Introduction

The tech world is a vibrant ecosystem where innovation and collaboration intertwine to shape the future. Recently, I had the incredible opportunity to immerse myself in this dynamic atmosphere at DroidCon Kenya 2023, a three-day extravaganza dedicated to Android development, using various frameworks like Flutter and Jetpack Compose and various integrations of technologies from IOT to AI. Though I could only attend for two days, the experience was nothing short of transformative, as I delved into the latest trends, engaged in insightful discussions, and had the chance to showcase my own project.

Day 1: Community day

As usual, the day started with a keynote session by Benard Banta X handle @Bantab, where he shared valuable insights on " Why Communities Matter" in tech innovation and the importance of community collaboration.

After the session we had a hot cup of tea and some snacks... this is one of my favorite moments in such tech events 😁😅.

My session was scheduled after lunch around 3:10 pm. I was very anxious because it was my first time speaking in front of many tech enthusiasts, and it really shook me. I remember staying up all night making sure that all my notes were in order and my app was working. Despite a few hiccups here and there, I was able to finalize everything and prepare for my session.

As I eagerly waited for my turn to speak, I couldn't help but feel the weight of responsibility on my shoulders. I knew that the words I was about to share had the power to inspire and motivate those who were listening. With every passing moment, my anticipation grew stronger, so before then I joined a couple of sessions which were really educative and eye-opening. One of the sessions that really stood out for me was a talk on Deployment automation using GitHub actions by an SSA WTM Ambassador X(@Arianabrandy5). this session was really educative and I really learned a lot.

The day was packed with amazing sessions and the only downside was that I couldn't attend each and every session, my wish was that I could actually duplicate myself and attend each and every session. Now after having a mouth-watering lunch, I attended two more sessions as I prepared for my talk. the first one was a panel on the Art and Science of Mobile Interface Design,

and the second session was about an app called Flow Music. It was a show and tell where other developers interacted with the app and provided the developer, X(@ken_starry), with some personal feedback and ideas for improvement.

Another session was mine, where I presented an Android app that detects skin cancer. I explained how I prepared my dataset for training and showcased the app's capabilities by giving a demo. The accuracy level of the model was 74%. We also had an Q&A session. This was an interestinf first experience because i got to answer alot of questions, gain some networks and also got alot of insights from my fellow developers. We shared on personal experiences when it came to AI model deployment and so much more. My first experience was amazing and I am really looking forward to next years event as a speaker and also hopefully show case more projects that I am working on.

The last session of the day was a panel discussion on how to secure jobs in the tech industry, especially in the current climate of layoffs. The session provided valuable advice and interview tips for job seekers. It was a highly interactive session, and the experienced speakers gave us great insights. The day ended on a high note.

Day 3: The Last Day

Unfortunately, I couldn't attend the second day of the Droidcon Kenya event, but I made the most of the last day. The day started really early, had a cup of tea and some snacks, and was ready to attend as many sessions as possible and learn from each one. The day was eventful and graced with the beauty of rain. After each session, we had the chance to engage in conversations with like-minded individuals and speakers from the event.

The panel discussions were a treasure trove of wisdom, and I enjoyed each and every single panel.

Conclusion

As Droidcon Kenya 2023 came to a close, I couldn't help but reflect on the whirlwind of experiences and insights gained over the two days. The event was not just about the code and the projects, it was a celebration of the collective passion that drives the Android development community.

From the immersive learning sessions to the vibrant Show and Tell exhibits and the enriching networking opportunities, DroidCon Kenya 2023 encapsulated the spirit of innovation that defines the tech world. As I left the event, I carried with me not only a wealth of knowledge but also a newfound sense of inspiration and a network of invaluable connections.