By: Cienna Madrid, Boise State Communications & Marketing
More than 1,200 software developers and hardware geeks will converge in Boise State’s Student Union Building for the Northwest’s most popular development summit: Boise Code Camp.
This annual, free-to-the-community event on Saturday, March 21, consists of 60 technology training sessions for developers of all ages and skillsets, including a full slate of presentations specifically tailored to novice programmers between the ages of 6 and 16.
“The idea is that anyone can come and talk about code,” explained Amit Jain, associate professor and associate chair of Boise State’s Department of Computer Science. Jain has been involved with Code Camp since its inception 10 years ago. “We’ve always wanted the event to be really open, which is why we rely on people to propose the topics they want to present and don’t charge for anything.”
A day of free code talks, free coffee, free meals, and free parking has proved to be a winning formula — the event has grown exponentially each year. Registration for Saturday’s event is up by more than 50 percent over last year.
Jain explains that while some sessions are stalwart — like learning the basics of HTML — most programming changes annually and depends entirely on what people are willing to teach. Any member of the public can pitch a session. Three years ago, several of Code Camp’s most popular talks were presented by kids.
“It was standing room only for their talks,” Jain said. The next year, Code Camp added a kid camp to its lineup. More than 280 youth programmers are expected to attend this year.
During several time slots during the day, attendees can choose from six to eight sessions led by technology professionals in various disciplines: database fundamentals, mobile technologies, cloud computing, agile practices or networking advances. Each session is 75 minutes long, followed by a 10-minute break.
The presentations are diverse enough to appeal to Code Camp’s attendees’ varying skill levels. Parents can learn how to filter content and guide their children in developing healthy online behavior. New developers can learn the basics of HTML coding or how to create a lean, mean Android app. Expert code monkeys can learn how to make the leap from developer to test engineer, and network with industry sponsors who will have booths set up in SUB hallways, looking to hire interns and full-time staff. And for the first year in Code Camp history, a panel of women working in IT will talk about the hurdles and roadblocks they’ve faced as tech professionals, and offer concrete actions employers can take to attract and retain more women in this male-dominated industry.
“There is a direct, documented correlation showing that when women make up 20 percent or more of a corporate board the company is more likely to be highly profitable,” explained Cindy Gross, a local developer who is moderating the session, ‘Where are the Women in Technology?’
“Women are leading adopters of new products and services, it just makes sense to have women adding a female viewpoint to the decision-making process as those products and services are chosen and built. On the other hand, there is rampant sexism in the tech world. Many believe it is especially bad in the heart of the tech startup world — Silicon Valley.”
Boise Code Camp is free but online registration is required. To register or see Code Camp’s full schedule of events, visit: http://boisecodecamp.com.