KubeCon + CloudNativeCon 2024 recap: highlights and takeaways

Posted on April 19, 2024

Community post originally published on Medium by Maryam Tavakkoli

This year, I had the opportunity to attend KubeCon + CloudNativeCon Europe in Paris. While this marked my second in-person KubeCon attendance, it was my first experience as an ambassador and a member of the community (You can find insights into my first KubeCon 2023 experience here.). In this article, I aim to summarize my experiences and observations from the event, hoping to offer insights into the dynamic world of cloud-native technology and community collaboration.

Cloud Native Rejekts

I have not yet attended the Cloud Native Rejekts event personally, neither in the past nor this year. However, through conversations with attendees at KubeCon, I’ve noticed that some people are unaware of this event. Therefore, I wanted to provide a brief introduction to the Cloud Native Rejekts event.

Rejeks event — https://cloud-native.rejekts.io/

As described on the conference website:

Cloud Native Rejekts is a b-side conference that offers a second chance to the many wonderful talks that were rejected from KubeCon + CloudNativeCon.

This in-person conference typically takes place a few days before the main KubeCon event, and this year it was held on March 17th-18th. Recordings of the sessions are available for viewing.

Contributor Summit Europe

The Contributor Summit, held on March 19th in Paris alongside KubeCon + CloudNativeCon, marked my first participation in this event. To attend, registration is exclusive to members of one of the Kubernetes orgs or sponsored attendees.

The Contributor Summit typically features a blend of talks, unconference sessions, and SIG and WG meetings. Despite my mid-day arrival in Paris, I managed to engage in the exclusive lunch and fulfill my volunteer duties for the summit as planned. Sharing a meal with fellow community members provided an invaluable opportunity to connect with individuals I had previously known only virtually and it was a great start for the day!

Volunteering

The contributor summit greatly depends on the fantastic volunteer efforts within the community. Intrigued by the process, I decided to experience it firsthand and volunteered to moderate two talk sessions. I highly encourage members of Kubernetes orgs to attend this event and consider volunteering for any task they can, as it is these contributions that make the event possible.

Co-Located Events

I have discussed the layout of KubeCon in my earlier article, which you can find here: Get the Most Out of KubeCon + CloudNativeCon EU 2024: Essential Tips for an Exceptional Experience. As mentioned, the initial day of KubeCon is dedicated to the co-located events.

As the contributor summit coincided with the co-located events, I couldn’t attend many talks. However, I was particularly keen on participating in Platform Engineering Day and ArgoCon. Feedback from my peers and friends highlighted numerous engaging discussions at both events. Thankfully, all talks were promptly published, allowing me and others to catch up. You can explore them here.

Keynotes

It appears that this year, KubeCon adopted a different approach by organizing keynotes and talks around specific themes for each day. Day 1 was dedicated entirely to AI, with keynotes and a significant portion of talks focusing on AI-related topics. The atmosphere was buzzing with discussions about AI throughout Wednesday, March 20th at KubeCon.

The CNCF staff did an excellent job this year and have provided detailed blog posts about each day’s events. I highly recommend reading them for more insights and you can find day 2 blog here.

Day 2 centered around the theme of sustainability, although the talks didn’t entirely revolve around this topic as prominently as AI did on the first day. You can find more information about day 2 here.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to attend day 3 myself, but according to the CNCF blog, the theme was about reflecting on the past and envisioning the future of Kubernetes. This theme likely stems from the approaching 10th anniversary of Kubernetes, which is set to occur on June 6th this year. It’s a fitting time to look back on the past decade and forward to the next. Read the CNCF blog post here.

Solution Showcase

In contrast to my previous KubeCon experience where I attended numerous talks, this year I opted to spend most of my time at the solution showcase and engaging with fellow attendees — and I don’t regret it one bit!

The solution showcase is a hub where experts from various companies and projects gather, offering a prime opportunity to connect with the right individuals and exchange insights. What’s particularly noteworthy is the openness and helpfulness of those within the community, fostering enriching conversations and new discoveries. I had the pleasure of reconnecting with old friends and making new ones, engaging in fascinating discussions, and expanding my knowledge.

I even had the chance to meet individuals working with ArgoCD, a topic I had specific questions about. They graciously shared their expertise, dedicating time to showcase solutions and delve into discussions with me.

My advice for future KubeCon attendees? Prioritize attending talks that align with your interests and offer opportunities for direct engagement with speakers. Then, dedicate the majority of your time to expanding your network, engaging in conversations, and fostering new connections. You’ll find that these interactions are invaluable learning experiences in themselves.

Diversity + Equity + Inclusion Lunch by Intel

Last year, I had the pleasure of attending the diversity lunch at KubeCon, and it left a lasting impression on me. Naturally, this year, I didn’t hesitate to join again. As the name suggests, the event provides an intimate setting where participants can engage in discussions about diversity and inclusion. Sitting at a table with a small group of individuals fosters meaningful connections and allows for enriching conversations. This year’s session was no exception, and I thoroughly enjoyed my time there. We delved into the role of women in the tech industry and explored the factors contributing to the underrepresentation of women in these fields. It was fascinating to hear diverse perspectives and personal stories shared by participants, shedding light on the complexities of this issue.

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