BRIAN FITZPATRICK: Good afternoon.
My name is Brian Fitzpatrick, and most people call me Fitz.
BEN COLLINS-SUSSMAN: And I am Ben Collins-Sussman, and many
people call me Ben Collins-Sussman.
BRIAN FITZPATRICK: You've probably seen us doing a lot
of the Ask a Google Engineer videos.
And we've been giving talks at Google I/O for the entire
duration of Google I/O for five years now.
BEN COLLINS-SUSSMAN: And today we get to interview some
wonderful folks here at Google I/O 2012.
BRIAN FITZPATRICK: And these guys are actually organizers
of Google Developer Groups from around the world.
BEN COLLINS-SUSSMAN: I'm very excited to talk to them and
learn about their experiences by organizing Google Developer
Communities.
BRIAN FITZPATRICK: So let's get our first guest on.
Come right on in.
Hi, welcome.
What's your name?
BADRI KULKARNI: Hi, my name is Badri.
BRIAN FITZPATRICK: And Badri, tell us where are you from,
and what do you do?
BADRI KULKARNI: Yeah, sure.
I'm from GDG Bangalore, India.
So I co-organize along with one of my organizers, GDG
Bangalore chapter.
So we conduct a lot of events around Google technologies.
So to give you a brief idea about our GDG chapter and tell
you how GDG helps developers connect together, so I would
like to share you my experiences
with a GDG, GDG Bangalore.
So we started a year ago, last year around September.
So from that point to this point, we had a lot of events
around Google technologies, some of them being the Google
App Engine, Android.
And one of them exciting was Dart Hackathon, which was part
of a global Dart Hackathon window.
BRIAN FITZPATRICK: But you guys organized the one, right?
BADRI KULKARNI: Yeah.
BRIAN FITZPATRICK: You were the organizer?
BADRI KULKARNI: Yes, yes.
BRIAN FITZPATRICK: Great.
BADRI KULKARNI: So these are kind of the events that we had
in our Meetup, the last one being a big one.
It's called DevFestX.
So DevFestX actually gave a platform to all the developers
in and around Bangalore City to come to the event and
interact with other people, other developers which are of
like mind, and share their knowledge.
So it was a great, great experience, great event.
BRIAN FITZPATRICK: Were there any wonderful collaborations
or products that came out of that DevFestX experience?
BADRI KULKARNI: Yeah, there are.
There are many.
I would like to take an example of the
Dart Hackathon event.
BEN COLLINS-SUSSMAN: Sure.
BADRI KULKARNI: So that was first time that the developer
way of coding on that day, because nobody has previously
done that, because it's a new technology from Google.
So we had this Dart Hackathon.
Around 30 people came up.
30 participants--
members--
came up.
And on the spot, on the event day, they collaborated.
They made themes among themselves.
And at the end of the day, we had around seven demos.
So that's pretty awesome.
So these guys are still continuing on that, and trying
around these Dart APIs, and giving
feedback to the Dart team.
BRIAN FITZPATRICK: So it sounds like you're involved
with all sorts of different Google technologies.
BADRI KULKARNI: Yes.
Whatever you find it on
developers.google.com, we are there.
BEN COLLINS-SUSSMAN: Now, I heard that you're also
interested in Android.
Is that true?
Is that one of your--
BADRI KULKARNI: Yes.
I'm an Android developer.
So we do conduct of a lot of events around Android.
So the one that I was mentioning something,
DevFestX, there we had a different
track for Android itself.
So what GDG gives all the developers is a platform
wherein all the people who are working on Google
technologies, directly or indirectly, are actually
interested in working on these technologies, can come and
join other people who are doing the exact same thing.
BRIAN FITZPATRICK: So you're bringing people together.
So as an organizer, what would you say?
If you're going to give advice to other people out there who
were going to organize GDGs or something, what kind of advice
would you give them?
BADRI KULKARNI: Yeah, what I'd like to tell is, GDG is a
great platform.
So it will enable each and every person who is really
interested in Google technologies, it will help you
connect with other people globally, not
only in your area.
It will help you to connect globally.
And it's a great place to learn, share, and work with
other people.
BRIAN FITZPATRICK: This goes back to what
we always talk about.
It's not underestimating the power of a face-to-face
connection.
BEN COLLINS-SUSSMAN: Right, that high bandwidth.
It's much better than a bulletin board, a forum, or an
email list, having people right there in front of you.
BADRI KULKARNI: I would like to tell one more example.
It's not like you have to be in person.
We have had Meetups wherein some of the people gave a talk
or something via Hangout.
So that's pretty awesome.
BRIAN FITZPATRICK: So you're looping people in, who can't
come in, through a Hangout.
BADRI KULKARNI: Yeah, true.
Yeah.
BRIAN FITZPATRICK: OK.
Oh, that sounds-- is that really effective?
Do you find that works really well?
BADRI KULKARNI: Definitely, yeah.
We have done that.
BRIAN FITZPATRICK: Yeah?
Great.
Well listen, thanks so much for coming.
It was great talking to you.
Enjoy your conference.
We've got a couple more people we're going to bring in here.
BEN COLLINS-SUSSMAN: Next country.
BRIAN FITZPATRICK: Next country, yeah, exactly.
Next continent, actually.
BEN COLLINS-SUSSMAN: Wonderful.
Hi, what is your name?
AYGUL ZAGIDULLINA: My name is Aygul.
BRIAN FITZPATRICK: And where are you from?
Tell us what you do.
AYGUL ZAGIDULLINA: I am from Germany, and I'm
co-organizing two GTUGs.
In Germany, so GDG Stuttgart, and in Russia, GDG Ufa.
BRIAN FITZPATRICK: OK, so you're an overachiever.
We got that, right?
But this isn't your first I/O, is it?
AYGUL ZAGIDULLINA: No, it's not my first I/O. I went for
the first time to Google I/O last year.
BEN COLLINS-SUSSMAN: And we heard there was something
special about last year's event for you.
AYGUL ZAGIDULLINA: Absolutely.
Actually, last Google I/O was our honeymoon.
BRIAN FITZPATRICK: And you met your husband, and you guys
went to GTUG meetings together, right?
That's why you got to know each other, right?
AYGUL ZAGIDULLINA: Yeah.
Actually, we met first online.
And then one day we went to Google--
the GDG organized Hackathon in Stuttgart.
And we fell in love with this concept.
And after three months, we became co-organizers of the
GTUG, and organized after that Android DevCamp
and all other events.
So it's real awesome.
We just fell in love really quickly.
BRIAN FITZPATRICK: So everybody here is leaving with
hardware, you included.
Last year you left Google I/O with a husband, right?
So this is like your big anniversary party every year.
AYGUL ZAGIDULLINA: Absolutely.
BRIAN FITZPATRICK: That's great.
So tell us a little more about the events that you organize
and your GDG work in Germany.
AYGUL ZAGIDULLINA: Actually, it's a really great
experience.
I can share it in Russia.
Last year we had all the Russian and CIS countries
Hackathon on Google Chrome.
And we got an awesome experience, awesome
opportunity to present our projects on the main stage at
the Google Developer Day in Moscow.
So it was a really amazing experience.
BEN COLLINS-SUSSMAN: What were some of the
projects that got presented?
I'm curious what came out of that.
AYGUL ZAGIDULLINA: It was Chrome extensions with HTML5
apps, and they were really on a high level.
BRIAN FITZPATRICK: So what's your favorite Google
technology that you get to work with?
AYGUL ZAGIDULLINA: Actually, Android.
BRIAN FITZPATRICK: Android?
AYGUL ZAGIDULLINA: Yes.
BRIAN FITZPATRICK: Are you an Android developer as well?
AYGUL ZAGIDULLINA: I am starting to develop.
So I am practicing right now.
And maybe next Google I/O, I have something
to share with you.
BRIAN FITZPATRICK: OK.
BEN COLLINS-SUSSMAN: Is Android popular within your
GDG groups as well?
AYGUL ZAGIDULLINA: Yes.
We actually made a survey, and we just tried to find out
which technologies are really popular in our countries.
And Android is absolutely like first place, and then all
other technologies are coming after that.
BRIAN FITZPATRICK: So as an organizer, what would you
advise other people out there interested in organizing their
own GDG groups?
What would you advise those guys to do?
What's the most important thing?
AYGUL ZAGIDULLINA: Actually, first of all, it's important
to make regular meetings with all your guys and to know them
personally.
Not like developers, but also like people, like a friend.
And my personal opinion is that developers in one city
should know each other as friends, not only as
professionals.
BRIAN FITZPATRICK: So you're talking about building
communities, right?
AYGUL ZAGIDULLINA: Yes, absolutely.
BRIAN FITZPATRICK: Not just a work relationship.
AYGUL ZAGIDULLINA: So we are meeting each other.
We are going and playing billiards.
We are going to the cinema.
So it's really--
BEN COLLINS-SUSSMAN: I was going to say, going to bars
and pubs must be part of it, then.
AYGUL ZAGIDULLINA: Right.
It should be beyond only Hackathons, only Tech
talks, and so on.
BRIAN FITZPATRICK: So are there any collaborations that
you've seen come out of this?
People meet each other, and then start working on apps
together, or start a business or anything?
AYGUL ZAGIDULLINA: Yes.
Actually, my dream is that one day we'll make a Tech Talk
from one of our apps or one of our extensions, because we
have really talented people in our GTUGs, and
they are really amazing.
They are really young, and they have so much potential.
And I'm happy that GDGs and Google's providing this
environment to actually come them
together and build something.
BRIAN FITZPATRICK: That's fabulous.
Excellent.
BEN COLLINS-SUSSMAN: I'm curious.
One last thing.
When you guys have meetings, do you have set agendas or
particular speakers on technologies?
AYGUL ZAGIDULLINA: It depends.
If it's Tech Talks, then we have invited speakers.
But if it's Hackathons, there will be just brainstorming,
and also applications come out.
Just improvisation, it's also part of our events.
BRIAN FITZPATRICK: So let's talk about Hackathons.
What do you do to organize a Hackathon?
I mean, is there a lot of preparation for that?
AYGUL ZAGIDULLINA: I mean, a lot of preparation.
Google's already providing us technology.
This is the main thing.
And everything will come around.
So we are just, for example, taking Google+ API and just
brainstorming.
And a lot of different ideas coming out, and then we are
just forming teams.
And people are really creative.
And this is actually interesting, because they are
technical people, but they actually can think
really out of box.
BEN COLLINS-SUSSMAN: That's fantastic.
Sounds like a great environment for--
BRIAN FITZPATRICK: That's great.
Well, we're glad to have you back at I/O again.
AYGUL ZAGIDULLINA: Yeah, thank you very much.
BRIAN FITZPATRICK: And we'll see you next year, I suppose.
AYGUL ZAGIDULLINA: Yeah, see you.
BRIAN FITZPATRICK: All right, thanks a lot.
BEN COLLINS-SUSSMAN: Roll the wheel, next country.
BRIAN FITZPATRICK: That's great, yeah.
BEN COLLINS-SUSSMAN: That's great.
BRIAN FITZPATRICK: So moving next, we're going to South
America, I believe.
BEN COLLINS-SUSSMAN: Wonderful.
What is your name?
JUAN IRUNGARAY: I'm Juan from Buenos Aires, Argentina.
BRIAN FITZPATRICK: And Juan, tell us what you do.
JUAN IRUNGARAY: Well, I'm a GTUG manager.
I've been working at the Buenos Aires GTUG for almost
two years now.
And it's really been a great ride.
I mean, you get to know a lot of interesting people.
You get to learn a lot, and assist to
cool events like this.
So it's been really great.
BEN COLLINS-SUSSMAN: Now, I noticed you're calling it a
GTUG instead of GDG.
Can you give us the story behind that?
JUAN IRUNGARAY: That's right.
So essentially the spirit is the same.
We're just trying to appeal to a broader audience.
So we just want everyone to know that if you are a Google
technology user--
I mean, if you ever did a Google search, you have an
Android phone, if you use Google+ for your social
networking, there's people who know about the topics.
There are a lot of people who like to get together and share
what they know.
And we like people from diverse
backgrounds, from diverse--
BRIAN FITZPATRICK: So you're doing something much bigger
than just developers, right?
This is really the user element of it, right?
JUAN IRUNGARAY: Right.
So we've been working with educators, with journalists.
We basically try to get everyone to know what Google
tools are available and to make the best use out of them.
BEN COLLINS-SUSSMAN: That's fantastic.
I think we're--
BRIAN FITZPATRICK: We'll--
BEN COLLINS-SUSSMAN: Go ahead.
BRIAN FITZPATRICK: We're just about out of time here.
Maybe one more quick question.
Quick piece of advice to anyone out there who wants to
start their own GDG or GTUG?
JUAN IRUNGARAY: Just look for us,
developers.google.com/groups.
There's a very active community.
So you can either find a group near you, or we can help you
start up a new group.
So just send us an email, and we'll surely give you a hand.
BEN COLLINS-SUSSMAN: Thank you.
Thank you very much.
BRIAN FITZPATRICK: I appreciate it.
Excellent.
BEN COLLINS-SUSSMAN: Yes.
BRIAN FITZPATRICK: All right.
Thanks a lot.
We're going to turn it back over to you guys.
And back to the conference.
See you in a bit.
BEN COLLINS-SUSSMAN: Bye-bye.