Developer Heroes of 2016
One of the most enjoyable and easiest things that we do here in Global Developer Relations at SAP is manage a program every year, called the ‘Developer Heroes‘. This is a program that nominates 30 Developers around the world for the actions that they have done to promote technology and interact with the SAP community!
These nominations can come from the Developer Relations Team ourselves, from Product Managers in SAP and also most importantly, YOU the community. Keep an eye out on my blog posts and the twitter handle @SAPDevs within the next few months of 2017 and we will let you know how to nominate your Developer Hero!
What is the prize? Well something money can not buy… recognition at the three SAP TechEd’s in the form of banners located around the conference. In addition for a randomly selected few, an interview with myself on SAP CodeTalk.
Each CodeTalk, with our Developer Heroes of 2016, is about 5-7 minutes long, so why not take some time and get to know the person behind the nomination. Check them out today!
Ian,
this is a fantastic program and I am glad you are leading it. It really means a lot for the developers and also for the community to have these type of recognition.
looking forward to more Dev Hero Code Talks!
Thanks for sharing! I can't help but think how nice it would be to have "@ mention" feature like we used to, so that each one of these esteemed SCN members could be notified here.
I recall walking round TECHED in Las Vegas in 2105, and seeing the banners which mentioned various developer heroes.
I knew a fair few of them - either personally or more often just through their SCN contributions, so I was thinking to myself what made them a cut above the rest. Here is my opinion, for what it is worth!
There is a song by country singer Garth Brooks called "Standing Outside the Fire" in which he says that to live life to the full you have to be standing inside the fire. That is, you get burnt but it is worth it.
He was talking about emotions but it is just as true with technology. Shying away from anything new, because it is new, means standing outside the fire,
The "developer heroes" stand right at the centre of the fire, and no doubt get burnt a lot along their journey of discovery, but it is worth it in the end.
They learn about new technology at work - if they are lucky - and if not, then they work it our in their spare time. Then, most importantly they share it with the SAP community, be it via SCN blogs, or talks at SAP events, or answering questions on SCN, or writing books.
Two examples I can think of offhand are James Wood and Steve Rumbsy. James has done lots of things but I was most impressed with his series of SCN articles on the BOPF.
Steve Rumsby has been a "lighthouse" advocate of Screen Personas and the benefit it can bring to your organisation. He made a big difference at the University of Warwick and has shared this with the world.
So the advice I would give to everyone in SAP world is the lyrics from that Garth Brooks song:-
Wanting to fly higher and higher
I can't abide
Standing outside the fire
Standing outside the fire
Standing outside the fire
Life is not tried, it is merely survived
If you're standing outside the fire
Paul, I certainly hope we're all still walking around in 2105, whether at TechEd (if it still exists then) or its successor. And yes, at TechEd 2016 (99 years earlier!), I enjoyed seeing all these banners, and recognizing some of the names, while learning others for the first time.
How do you know I did not visit TechEd in 2105 in my time machine which i had built in my shed?
Well, given that the theme of TechEd 2016 was "Back to the Future," I should probably assume that you meant exactly what you wrote!
I was unaware that the theme of SAP TechEd 2016 was "Back to the Future"
That sounds correct. The day that Marty McFly arrived in in the future was in October 2015. On the very day specified in that film I was in Las Vegas - at SAP TechEd. Several of the booths were showing the film to celebrate.
So yes, if I was SAP what year would I pick to have a "Back to the Future" theme? The year mentioned in the film, or one year later? The answer is obvious.
By the way, when I was in the far future, at SAP TechEd 2105, there were three major announcements SAP made. I thought I would share them with you, so you know what to expect it 99 years time:-
I bet you cannot wait!
Cheersy Cheers
Pau;
Thanks for the comments guys... We will keep you all informed
Ian