Changes to the Full Stack Workshop, and changes to my content the rest of 2024
Life comes at you fast! It can be good to take a step back, hit the reset button, and keep moving forward.
Back in September 2023, I was ideating on how I could best provide to the community. I've always enjoyed teaching and thought a combination of data, teaching, and something around early-career individuals in Data would be a fun thing to put on.
Then, through the help of some amazing people, we've done it! We put on 4 events in Q1 and 2 events now here in Q2.
TL;DR
Full Stack Workshops will not continue happening in 2024.
Substack and YouTube will be the focus.
Join the Data Nexus Discord community so we can learn together (see below for more info)
Thanks for the Feedback
I also am not too stubborn to think the thing I did would be the only thing I did. I listen to feedback and watched at how the events turned out.
Here's what I've learned:
The content works! People are generally enjoying what we're learning // covering in the workshops. It's interesting and provokes conversation.
Docker was a bit dense to do in a 90-minute in-person workshop. I didn't claim to teach all of Docker, just provide an intro, but it seemed to scare some people away ;D
In-person + Learning seems to feel a bit too much like work/school to people.
Add on that in-person requires a time commitment away from family, life, whatever it may be. Add the commute, 90-minute session, and return commute. That's like 2.5 hours people are dedicating to me once a month.
It's actually a lot, and even for me it's been a lot.
The Low Key Meetups that Dan has been hosting are fire! (shoutout to Coalesce.io and all the other orgs that buy us drinks sometimes)
Related learnings:
people are happy to take the time out to go drink and talk data-related things
There's a big community of data-stuff going on in Raleigh
I have many more learnings actually but this is just a short list of some of the things I've compiled.
Therefore, we're going to switch some things up in Q3/Q4.
The New Normal
Exactly what the new normal is in terms of the content, I'm still ideating on this.
I could use your help to decide what are some interesting topics you'd want to learn more about that you're not seeing enough on available publicly.
My logistics are changing:
Focus on Substack and writing (fits in with a larger goal)
Some topics in mind:
Working in a brownfield project, reverse engineering established systems/pipelines
Snowflake/Snowpark and writing Stored Procs in Snowflake
With some Easter Eggs you might not see elsewhere
Potentially reviewing Snowflake Managed, Snowflake External, and Snowflake External Iceberg tables, discussing each and the pros/cons/tradeoffs
Production-level Data Pipeline best practices
Small-medium size data, not HUGE data.
Best practices that you can relate with and leverage
Continue on YouTube, but take a course on how to produce engaging content, maybe a bit more time editing, and the videos are a lot shorter
Currently, 30-50 min videos
Now, 10-15 minute videos
Shorten the time, provide the same value.
Let community feedback drive what events we do, fully online events, and shorter in nature.
Get back to investing in my own learning
I'll be pacing myself on this course starting July 9 if you want to join in:
https://github.com/DataTalksClub/llm-zoomcamp
Note it's already started if you want to start on it now and join the live cohort!
Time to read!
Apache Iceberg: The Definitive Guide
Bookclub anyone?
If this sounds interesting to you!
And if you think you know people who could benefit, let's get them subscribed so they see what's to come:
Important Lessons Learned
Balance. Without it there would complete chaos. It's important to invest in many different areas of our life to achieve that stability we're hoping for.
Empathy & Patience. I'm not perfect, and I'm learning. I'm thankful for the opportunity to have an amazing community around me.
Community. We want community, where we can feel connected and contribute.
Thank you
For sticking with me, and be invested in your own learnings as well. We'll continue to grow together, and ideally now in Q3/Q4 we have a larger reach and can help more people grow even further!
Sam