FileMaker DevCon, do you really need to participate?

First of all, what is FileMaker Devcon?

As the name implies, this is a multi-day conference focused on the FileMaker IT tool. This event will allow you to:

• discover the latest news from the FileMaker platform and its essential technologies.
• develop your skills by discovering innovative products and services. You will benefit from new achievements to be applied outside the conference.
• share good moments with users, developers and the FileMaker team during the conference.

All this is very nice but what about the reality? To answer that, let us give the floor to two of our experts. The first, Robert, a long-time participant of FileMaker Devcon; the second, Vincent, participated for his very first time. Here is what our "special envoys" have to say!  

Robert, Deputy Director, Production Manager.

You probably think that an event called "Devcon" is only for developers? Think again! Here is a short practical guide for a non-developer going to Devcon.

For the new ones!

The introduction session for new participants is a necessary step. This informative moment is the key to an optimized and full participation. With it, you will establish more easily your benchmarks and will always be aware of the rules of use (like having your cockade with you at all time).

The opening presentation (or Keynote)!

The moment not to be missed. This is the official kickoff, where all participants are invited. It takes place at the end of the afternoon, the day before the conference itself. In case you would tempted to catch a late flight, bypassing this presentation, don’t! It reveals the features that are under development and will emerge in future versions of the platform. Participants are forbidden to share those information prior to the release of new editions of the software.

Networking.

We do not just spend our time sitting in conference rooms. There are many networking opportunities, be it at lunchtime (with thematic tables), or evening activities.

What else you will see ...

• Examples of other companies that are also using FileMaker in their own way, often a source of inspiration for adapting your FileMaker solution.
• Speakers who cover a multitude of topics. An opportunity for you to see what is different or similar with your service provider. Maybe you'll come back with suggestions ...
• Conferences about broad business themes: "Business Track", "Customer Day" will allow you to collect sound advice on topics such as recruitment, usability in large companies, interactions with a service provider ...
• Several representative case studies from different industries (medical, research, Arts & Media, non-profit organizations)

Above all, an unparalleled opportunity to chat with FileMaker employees (technical support, engineers, product managers, sales, marketing, ...)  

Vincent, Programmer-Analyst.

I heard a lot about FileMaker Devcon. My eagerness to participate was matched only by my anxiety, anticipating my first trip abroad and my first on a plane 😊 For me, Devcon was an opportunity to learn more about FileMaker. There are exclusive presentations of the future features of the platform, sessions to explain the inner workings of the various components and experts give you their tips for improving your practices. Some sessions are presented by partners, others deal with design or security ... everything is very varied. Personally, as a developer, my preference was for technical sessions. Here is a list of the presentations that interested me most (to the point of having to deepen these topics):

• The interactions with Tableau. We are talking here about a software allowing to organize data to feature them in dashboards or graphics.
• The interactions with the products of the office suite. For example, it was possible to do certain operations in Filemaker directly from your Outlook Inbox.
• How to remotely connect Filemaker and a Raspberry Pi (mini-computer) for small motor control or reading of data sensors.

To sum up, it was a pleasant and rewarding experience. One downside: many condensed sessions in too few days. On the other hand, the majority are recorded, and the material used (acetates, files of examples) is shared by the lecturers. The results of this conference are very positive, and I will remember for a long time. I highly recommend it to both developers and those using FileMaker and are looking for innovation. PS: for those who wish to get wet! In addition to the swimming pool, it is possible to register for a pre-devcon training day at an additional cost. Of course, conventional sessions "beginner", "intermediate" and "advanced" will also be accessible if you want to make your first programming.   We hope this will make you want to join us at the 2019 edition of the Devcon in Orlando, Florida!