FOSDEM 2024 - Thoughts on my first year as a speaker

I know this is coming a bit late, but I finally found some time to sit down and share my thoughts on my first year as a speaker at FOSDEM 2024. The past few weeks have been a whirlwind of activity, but the experiences I had and the people I met at the conference have left a lasting impression on me.

Becoming a Speaker

For years, I had been an avid attendee of the conference, absorbing knowledge, connecting with awesome people, and dreaming of one day contributing to this amazing event.

Transitioning from spectator to presenter was fueled by a blend of excitement, nervous anticipation, and a deep sense of responsibility.

The very same moment I submitted my talks, a lot of emotions washed over me; it was a mix of disbelief and exhilaration, a realization that I was about to step onto the stage that had inspired me for so long.

Lastly, the support and encouragement I received along the way turned this scary leap into one of the most rewarding experiences of my professional (and personal) life.

My Talk(s)

I had the incredible opportunity to present not one, but two talks at FOSDEM.

The idea for the talk was always clear in my mind, but as we fleshed it out, it became apparent that it had two distinct aspects appropriate for different devrooms. One focusing on the practical implementation of CI/CD Observability with OpenTelemetry, while the other diving into the strategic importance of observability in CI/CD pipelines and the extended software delivery process.

We thought it best to submit to both and see which one would accept it. To our surprise and delight, both devrooms accepted our proposals! It was an unexpected turn of events that led to us presenting “Practical CI/CD Observability with OpenTelemetry” in the Testing and Continuous Delivery devroom and “What is CI/CD Observability, and How to Bring Observability to CI/CD Pipelines?” in the Monitoring and Observability devroom.

The reception

The reception was nothing short of extraordinary.

Walking onto the stage, I was met with an audience filled with eager faces, ready to engage with the topics I was passionate about. After each presentation, the flood of questions, thoughtful discussions, a nd positive feedback was overwhelming. Attendees not only showed genuine interest in the nuances of CI/CD observability but also shared their experiences and challenges.

The positive vibes didn’t stop at the lecture rooms. Throughout the event, whether at the booth or wandering the halls, I was approached by individuals who expressed their appreciation for my talks, sparking conversations that went beyond the technical aspects into the impact of our work on the wider community.

The People

The highlight of FOSDEM, however, was the people.

I reconnected with Alessio. He reached out a few weeks before the talk, noting we were both part of the schedule. It was a pleasant surprise and a testament to the small-world nature of our community.

My travel companions, Guido, Mercello, and Matteo, were my pillars of support ahead of my talk. Thank you guys for the encouragement and for hearing my presentation something like 20 times. The fun we had exploring Brussels and the shared excitement around the conference made the experience unforgettable.

I also crossed paths with Daniel, a former colleague at Grafana Labs, catching up and sharing our current adventures was a joy. Thank you for the nice chats!

And of course Dimitris. This whole CI/CD observability thing started with us drinking beers in Nice last year, and here we are one year later, speaking together at FOSDEM. It’s been a wild ride, and I’m grateful to have you as a colleague and most importantly as a friend.

Lastly (but not for importance), I must mention Inês. Even though she wasn’t at the conference, her thoughtful support was invaluable. Thank you for being there for me, even from afar, for being the great person you are, and for you thoughtful words.

Grafana

Of course nothing of this would have been possible without the support of Grafana Labs and the amazing people I work with.

A special shoutout to Ivana for her feedback on my talk and also to Ida for the support. They truly are great people to work with, and they are one of the reasons I love working at Grafana.

The beers and chats at Delirium with Jack, Ivan and a bunch of other awesome folks were the perfect way to wind down after a day filled with talks and networking.

It’s these moments of connection and mutual trust and friendship that truly embody the spirit of FOSDEM.

Conclusions

Reflecting on my first year as a speaker at FOSDEM, I’m filled with gratitude.

The opportunity to share my work, learn from others, and connect with old and new friends alike was beyond what I had imagined. The experience has left me with not just knowledge and connections but a renewed passion for the work I do.

What’s next? I’m not entirely sure, but the reception of the topics I presented has proved that there’s a genuine interest in the intersection of observability and CI/CD. I’m excited to continue exploring this space and dive deeper in something that so far has been outside of my comfort zone.

Here’s to many more FOSDEM conferences and the endless possibilities they bring!