Tech Enthusiasts Unite at DevFest 2023 in Kolkata

In a brilliant showcase of technology and innovation, Kolkata recently hosted DevFest 2023, a tech extravaganza organised by Google Developers Group. Held at the Dhono Dhanyo Auditorium on December 22, 2023, the event went beyond expectations, making a profound impact on the tech community

DevFest 2023 attracted a diverse audience, ranging from industry experts and IIT researchers to students, entrepreneurs, and leaders from MSMEs. Despite their varied backgrounds, what united them was a shared passion for technology, with a significant presence of young individuals—70% college students and 30% working professionals

The curtain rose with an engaging keynote by Arun Godavarthi, Google's Program Manager. Arun explored the realm of Responsible AI, shedding light on the ethical considerations and societal implications of artificial intelligence.

Diverse Sessions and Expert Speakers

The day unfolded with a myriad of insightful sessions, each helmed by experts in their respective fields.

• Narendra Nath Chatterjee (StockGro): "Grooving with Kotlin Multiplatform"

Chatterjee's session ignited enthusiasm among tech enthusiasts, exploring the world of Kotlin Multiplatform and its exciting potential.

• Lakshya Mittal (Awaaz): "Startup & Entrepreneurship Insights"

Mr. Mittal delivered thought-provoking insights into startup dynamics and entrepreneurship, guiding attendees on their entrepreneurial journeys.

• Aryan Irani (Google Workspace): "Unleashing Google Bard & Maker Suite"

Mr. Irani showcased the power of Google Bard & Maker Suite, unravelling its potential for innovation and creativity in the tech realm.

• Hrittik Roy (Loft Labs): "Open Source Dev Containers with DevPod on Google Cloud"

Roy shed light on utilizing DevPod on Google Cloud, emphasizing open-source development containers for efficient workflows.

• Saaket Tharad (Go Connect): "Debunking Entrepreneurship Misconceptions"

Mr.Tharad addressed misconceptions around entrepreneurship, providing clarity and realistic insights into the entrepreneurial landscape.

• Imran Roshan (Deloitte): "Securing made efficient: An approach to secure hybrid workloads on GCP"

Mr. Roshan shared efficient approaches to secure hybrid workloads on the Google Cloud Platform (GCP).

• Sayak Paul (Hugging Face): "How to stay relevant as an ML Engineer in the age of Generative AI"

Paul discussed staying relevant as an ML Engineer in the era of Generative AI.

• Pawan Kumar (Codepur): "Building the Future: Empowering Apps with LLM"

Pawan Kumar delved into empowering applications with Large Language Models (LLMs).

• Sayantani Saha (Infosys): "Exploring Google's text-to-text LLM FLAN-T5 API with MCQ Generating Usecase"

Ms Saha spoke on the basics of NLP and gradually unveiled the secrets behind generating synsets, hyponyms, and hypernyms.

• Kartik Derasari (Persistent): "Building Advanced Gen-AI solutions using Google Cloud"

Derasari explored building advanced generative AI solutions using Google Cloud.

• Kunal Das (Tiger Analytics): "Importance of DevOps in the Modern Software Development Lifecycle"

Das emphasized the significance of DevOps in the modern software development lifecycle.

• Poulami Roy (MAERSK Dev): "LCP, FID, CLS, and INP turbocharge UI performance"

Roy spoke on enhancing UI performance with insights into Core Web Vitals.

• Fireside Chat with @Striver [ Raj Vikramaditya ]

An engaging fireside chat with @Striver offered an intimate conversation on balancing time and the perennial question of DSA or development.

As the day concluded, organisers Indranil and Binit took the stage, providing insights into the event's behind-the-scenes. Addressing the theme of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, they also outlined future plans for the GDG Kolkata website, promising exciting developments for the community.

DevFest 2023 in Kolkata transcended being a mere event; it evolved into a celebration of innovation, collaboration, and the lively spirit of the tech community.