2019 Esri DevSummit – 10 Sessions Not to Miss!

DevSummit is here once again. This well deserved time in Palm Springs is when developers get a glimpse at the latest tools and APIs from Esri. Attendees will learn from their peers, ask lots of questions, and network with developers from all over the world. This will also be the first opportunity for Esri’s to share and discuss the new developer experience that was unveiled in January!

dev dude and dev diva
“Dev Dude and Dev Diva” on the mainstage during the 2017 DevSummit plenary talk from Esri’s Jim McKinney‏ (Image: @gletham)

For GEO Jobe, DevSummit is always a great opportunity for our developers to gather in the sun, learn from the best, and share ideas. When the networking and learning is done, we come back to the office invigorated and full of ideas that we can integrate into the next generation of our apps and services. DevSummit is also a great opportunity for us to meet face to face with our Esri channel partner managers, other Esri business partners, and Esri Startup Program emerging businesses. We’ve collaborated with a number of other partners, and these relationships are extremely valuable to us.  Besides the lively conversations in the conference center, brainstorming over coffee, and networking after hours, we can’t forget about the valuable learning opportunities.

DevSummit has some great technical sessions and there are a number of learning opportunities planned for just about any Geo topic you can think of! We’ve looked through the online agenda and identified 10 sessions of interest – no easy task getting it down to ten, as there so many great things to see at DevSummit!

Lightning Talks – Mon. 3-4 PM Mesquite B
Kicking things off on Monday afternoon, lightning talks are always a big hit, and I guarantee you’ll learn a few tricks as well! This is your opportunity to hear from top-notch developers from all over the world. Each presenter gets 5 minutes and 12 slides to share their experience building maps and apps using Esri technology.

DevSummit Plenary – Tues. 8:30 – 12 Oasis 3-4
This one goes without saying. The plenary is always fun, interesting, and packed full of cool technology. There may even be a coupe of surprise announcements! Hear from Jack Dangermond and his product development leads as they share what’s new and what’s on the horizon. No doubt, there’s gonna be lots of live tweeting during this (see #devsummit). If you can’t make it, don’t worry, as the session will be streamed live!

ArcGIS Pro – The Road Ahead – Thurs. 4-5 Primrose B
There’s no question that ArcGIS Pro is THE future. In this “Road Ahead” session you’ll hear from the ArcGIS Pro team about what’s new and what’s planned. Are you migrating to Pro? If so you need to be in this one! A DevSummit tip – search the agenda for anything with “Road Ahead” in the title!

What’s new in Collector for ArcGIS – Wed. 1-2 San Jacinto
Collector for ArcGIS is the mobile collection solution of choice for ArcGIS users. Using Collector, workers collect and update information in the field from a connected or disconnected environment. With the release of Collector v18.1.0 in December, the app was rebuilt from the ground up and provides an entirely new user experience. Learn about the new experience in this session.

Deploying AppStudio Apps in the Enterprise – Wed. 3-3:30 demo theater
Turn your maps into apps! Yes indeed, AppStudio for ArcGIS is Esri’s solution that enables users of all levels to easily create, build, and deploy native apps. Make sure you attend this session and ask lots of questions before returning back to the office to build some great apps!

Add Visually Engaging and Interactive Infographics to Your Apps – Tues. 4-5 Mesquite G-H
GIS is all about the data. Enabling your users to visualize data and the results of your analysis is how the real magic happens! Esri says, “[i]n this session, you will learn how to use infographics in your apps using ArcGIS API for JavaScript and Web AppBuilder“. You’ll want to start creating your own powerful Infographics after this session!

Tip – Between Sessions, Hit The Esri Showcase!
Be sure to get your questions answered by the people responsible for building and deploying apps with ArcObjects, JavaScript, Python, the ArcGIS SDK for the Microsoft. NET framework, and more. The showcase is where you’ll find all the experts from Esri, and you can engage one-on-one with them.

ArcGIS Online: Preparing your Apps for High Demand – Tues. 1:30-2 Demo Theater
You’ve gone to great lengths planning, building, and testing your web maps. Now it’s time to make them available within your organization or to the public. However, are you sure that everything is configured correctly and the maps and data are optimized for high demand? Note, this session will place special attention on using Living Atlas content.

ArcGIS Online: Managing Data – Tues. 2:30-3:30 Primrose A
ArcGIS Online is all about your data and maps living in the cloud. In this session, you’ll learn how to store, manage, update, and organize all your data in the cloud. We’re pretty sure that attendees here would also be really excited to learn more about Admin Tools for ArcGIS!

ArcGIS API for JavaScript: What’s New – Tues. 2:30-3:30 Oasis 4
This is your chance to learn about the latest advances in the ArcGIS API for JavaScript. According to Esri, attendees of this session will leave with a good grasp of the latest capabilities and be well prepared to jump in and start using the API. To learn more about the API for JavaScript, check out Esri’s documentation. Finally, those of you who are interested in the ArcGIS API for JavaScript, be sure to jump over to this must readblog from Julie and Andy. There’s plenty of awesome tips here for building your agenda!

Python Across the ArcGIS Platform – Wed. 1-2 Primrose A
Esri describes ArcPy and the ArcGIS API for Python as “two premier libraries that allow you to script, automate, and accomplish a number of your important workflows“. There’s no question that Python is a HOT, in-demand skill for developers. Show up early for this one because the room will likely be packed! To learn more about the ArcGIS API for Python here.

These are just ten sessions to consider as you plan your week at DevSummit. Go ahead and build your agenda here.

At last year’s DevSummit, we had several team members in Palm Springs. They got together on the last day and took a walk through the hall as they shared their summary remarks. What do you think the HOT topic will be from the 2019 DevSummit? If you have something cool to share about EPC/DevSummit or want to meet up with us, feel free to reach out to us via Twitter @geojobegis.

Looking for even more things to do in Palm Springs? Enjoy this Palm Springs shortlist Story Map to find great places to visit while you are at the conference.

Check Out More Useful Resources:

GEOspatial Evangelist & CMO

Geographer, GIS professional, writer, and fan of all things mobile.