I Was Trying to Learn GitHub, But I Accidentally Formed a Dev Party and Now We're All Pair Programming at a Café??!
This month, I attended my first in-person meetup hosted by AICamp in collaboration with GitHub, which provided the venue in their Bellevue office. I’m still figuring out my path in the dev world, I was excited for what I imagined would be a mix of community, code, and maybe even some Microsoft insights.
I wanted to connect with other developers
I hoped to meet people on similar paths, career changers, students, maybe even a few seasoned pros. Maybe connect on LinkedIn and get a sense of what’s out there. I wasn’t chasing job leads just hoping to meet more devs and expand my circle.
Here’s what the agenda looked like:
5:00pm~5:50pm: Checkin, food/drink and networking
5:50pm~6:00pm: Welcome, Community update
6:00pm~7:30pm: Tech talks and Q&A
7:30pm~8:00pm: Open discussion and Mixer
8:00pm: closing and head to bar
The topic was AI, LLMs, ML and Data
First, Cole Bowden from Firebolt kicked things off with a talk on the power of low latency data for AI apps. He showed how Firebolt’s lightning-fast SQL engine can supercharge AI applications by demoing a simple LLM app with tool calling. The app executed real-time SQL queries during inference, highlighting how low-latency data access can dramatically improve responsiveness and relevance in AI outputs.
Next, Yason Khaburzaniya from Breba Apps shared a concept he called Documentation is Code (DisC). The idea is simple. Write instructions in plain English, and AI agents (or LLMs guided by code) carry them out in environments like Jupyter notebooks. While the concept builds on years of work with natural language interfaces, scripting tools, and low-code platforms, it reflects a broader shift. We are continuing to narrow the gap between human intent and machine execution. In that sense, it signals a future where computing feels more like a conversation than a command line.
I felt a bit awkward, awesome, and everything in between
I made those first awkward introductions and started a conversation with some college students, eventually inviting them to sit with my husband and me. Later, he ended up mingling and chatting with Elise Hollowed from the GitHub marketing team who was helping host. He mentioned I was trying to break out of my shell, and Elise came to find me.
It ended up being one of the most organic and encouraging conversations of the night. She listened as I shared my path shifting from design into development with a mix of UI/UX, coding, and technical writing. Elise pointed out the value in that blend, and how rare it is to bridge those worlds. It was exactly the kind of encouragement I didn’t know I needed. Sometimes, just a little recognition like that can shift your whole perspective.
Not all introductions went well
After the event, I tried to strike up a conversation with another person, and they weren’t exactly warm. The person was just there for the food and made that very clear. It was a little deflating, but I tried.
The crowd was a grab bag of devs ranging from students, seasoned pros, and even a neurosurgeon who was building a technical side project. You never know who you’ll meet.
I learned that in-person events push you out of your comfort zone
There’s a certain tension when you're deciding if you should introduce yourself, and that’s where growth happens. I also realized the tech community is full of people in transition. Some are just starting out, some are shifting careers, and some are currently out of work and looking for what’s next. The room made it clear that plenty of folks are navigating uncertainty, yet still showing up. Everyone’s there for something. Whether it's connection, opportunity, or even just the snacks. And that's okay.
You could tell this wasn’t their first rodeo
AICamp is a global AI/ML/Data developer community that organizes events like meetups, workshops, bootcamps, and hackathons. Check-in was quick. There was a few security guards at the door who signed us in and scanned us into the event space. Pizza was offered which is always a win. The space itself was great, with plenty of seating and an incredible view of the city and mountains.
I’d love to see more collaborative moments
Not necessarily a full-blown hackathon, but something in between a casual meetup and a build session. Give us something to work on together, like a hands-on tutorial or group activity, early on. A 20-minute collaborative coding session would be a natural icebreaker and give people something shared to talk about afterward.
Or keep it super simple ice breaker where you chat with other 3 devs, swap a GitHub/LinkedIn if you feel like it, then check in with the host to grab a sticker. Low-key, zero pressure, and a good excuse to say hey without getting straight into code.
The organizers did open the floor at the end for folks to share announcements which was a nice touch. Still, a short break between presentations could’ve created more natural chances to connect. I get why they skipped it. Some folks probably would’ve dipped after the first speaker, but the tradeoff might’ve been worth it.
Should You Go?
Absolutely, if you’re new to tech or just curious about the local dev community, events like this are worth checking out. Don’t expect fireworks or job offers. Just show up, be open, and see what happens.
But go in with the right mindset:
It might feel awkward at first but that’s part of the process
Break your pattern and talk to someone outside your usual circle
Don’t overthink it. A single useful conversation is a win
You won’t walk away a better engineer overnight, but you might leave with a new connection, a better sense of the local dev scene, and more confidence about putting yourself out there.
(Also yes, I know the title reads like an isekai novel. It's intentional. Embrace the chaos.)
