The lights dimmed, the screen lit up, and the atmosphere was nothing short of electric. KCD Austria 2024 took place in the heart of Vienna, transforming a classic cinema into a hub of cloud native innovation and community spirit. This year’s event was more than just a conference; it was a testament to the growth and passion of the cloud native community in Austria.
Building a Community: The Birth of Cloud Native Austria 🇦🇹
We are thrilled to announce the foundation of Cloud Native Austria, an association born with the sole purpose of hosting KCD Austria and supporting cloud native communities across the country. This non-profit organization symbolizes our commitment to fostering collaboration, sharing knowledge, and nurturing the next generation of cloud native enthusiasts.
The Venue: Where Cinema Meets Cloud Native 🎥
Returning to the same iconic cinema as last year, we embraced the unique ambiance that only a movie theater can offer. The plush seats, the immersive screen, and the surround sound created an unparalleled setting for learning and networking. The venue wasn’t just a backdrop; it was an integral part of the KCD Austria experience.
With the talks taking place in two dedicated rooms, as well as having a whole floor for food, coffee and our valued sponsors, we provided enough space to mingle and connect. We even had full size sofas for the first row audience – how cool is that! 🛋️
Celebrating Our Exceptional Speakers 🎤
Our lineup boasted an incredible array of talent, featuring both seasoned experts and fresh voices in the cloud native sphere. Renowned veterans like Juraci Paixão Kröhling shared invaluable insights, enriching the discussions with their extensive experience. We were equally excited to also welcome first-time speakers, e.g. a student team from TU Wien, including Lukas Mahler, Tobias Grantner, and Josef Taha, who brought new perspectives and innovative ideas to the forefront.
The agenda covered a broad spectrum of topics, ranging from thought-provoking non-technical talks that delved into the cultural and organizational aspects of cloud native adoption, to deep-dive security sessions that equipped attendees with the latest strategies to protect their infrastructures. This diversity not only catered to a wide audience but also fostered a holistic understanding of the cloud native landscape.
You can find all our amazing speakers here.
Audience Favorites and Feedback 🌟
Some talks resonated exceptionally well with our audience:
- “Failing Successfully“ by Stefan Baumgartner
- “Forensic Container Checkpointing and Analysis“ by Adrian Reber
- “The kubectl debug command is missing an IDE option.” by Mario Loriedo
- “Demystifying CRI – Writing a CRI from Scratch“ by Filip Nikolic
You can find a recording of each talk on our YouTube channel: Kubernetes Community Days Austria.
Our sessions received outstanding feedback, with over 75% of the 102 feedback responses rating the talks 4 or 5 out of 5 stars. This positive response is a testament to the quality and relevance of the content delivered.
We also value your constructive feedback and have heard your suggestions. Next time, we plan to offer longer sessions to provide more in-depth content. Additionally, we will introduce experience level tags for each talk, helping attendees select sessions that best match their knowledge and interests.
Highlights of KCD Austria 2024 ✨
- Second Edition Success: Building on the momentum from 2023, we brought the same spirit to this year’s event.
- Overwhelming Response: We received over 200 submissions in the Call for Proposals, showcasing the community’s eagerness to contribute.
- Diverse Content: Featuring 40 speakers, 24 talks, and 4 workshops, attendees had a wealth of sessions to choose from.
- Growing Audience: With about 30% more attendees than last year, we reached the maximum capacity of our beloved venue.
For an in-depth look at our event, check out our transparency report.
Lessons Learned 📚
- Embracing Sessionize: Switching our Call for Proposals to Sessionize made the process enjoyable and efficient, a stark contrast to last year’s tool.
- Leveraging Experience: Utilizing templates and insights from 2023 streamlined our planning and execution.
- Team Dynamics: Clear communication and commitment within the team and with external partners were crucial.
- Role Clarity: Having one overall key organizer and dedicated roles for each other team member is mandatory for smooth operations.
- Professional Tools: Investing in professional tools paid off, significantly outweighing the costs in terms of efficiency.
- Valuable Retrospectives: Conducting a retrospective allowed us to gather structured feedback and share experiences from both organizer and volunteer perspectives.
Looking Ahead: Cloud Native Days Austria 2025 🚀
As we set our sights on the future, we’re excited to announce that we will continue our journey as Cloud Native Days Austria, an independent event that maintains a close relationship with the CNCF and the global community.
- Save the Date: October 2025 in Vienna.
- Evolving Team: Some of our organizers will pursue new goals, and while our team may shrink, it will also evolve.
- Continued Collaboration: Our local CNCF community chapters in Austria will proceed as usual, strengthening the bonds within our cloud native family.
A Heartfelt Thank You 🙏
- To Our Organizers and Volunteers: Your dedication and hard work made this event possible.
- To Our Sponsors and Media Partners: Your support was instrumental in bringing KCD Austria 2024 to life.
- To the CNCF: Thank you for your continuous guidance and for fostering a global community that inspires us.
Stay connected with us for updates on future events and join us as we continue to champion cloud native technologies in Austria and beyond.
Let’s keep the cloud native spirit alive! See you in 2025! 🎉