MentorMate to Speak at DevFestMN 2016

The Google Developer Group-hosted DevFestMN ranks in the top 10 Google Developer events held nationwide. MentorMate Director of Operations Stefanie Trimble has helped organize the one-day conference since the inaugural fest in 2014. And again this year, Senior Software Engineer Chris Black will speak.

The fest is affordable for all, even students, charging just $25 admission to hear from Google leaders like Chet Haase, a draw in his own right.

“It’s a good way for students and experts to come together,” Stefanie sad. “Plus, it’s an opportunity for developers to share their sample projects and their knowledge with the community.”

It’s expected to be a full house this year, with the event boasting more in ticket sales than ever before. Here’s Chris on his history with the event, a preview of his talk on February 6 and what makes DevFestMN different.

What made you want to get involved with DevFest?

The Android community in the Twin Cities is full of great people. The Google Developer Group-TC meetups are always informative and a great place to get to know other developers. I’ve learned a lot from other members of the community and like to return the favor when there is a topic I’m passionate about.

What will you be presenting on at DevFestMN?

This year at DevFest, I will be speaking about how to get started with Google Cardboard app development. All you need is a $10 headset and a mobile phone to experience 3D content with Google Cardboard. This gives consumers the opportunity to dip their feet in virtual reality without needing to buy expensive hardware. It opens up a lot of opportunity for mobile developers to create new, innovative content.

Can you share three key highlights you will be expanding on during your talk?

I’ll be talking about how you can draw objects in 3D space using OpenGL and build a heads up display (HUD) using standard Android views. I’ll also be covering some techniques to test Google Cardboard projects in the Android emulator. Participants should have some Android development experience but no OpenGL or 3D development experience is necessary to attend this presentation.

How will this event enable collaboration between other developers?

It a great place meet other developers and learn about the latest technologies. There is plenty of time between sessions and during the after party to get to know attendees.

How will attending the event benefit local developers?

There is a great lineup of speakers this year. Attending DevFest will give you the opportunity to hear about new technologies and industry best practices. I always walk away inspired from events like this.

How would you describe the strength of the developer community here in Minneapolis?

Minneapolis has a great developer community. There are regular meetups that include a wide range of technology topics. Local companies are always eager to sponsor and host these events.

What other speakers are you particularly excited to hear from?

I’m really excited about the keynote presentation which will be presented by Chet Haase, the lead of the Android UI Toolkit team at Google. It’s not every day you get to talk with somebody from the Android team at Google. Beyond that, it’s a tough call, there are so many great sessions to choose from. Android and IoT tech are the two topics I’m most interested in. I’ll likely attend sessions in those categories.

Have you attended the fest before?

I attended DevFestMN last year and gave a presentation about how to build a custom watch face for Android Wear.

What are the other developer-focused events on your radar to attend this year?

Twin Cities Code Camp and Mobile March are always good developer conferences to attend locally. WWDC and Google I/O sessions are available to stream online and provide a wealth of knowledge for mobile development. I’d recommend checking out last years videos if you haven’t already.

What’s next for DevFest according to Stefanie: Plans to add supplementary dimensions to complement the development topics discussed, including design and business planning.

See you February 6 at DevFestMN! Get your tickets here.

Want to know even more about mobile development? Read out free eBook.