Hello, Yoshimasa here. My colleagues and I run Python Engineer Development Co., Ltd. which administers the Python Certified Engineer Basic Examination (the Python Exam).
PyCon JP, Japan’s largest international Python conference, happened at the end of August, and we joined as Gold Sponsors. We offered an online booth and gave four mini presentations there.
Since PyCon JP is an international event, the conference website and registration page were offered in English and Japanese, and with this year, in particular, being very online-focused, it was easy for participants to join from overseas.
PyCon JP is a large-scale event intended to help spread techniques, know-how, and the latest information about Python in Japan. Joining offers an easy chance to learn more about using Python, and to become part of Japan’s Python community. Our booth held presentations four times, on the themes of Python Market Trends, the Python Engineer Exam, and data analysis, and we also held a gift drawing like you see in the picture. We had many visitors, and I’m glad we got to talk to many engineers. We also enjoyed the chance to interact with engineers over social media like Twitter.
I wonder, now, about the daily lives of those reading this column. If you’re in the same old routine of going in to work at the office, coming home and studying (you are studying, right?), then going out on weekends with your friends, why not try joining some international conferences? It’s comfortable to have a set routine and a familiar environment, but that also keeps you from encountering new ways of thinking and working. A little effort can pay off big! Joining community events like PyCon JP offers opportunities to interact with new people, and contact with new ways of thinking, new inspiration, and new ways of writing code. Meeting people and making connections is sure to inspire new discoveries.
We got all kinds of fun questions and comments at our PyCon JP booth, like “I’m thinking about taking the exam.” “Teach me tricks to studying Python”, or “I bought your book, Mr. Yoshimasa. I haven’t read it though! LOL” I was able to connect to those same people on Twitter, and my world got that much bigger. Thinking back, I also once connected to some others who came along to a community event, and after we talked, we ended up forming our own community. It’s funny how fate can bring you connections and open your world all because of a chance meeting or conversation.
This year’s PyCon JP is already over, but the PHP Conference (with free online access) is happening on December 12, 2020. This is Japan’s largest international PHP conference. Since it’s being held online this year, you can join from overseas. Anyone who’s interested should register through the PHP Conference 2020 registration site. Information can be found at the link below.
If you can, I highly recommend you join.
And with that, let’s call it a day.
