The Esri Developer Summit (DevSummit) is an annual event held in early March in Palm Springs, California. It is an opportunity to take your GIS to the next level with advanced mapping technology and cutting-edge apps. Whether it is your first time to DevSummit or your first time in a while, these tips will help make your trip a success.

Check out the pre-summit hands-on training.
These sessions happen March 3-4th before the summit starts. If you are flying in early, these sessions are a great way to get hands on training from Esri’s experts. You can learn about secure coding for web developers, the ArcGIS API for Python, and so much more. Check out the offerings here and register soon; sessions are selling out. These are an additional cost and are BYOM (bring your own machine).
Drop in for the GIS Solutions Expo/Welcome Social.
This event is held Monday night. It is an opportunity to talk with the Esri Business Partners that were attending the Esri Partner Conference. Stop by to see all the great solutions that are offered and make some great business connections. GEO Jobe will be in booth 113, make sure to stop by!

Review the schedule.
The full DevSummit schedule is out and available here. With hundreds of sessions over four days, it can be easy to miss a session you want to see. Reviewing the schedule and planning ahead will help you get to all the sessions you want. The Esri Events app is a great way to keep track of your schedule and allows you to give feedback on sessions after attending them.
Bring your questions for the Esri Showcase.
The Showcase is where you will find demo theatres, the latest products from Esri, and Esri subject matter experts. This is a great time to ask those burning questions you have about a workflow or to get help troubleshooting something.
Get your dodgeball team together early.
On Thursday night, there is the DevSummit Party and Dodgeball Tournament. Sign-up for the tournament at the main desk. This is where you will also need to grab your entry bracelet for the party as well. Get your team together and sign up early as teams fill up quick. Check out this video of last year’s champs to see what you’ll be up against.
Don’t forget your sunscreen!
Sunscreen is something that should be near the top of your packing list. This is something we easily forget during winter but will make a big difference in your trip if forgotten. Lunches are served outside, and while there are some shaded spots to sit, they do go quickly. If you do forget your sunscreen, watch for people handing out samples during lunch.