TechEd && d-code: HANA and then some

[walter_louie]

I get the opportunity to attend Teched && d-code this year and here is my entry for the Win Big with the SAP TechEd && d-code 2014 Hands-On Workshop Challenge to earn an additional workshop reservation.

My location:

It's going to be Las Vegas for my 4th year in a row.  The venue is spacious and the staff is very friendly.  It's located on a good part of the Vegas strip and there are many extracurricular activities within the venue and within walking distance.

My Plan:

Each of the previous years that I have gone, I focused on one main area of interest and then did a shotgun approach on other topics that I was interested in.  This year, HANA is probably on my top list again, as it was last year.

Hands-on sessions reserved so far:

ITM362        SAP HANA Operations – Experts

I’ve been impressed with the quality of the HANA knowledge presented in previous years. I hope for more of the same this year, with new topics like non-SAP integration with Hadoop and smart data access. I think it’s great that Richard Bremer, one of the authors of the SAP Press Hana Administration book, will be one of the presenters.

SEC261        Configuring SAP HANA Security

I’ve done some HANA security configuration but mostly basic tasks such as assigning roles and privileges. I think this session help me identify some other important settings and tasks to perform. Richard Bremer is also presenting in this session.

Some other hands-on sessions that I'm eying:

DEV165        Code Better with ABAP in Eclipse

I went the lecture session about ABAP in Eclipse last year, but haven’t had a chance to experience it. So it would nice to see the features in use. I like that the description mentions providing tips and tricks that you’ll love.

UXP160        Building New Applications with Great User Experience Using Design Thinking. 

I’ve heard good things about Design Thinking and I like what SAP is trying to do to improve the User Experience. This session sounds like a fun way to learn about and experience the methodology.

UXP163    SAP Fiori Launchpad in Action – Central Access to SAP Business Content

I have zero experience with Fiori and this hands-on seems like a good starting point. I like that it will show the administration and configuration side of things that I may have to eventually deal with.

DMM260        Big Data with SAP HANA Including Hadoop and Smart Data Access

Extending on the HANA Operations for Experts session, I hope to a get a fuller understanding of Big Data integration by getting hands-on with the different scenarios.

Hands-on sessions that go in the “Whoa, that’s cool and interesting and I’d like to know more” category:

If I get a 3rd reservation I probably won’t use it on these, but I’ll just stop by and see if there is still a spot open.

DMM266        Modeling Geospatial Data in SAP HANA

INT263        Consuming SAP Data in Google Apps by Leveraging SAP Gateway

EA263        Create ERP Operational Reporting with SAP HANA Live and SAP Analytics

DMM269        Real-Time Change Data Capture with SAP Data Services and SAP Replication Server

There are way too many lecture sessions that I'm interested in to list, but here are a few of my top picks:

SEC105     SAP Runs SAP – How to Hack 95% of all SAP ABAP Systems and How to Protect

SEC200     Security in Different SAP HANA Scenarios

TEC107     Real-Time Operational Reporting with SAP HANA Live Virtual Data Models

DMM100     SAP HANA Big Data Overview and Road Map

UXP100     SAP Fiori Overview

UXP111     SAPUI5 Face-to-Face

I hope to try out a Mini CodeJam or two. The following are run by Thomas Jung.

CJ625  Getting Started with SAPUI5 on SAP HANA

CJ624  Getting Started with XS-Based Development

Thomas was the presenter for last year's OpenSAP course, Intro to Software Development on HANA. and will be co-presenting the upcoming course, Next Steps in Software Development on SAP HANA. I completed the Intro course but didn't do the hands on portion so I hope to try at least one of these.

What I'm looking forward to the most:

I'm a child of the 80's, so I am really looking forward to Celebration Night with Huey Lewis and the News. I think they'll put on a good show. It's a nice change of pace compared to the contemporary pop /rock bands of the last 3 years that have performed. I’m also looking forward to bumping into old colleagues from previous years.

My advice for first timers:

Reserve your hands-on workshops as soon as possible. Some of the more popular ones are already full. You can always change your mind later on.

Download the presentation pdfs for each session you're interested in beforehand. They'll be available a week before the event.  Then peruse them and decide if it will still be useful to attend the session.  You may already know most of content or maybe the main points presented aren't what you were expecting.  This will reduce the number of sessions that you'll feel like walking out of half way through.

This has been mentioned previously. If a session is not turning out the way you had hoped, then quietly step out. You’ll discover that your time is very precious at this event. That time could be used attending a more useful session, networking with others, eating much required food, or just recharging for your next session.

Make good use of the agenda builder and mobile app. Mark all the sessions you might want to attend in the agenda builder. In the mobile app, you will be able to see what sessions are currently running.  So, if the main session you wanted to attend isn't available or not what you expected, you will have a backup plan.

If you are trying to get into a hands-on workshop that is already full, get there really early. If you are trying to get into a hands-on workshop that is not full, get there early.  If you are registered for a hands-on workshop, don't be late, you won't want your hands-on seat to be taken by someone else.  In the last few years, I’ve been able to get into a couple extra workshops. If you aren't able to get into a hands-on session that you want, be sure to check out the listing of related sessions. It’s the next best thing, if you can’t get a spot.

Bring a sweater or light jacket, they keep the place pleasantly cooled if not cold.

Lastly, you're in Las Vegas.  Make time to enjoy the city. Catch a show. Walk the Strip.

If you see a guy with a long braid zoom by you in a wheelchair, that's probably me trying to get to my next session on time.

Hope to see you there!