41] Drew prefers speaking at smaller conferences for the close-knit atmosphere and better audience interaction but acknowledges that larger conferences have their own advantages.

[00:21:12] Andrew asks what went well with this conference, and Drew explains he appreciates the laid-back nature and mentioned the relaxed atmosphere set by organizer Jason Swett made the event feel more like a meetup.

[00:24:23] Drew shares that he didn’t find any aspect of the conference that didn’t go well and praises the simplicity of regional conferences like Sin City Ruby. He emphasizes the convenience of Vegas as a conference location.

[00:25:40] Discussing Vegas itself, both Andrew and Drew enjoyed visiting Hoover Dam and the overall experience of connecting with people with shared interests in Ruby. They also touch on having fun people-watching and the vibrant environment of “Old Vegas.”

[00:27:55] Drew’s takeaway from the conference is the reaffirmation of Ruby and Rails’ potential and expresses enthusiasm for the talks he attended, singling out Tom Rossi’s as particularly energetic and engaging.

[00:31:01] Drew promotes the idea of attending or organizing local conferences for their intimate nature and the connections they foster. He gives a shout-out to several upcoming Ruby conferences.

[00:32:05] Find out where you can follow Drew and his podcast online.

Panelist:

Andrew Mason

Guest:

Drew Bragg

Sponsors:

GoRails

Honeybadger

Links:

Andrew Mason X/Twitter

Andrew Mason Website

Julie J. X/Twitter