std::cout << "Goodbye Meeting C++. Hello C++ Community.";
The train journey from Berlin to Brno takes around 7 hours. This gave me some time to reflect on my experience at this year’s Meeting C++ in Berlin and start jotting down these words.
The setting
I have been working with C++ throughout my still-young software engineering career. Until now, I had not had any in-person contact with the C++ community. That has now changed. During the past three days, and for the first time, I attended a C++ conference. Having no prior reference for such an event, I did not have any outright expectations. I approached the event with an open mind and a curious spirit, diving right in.
The talks
All conference talks are usually made available online. Attending a conference does not necessarily grant access to exclusive or hidden knowledge. And neither should it. Information should be accessible to all. Both those who can attend such events and those who cannot.
Having said that, it is one thing to watch a talk online and another one to experience it in front of you. Observing the subtle behavior of the audience and being close to the interaction between the speaker and the rest of the room elevates the whole experience. Each talk is not just a presentation – it is a live performance. It can make you think, stir your emotions, enlighten you.
The possibilities are endless.
In that regard, I am grateful to have been present in so many great talks this year. The technical talks were excellent and the information shared from the speakers is highly valuable. The present and future of the language is exciting: modules (at last), contracts, reflection, … – the list goes on and on.
But working as a software engineer is not only about designing and writing code. It’s also about interacting with people. It is my strong belief that most problems in any organization are people problems. This is why I especially appreciated the more people-centric talks that were part of this year’s schedule.
Special mention goes to Titus Winters and his excellent opening keynote. Titus gave a compelling talk, sharing his experience in reducing fear in tech, and addressing various people-related issues in the workplace. He provided us with valuable actionable advice to improve our day-to-day work with respect to the challenges. He emphasized the importance of setting clear team culture goals related to technology quality, handling internal and external pressure, and team dynamics. He mentioned how expressing gratitude towards our colleagues and embracing the team members’ mistakes can go a long way towards improving the general team morale.
Though these ideas sound simple, they are not widely practiced. Yet the potential is clear. They will translate to better results.
The audience’s reactions made evident that many in our community resonated with these ideas. One would even say that many probably felt relieved they were not alone in having such sensitivities.
So, thank you, Titus, for your talk. I truly believed it paved the way nicely for the success of the whole conference.
The people
The most important aspect of any conference is the people. The stories and experiences shared by everyone are invaluable. Glimpsing into different tech sub-worlds through others’ perspectives is incredibly rewarding.
I really want to express my gratitude to each and every one of the people who shared some of their precious time talking with me. Your fascinating work and stories left a lasting impression on me.
I wish I could have met even more people, but I guess this will have to wait for the next time1.
The organization
Organizing a conference is no easy feat. Such efforts often go unnoticed or underappreciated. People do not tend to make their opinions public about such things. Especially when, as in this case, there are no issues2.
So, a big thanks has to go to the people that made Meeting C++ 2024 happen and ensured that no visible problems arose.
One aspect that could be improved to greatly enhance the whole experience would be the break time between talks. I understand that there were many great talks, and it is not easy to fit everything into the schedule, but I believe 15 minutes is not enough time.
The current setting sometimes limits opportunities for meaningful conversations, exchanging opinions, and socializing with fellow attendees. This sentiment was shared by others I spoke to as well, so it would be nice to consider it in future editions of the conference.
The conclusion
I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Meeting C++ this year. I am really grateful that my company3 supported me and provided me with the opportunity to attend.
I genuinely believe it was an enriching experience, which has nicely shaped my feelings as I am writing this:
- I am inspired to improve all aspects of my work environment – culture, technical quality, and actual products.
- I eagerly look forward to seeing you all again at the next C++ conference I attend.
Auf Wiedersehen!
PS:
- Apparently, I, too, don’t know how to properly operate a coffee safety pot.
- I quite like my new T-shirt.
