Prairie Dev Con Winnipeg

Sept 23-24 2024Winnipeg, MB
2
Days
40+
Sessions
20+
Speakers

About Prairie Dev Con

Prairie Dev Con started in 2010 with the goal of bringing a software conference experience to the Canadian prairies and we're continuing into 2024!

Why Attend?

  • Learn from thought leaders and industry experts
  • Discover new tools and practices
  • Connect with developers from Manitoba

Speakers

Adam Krieger
Online Business Systems
Winnipeg

Adam Krieger is a Senior Security Consultant with Online Business Systems. With a background in software development, cloud architecture, and distributed systems, and a certified CISSP, CSSLP, and CISA, he is driven to improve the way we build confid…

Read more →
Alex Drenea
Microsoft
Toronto, ON

Well-rounded Solution Architect with over 10 years of hands-on experience in all areas of Software Development Lifecycle (Back-end, Cloud, Database, DevOps, Mobile, Desktop, Web) Passionate about building and leading technical teams to success, by…

Read more →
Alexander Wiebe
Bitovi
Saskatchewan, Canada

"AJ is so good at development that sometimes I wonder if he is a terminator sent back in time by skynet to make the war a fair fight" Geremy Lague 2018 Alexander Wiebe AKA AJ was born on January 12, "1987" with a programmable calculator in one hand…

Read more →
Ashleigh Lodge
Neovation Learning Solutions
Winnipeg

Ashleigh is the Leader of the Product Team at Neovation Learning Solutions in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. She manages a team of over 30 developers, UX designers and QA analysts who work to maintain and grow two separate products. Ashleigh is a voc…

Read more →
Ben Goldstein
Work Wranglers
Winnipeg

Ben Goldstein and Heather Ronnebeck are the leadership team at Work Wranglers, a local project/program management as a service and Atlassian consulting company. Together they have over 30 years of experience working in the local and remote marketp…

Read more →
Cameron McKay
MNP Digital
Winnipeg, Manitoba

Cameron McKay is a Microsoft certified Cloud Developer/Architect with a background in web technology and business analysis; he has blended his expertise in these areas to deliver a variety of enterprise web and cloud applications using the Microsoft…

Read more →
Chad Green
Jasper Engines & Transmissions
Louisville, KY

Chad Green, a seasoned Senior Software Architect at Jasper Engines & Transmissions, boasts a distinguished three-decades-long career in building customer-centric solutions. Currently leading the migration of legacy applications to cloud-native techno…

Read more →
Chris Ayers
Tampa, FL

Chris Ayers is a seasoned professional navigating the dynamic landscape of technology as a Senior Customer Engineer on Microsoft's Fast Track for Azure team. With a focus on modern applications, DevOps, and cloud technologies, Chris brings…

Read more →
Daniel Blair
BSD XR
Winnipeg

Daniel Blair is a dynamic and innovative leader in technology and digital media. As the founder and Chief Technology Officer of BSD XR, he has been at the forefront of creating innovative research projects in areas like AI and spatial computing for various industries…

Read more →
Darryl Shpak
Conquest Planning
Winnipeg

I've been a professional software developer for over twenty years (and an unprofessional one longer than that), and for the last five years I've been working at Conquest Planning developing the next generation of financial planning software. I tend n…

Read more →
David Paquette
Microsoft
Calgary, Cananda

Dave is a Principal Software Engineer at Microsoft on the Azure DevOps team. Prior to joining Microsoft, he has built up over a decade of experience in developing software for financial, agricultural and energy companies where he has specialized in .…

Read more →
David Wesst
University of Manitoba
Winnipeg, Canada

David Wesst, otherwise known as DW or Wessty, is an enterprise software architect, defining technology strategy to modernize and transform enterprises by day, and building cool web and game tech by night. With 15+ years experience in software develop…

Read more →
Dylan Smith
GitHub
Winnipeg

Dylan Smith spends his winters cave diving in Mexico and his summers blowing tires on his Tesla in Winnipeg. He allegedly works as a Staff Engineer at GitHub.

Harold Campos
Microsoft Corporation
Unknown

Harold is a Peruvian-born Canadian living in Toronto, working as a **Principal Product Manager** with the **Azure Logic Apps Team**, where he focuses on legacy modernization. Prior the Logic Apps team, Harold had over 15 years of experience as a CTO…

Read more →
Heather Ronnebeck
Winnipeg, MB

Ben Goldstein and Heather Ronnebeck are the leadership team at Work Wranglers, a local project/program management as a service and Atlassian consulting company. Together they have over 30 years of experience working in the local and remote marketp…

Read more →
Jason Bock
Rocket Mortgage
Unknown

Jason Bock is a Staff Software Engineer at Rocket Mortgage and a Microsoft MVP (C#). He has nearly 30 years of experience working on several business applications using a diverse set of frameworks and languages. He is the author of ".NET Development…

Read more →
Jeff Kosciejew
Agile Magic
Toronto, Canada Area

Jeff is an Agile Coach who developed his skills consulting & working with both large and small organizations across a diverse range of industries. He's always looking for ways to disrupt & highlight inefficient processes & systems to enable & empower…

Read more →
Jerecho Giba
Winnipeg, MB

Tech lead with14 years of experience. The first two working as a software engineer at Accenture and the rest as a consultant for Online Business Systems. Working at consulting companies allowed me to work on various projects, industries, technologies…

Read more →
Jigyasa Grover
Bordo AI
San Francisco, CA

10-time award winner in Artificial Intelligence and Open Source and the co-author of the book 'Sculpting Data For ML', Jigyasa Grover is a powerhouse brimming with passion to make a dent in this world of technology and bridge the gaps. AI & Research…

Read more →
Joel Hebert
Microsoft
Ottawa, ON

Read more →
Joel Tosi
Dojo & Co
Chicago

Coaching and pairing within and across teams on how to leverage new technologies to drive product learning.…

Read more →
Mark St.Godard
Axon
Winnipeg

Mark St.Godard is a Director of Engineering at Axon, leading engineering for Cloud teams that support the real-time, connected technology including body worn cameras used by law enforcement in public safety. Previously at local Winnipeg e-commerce c…

Read more →
Mike Edwards
Leading for Change
Toronto

Mike works with people who are crazy enough to believe they can improve their world every day. They do this by taking responsibility for whatever happens without blame, excuses or shame. Through this, they inspire others to do the same. Mike taps…

Read more →
Mike Menzies
Northfield IT
Winnipeg

Mike has been in the industry for over 12 years, spanning numerous roles and disciplines. He is currently a Senior DevOps Engineer for Northfield IT. Mike considers himself a life-long learner, and is committed to supporting others in the goal of continuous learning.

Read more →
Nazar Viznytsya
University of Waterloo
Waterloo, Ontario

I'm a software developer, currently back in school, studying Computer Science with a Specialization in Artificial Intelligence at the University of Waterloo. Previously I had the privilege of working at The Canada Life Assurance Company as a software…

Read more →
Nazlie Shahmir
Canadian Pacific Railway
Calgary, Cananda

Nazlie Shahmir is a Quality Assurance Manager at Canadian Pacific Railway, Calgary, Canada, where she is involved in software engineering communication, DevOps process engineering, software quality engineering, and software automation testing. She is…

Read more →
Nick Hurrie
Lotlinx
Winnipeg

Nick Hurrie has 20 years of experience in the Winnipeg tech industry, with focus in artificial intelligence applications. He is currently the Senior Director of Machine Learning and AI at Lotlinx, a company specializing in automotive AI solutions. Ni…

Read more →
Pablo Listingart
ComIT
Winnipeg

An advocate for social change through education, Pablo Listingart is an information technology expert who saw a gap in Canada’s education system and decided to do something about it. Immigrating from Argentina to Manitoba in 2015, Pablo noticed…

Read more →
Pankaj Kamthan
Concordia University
Montreal

Dr. Pankaj Kamthan is a person of numbers. He has been teaching at Concordia University, Montreal, Canada, for more than 25 years, during which he has taught more than 25 courses on a variety of topics in computer science, human-computer interaction, and software engineering. He has served on the program committees of more than 80 conferences and currently serves on…

Read more →
Paul Giles
Northfield IT
California, US

With over 20 years of progressive experience in software engineering, I am an influential technology practitioner deeply committed to teamwork, dependability, and pragmatic strategy execution. My career spans roles from Principal Engineer at Northfie…

Read more →
Peter Ritchie
Peter Ritchie
Ottawa, ON

Peter Ritchie is in his third decade in the software industry. Peter has a track record of successful platform and solution architecture and delivery. Peter is a book author, open-source author, international speaker, blogger, and Microsoft MVP in .…

Read more →
Rishabh Misra
Attentive
San Francisco, CA

Rishabh Misra is a Senior Machine Learning Engineer by profession and has many years of experience in developing large-scale Language Models and Machine Learning systems for improving user experience. He has published highly-cited research and also contributes as a…

Read more →
Sandy Liu
Cineplex
Toronto

Sandy Liu is a Certified Scrum Master with almost a decade of experience working with many Toronto startups. She is the author of "Confessions of a Scrum Master" and is currently a Senior Product Manager at one of Canada's largest media and entertain…

Read more →
Simon MacDonald
Begin
Ottawa, ON

Simon has over twenty years of development experience and has worked on various projects, including object-oriented databases, police communication systems, speech recognition and unified messaging. His current focus is contributing to the open-sourc…

Read more →
Steve Rogalsky
MindEdge Learning
Winnipeg

Steve Rogalsky first started experimenting with software and leadership techniques as a child. He learned the importance of 'test first' and the folly of 'test last' after starting a snow ball fight with the older kids in the neighbourhood. W…

Read more →
Steven Holt

Steven is a skilled Data Architect and Data Engineer with over 15 years of industry experience in delivering on every aspect of Data & Analytics solutions; from requirements gathering, analysis and design, to implementation and optimization. Deeply p…

Read more →
Terry Bunio
University of Manitoba
Winnipeg

I have over 30 years of experience in the Information Technology industry. My areas of interest and expertise include Data Architecture, Project Management, Strategic Planning, Solution Architecture, and Agile Leadership. I have over 8 years of exper…

Read more →
Tim G. Thomas
DockYard
Austin, TX

Tim is a UI architect and developer/designer unicorn in Austin, Texas, where he applies holistic design principles to make the experiences both usable and beautiful. He has a long history of delivering highly-interactive, accessible, and visually-ple…

Read more →
Travis Gosselin
SPS Commerce
Toronto

Travis is an accomplished software developer, architect, and speaker. A tech enthusiast and blogger, Travis finds his niche in architecting and working with teams to compose highly automated service-oriented systems both in the cloud and on-premise.…

Read more →

Schedule


8:00 - 8:45

Breakfast and Registration

A1
Scrambled Eggs, Bacon, Sausage, Savoury Breakfast Potatoes, and Pastries with a Selection of Butter and Preserves.

8:45 - 9:40

Artificial Ignorance

A1
The world of technology is rapidly changing and we have a new buzzword to sling around, we will discuss the unintended pitfalls and consequences of implementing technology you don’t fully understand while simultaneously celebrating the opportunities that come with innovation and advancement in technology.

9:45 - 10:45

Real World AI: How Lotlinx Leverages AI In Their Solutions

A2
In this session, Nick Hurrie, Senior Director of Machine Learning and AI at Lotlinx, will take you through Lotlinx's innovative AI solutions. Using real-world examples, Nick will demonstrate how Lotlinx leverages both Large Language Models (LLMs) and narrow machine learning models to revolutionize the automotive industry. You'll discover how Lotlinx integrates these advanced AI technologies to enhance vehicle marketing and answer the questions automotive dealers wonder most. Attendees will follow how Lotlinx uses AI to analyze vast amounts of data, create predictive models, and drive actionable insights that deliver tangible business results.

Leadership is hard: Building a culture of safety as a business imperative.

A3
These quotes are a failure of leadership: "I get to quit today!! I can't wait to tell my boss, but he probably won't care." "I really want to quit, but I love my team." "I applied for 30 jobs this week because of how leadership is acting." "Our leaders shift priorities quite often, and we end up spinning wheels on efforts that don't go anywhere. But I can't imagine leaving my team." "I'm learning so much from my leaders. So many things NOT to do." Let's talk about how we can change this, starting with you.

Creating Reactive Applications in .NET

A4
In modern applications, data is being retrieved in asynchronous, real-time streams. The days of traditional pull requests where the clients asks for data from the server are becoming a thing of the past. Reactive applications incorporate push notifications to provide real-time updates to users. In this session, you'll see how you can use frameworks like Rx and SignalR to seamlessly add this facet to your applications, be they native or web. You'll also discover how async streams, a C#8 feature, can be used to consume data streams.

Data Analytics at the University of Manitoba - technology, tactics and talent... Oh My!

K
This session will share the journey the University of Manitoba has taken in setting up in establishing a Data Analytics program. We will discuss the technologies used, the data modelling and development approach, and the design of the team to support the development and the maintenance of the Data Analytics solution. We will also share lessons learned in the use and implementation of the Microsoft technology, Data Governance methodology and challenges, technical and business skills required, and team organizational design. We will share how we are leveraging an Agile/Iterative process to deliver value. We have currently implemented four iterations and will show what we have done, what we have learned, and what is next. Most importantly, we will share what not to do in the hopes that we can save time and effort for others.

C# Azure Functions - Migrating to Isolated Process

E

Learn about the latest developments in the world of Azure Functions for .NET

With the Isolated model being the only supported mode for .NET in the future, it is now time to start looking at what are the differences compared to the traditional in-process model and how to work around some of the migration challenges that will inevitably arise.

Join this talk to learn how you can upgrade your functions to the Isolated model, what are the main differences and how you can future-proof your Functions beyond .NET 8

11:00 - 12:00

Custom LLM Solution Architectures: A Practical Roadmap for Technology Professionals

A2

In the rapidly evolving landscape of Large Language Models (LLMs), the demand for customized solutions that align seamlessly with specific organizational needs is skyrocketing. This presentation dives deep into the world of bespoke LLM solution architectures, offering a crystal-clear roadmap for technology professionals eager to harness the full potential of these powerful tools.l

Whether you are looking to innovate, optimize, or revolutionize your current technological frameworks, this session will equip you with the knowledge and skills needed to design and deploy cutting-edge LLM solutions. You’ll learn and explore practical strategies that bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and real-world application.

Key takeaways include:

  • Design Strategies: Learn how to design robust LLM solution architectures that are both scalable and efficient.
  • Implementation Insights: Get insights on tools and techniques that can accelerate your project from concept to reality.
  • Future-proofing Your LLM Solutions: Stay ahead of the curve by understanding emerging trends and how to prepare to integrate future advancements today.

Join us for this enlightening session that promises not only to inspire but also to transform your approach to technology solutions. Perfect for developers, IT professionals, and business leaders looking to leverage the power of LLMs, this presentation is a can’t-miss opportunity at the forefront of technological innovation.

Securing Applications in a DevSecOps World: 6 Essential Practices

A3
We’ll delve into the critical aspects of integrating security practices into the development and operations lifecycle. With the growing complexity and frequency of cyber threats, organizations must adopt a proactive approach to application security. This talk highlights six key practices that can significantly enhance the security posture of applications within a DevSecOps environment. From implementing automated vulnerability scanning to fostering a culture of security awareness, attendees will gain actionable insights to mitigate risks, fortify defenses, and ensure the resilience of their applications in an ever-evolving threat landscape.

Code, Connect, Conquer: Mastering Serverless and API-Centric Designs

A4

In today's rapidly evolving landscape of cloud computing and software architecture, the paradigms of serverless computing and API-driven architectures stand out as transformative forces driving efficiency, scalability, and innovation. This session explores these two intertwined concepts' core principles, benefits, and practical applications.

Beginning with exploring serverless computing, we define its essence and trace its evolution from traditional server-based models. We unravel the manifold benefits it offers, from seamless scalability and cost-effectiveness to reduced operational overhead and accelerated time-to-market. Delving deeper, we dissect the critical components of serverless architecture, including Functions as a Service (FaaS), Backend as a Service (BaaS), and event-driven paradigms.

Transitioning to API-driven architectures, we illuminate their pivotal role in modern software development, emphasizing their modularity, reusability, and interoperability. We discuss API design principles, the significance of API gateways, and real-world examples showcasing their transformative potential in diverse domains.

Throughout the session, we navigate the intricate challenges and considerations, from cold start latency and vendor lock-in to security implications and monitoring complexities. Drawing from practical insights and future trends, we anticipate these paradigms' continued evolution and intersection with emerging technologies.

Join us on this enlightening journey as we unravel the intricate tapestry of serverless computing and API-driven architectures, empowering you to harness their full potential in your software endeavors.

Fueling Motivation at Work

K

This presentation will cover methods to cultivate motivation to improve performance, satisfaction, and well-being. The focus will be on practical, actionable insights that can be easily implement to make a tangible difference in your daily life.

Understand the common causes of lack of motivation and some actions that you can take to help yourself out of a slump. You'll learn about the power of autonomy, mastery, and purpose...three key elements that can significantly boost motivation and how to create an environment that encourages innovation. When you can effectively motivate yourself, you can motivate your teams.

12:00 - 1:00

Lunch

A1
BBQ Chicken, Vegetarian Cabbage Rolls, Mixed Garden Greens, Oriental Noodle Salad, Red Skin Garlic Mashed Potatoes

1:00 - 2:00

Blending Product Thinking with Architecture

A2

Too much design up front and you are bumping into the design all of the time (and losing time). Not enough design and your system can crumble in reality. How do you blend architecture so you have the right decisions at the right time, and give them enough due dilligence? How do you embrace cloud and microservices and not risk getting into different failure scenarios or overly complicated maintenance and ripple effects?

Systems grow and change over time. You can have intentional design, or accidental design.

In this session we will walk through approaches that leverage product context to keep architecture aligned with the needs of the product. We will look at strategic DDD, C4 modeling, and architecture decision records.

Leave this session with simple techniques that you can apply immediately to start blending product with architecture.

Testing in Production - How we fixed New Boards Hub performance in Azure DevOps

A3
Tales from the trenches as an engineer building Azure DevOps. We'll cover how we track real-world performance for our customers and how we *safely* test in production.s

Writing Modern C#

A4
C# has been in existence for more than 20 years. In recent history, the number of features and changes have substantially increased, thereby allowing C# developers to write applications with new techniques and approaches. In this session, I'll cover a number of these language improvements. I'll demonstrate how these features can enhance code bases with concision and performance. If you've coded in C# for a while, and you're interested in updating your comprehension of the language, this session is for you!

Geek Out and Get Ahead: In-House Training for All

K
"Ready to turn your team into tech wizards without needing a crystal ball? Join us for "Geek Out and Get Ahead: In-House Training for All," where we’ll unravel the secrets to crafting an in-house tech training program that doesn’t involve sacrificing your sanity or your weekend. Discover how to transform your colleagues into industry superheroes, all while avoiding common pitfalls and having a little fun along the way. By the end, you'll be armed with the tools and tricks to make tech training the highlight of your company’s year. Prepare to geek out, get ahead, and maybe even enjoy the process!"

Game Development with CSS?!

E
Many of us web developers have built games for fun (and sometimes profit), but what if we missed a great set of tools that have been waiting there in the web dev world all along? In this session, we'll see how CSS...yes, Cascading Style Sheets!...can help us bring some game ideas to life, using tools we rely on every day! We'll discuss some theory and learn some cool CSS tricks that help make the magic happen, and you'll walk away with a new appreciation for web styling...and maybe even some ideas to make games of your own!

2:15 - 3:15

Sustainable Web Development

A2
In a world where technology is ever-expanding, the web development community must address the environmental impact of their creations. "Sustainable Web Development" will highlight the importance of building green web applications. This talk will provide developers, designers, and tech enthusiasts with insights and actionable strategies to reduce the carbon footprint of web development. Attendees will learn how to make responsible choices that benefit the environment and contribute to a more sustainable future for the Internet.

Testing and Tester in the Context of DevOps: What's Old, What's New, and What's Important

A3
DevOps aims to reduce the distance between development (software developers and quality assurance specialists) and operation (experts responsible for rolling out software to production and managing the infrastructure). The goals of DevOps are to increase the speed of software delivery process, to resolve critical issues quickly, and to enable organization to serve their customers better. These goals indicate that in DevOps, quality assurance, in general, and testing, in particular, should be looked at differently as compared to traditional and agile testing. The customers must be at the center of testing, all testing is the responsibility of the entire team, testing should be carried out continuously throughout the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC), more specialized tests must be used, automation should be used as much as possible to ensure continuous feedback, and tools should be integrated seamlessly. These not only consider testing as first-class or entail new practices, such as Shift-Left Testing, TestOps, and Continuous Testing, but also come with a new mindset, trade-offs, and cost. To achieve any of these successfully, a test engineer needs to acquire a new set of skills to think and do differently. The role of test engineer should also evolve to become a T-Shaped Engineer.

Microsoft Copilot extensibility Approaches and Patterns

A4
Microsoft Copilot offers various extensibility approaches and patterns, empowering developers to enhance their workflows and create custom integrations. Whether through APIs, plugins, or connectors, these extensibility options enable seamless collaboration and productivity. Explore the diverse ways to extend Copilot’s capabilities. If you are a developer and can write API’s this session will allow you to see how you can use your existing skill set to align to a fast paced AI landscape.

Introduction to Azure Integration Services

K

Azure Integration Services (AIS) is a cloud-native Integration Platform that powers digital transformation and app innovation. Composed by Azure Logic Apps, API Management, Service Bus and Event Grid, responds to today’s following customers needs:

  • Build a Composable Enterprise, which allows them to seamlessly assemble and integrate components for creating modern applications.
  • Respond to rapidly evolving tech trends requires by expanding the developer bench across the entire organization to innovate and drive digital initiatives effectively.
  • Strike the delicate balance between security and scalability by providing solutions that provide robust security measures while maintaining scalability and cost efficiency.
  • Achieving global reach with a local presence, enabling them to expand internationally.
  • Staying ahead in the market by using end-to-end modern experiences.

I will showcase the most important features of the AIS Integration platform and demonstrate a AI hybrid integration scenario as a Demo.

DIY Video Streaming

E

Video streaming is a ubiquitous part of our everyday life. Despite this, it remains a niche subject for many IT professionals. Most businesses simply leverage YouTube, social media, or vendor solutions for general purpose video streaming needs.

But what if your company wanted to dip a toe into this world? What would an MVP in-house video streaming pipeline look like? A client recently presented us with that exact question. Our small team of engineers, having little to no experience in this area, needed to spin up a production-ready solution within the span of 3 weeks.

Using this real world project as a case study, this session will provide you with foundational knowledge on what it takes to setup a video transcoding pipeline and how to deliver streaming video to your end-users. Our goal is to demystify video streaming and demonstrate that it's not as hard as you might think.

3:30 - 4:30

Systems Thinking - Concepts to See the Whole

A2

Ever feel like process changes or change initiatives aren't quite getting the results you had hoped for? Turns out that there is much more to how a team or organization delivers products than isolated optimizations can help with.

Enter the world of Systems Thinking.

Come and learn what Systems Thinking is and why it is important to software. Leave the session understanding how to read and create system models as well as identify leverage points to introduce meaningful, impactful change in your organization.

API Essentials Toolkit: 10 Must-Have Tools for API Design and Management

A3
In the rapidly evolving realm of API development, having the right tools is paramount for both efficient design and effective management. This presentation delves into a curated collection of indispensable tools that every API practitioner should be familiar with. Covering the full spectrum of the API Lifecycle we will talk about tools for design, development, consistency, governance, documentation, and team collaboration. Join to discover how this essential toolkit can empower your API journey, enhancing productivity and ensuring optimal performance throughout the API lifecycle.

Introduction to .NET Aspire

A4

Building distributed systems is hard. A distributed system consists of many autonomous components deployed to isolated compute resources. Although autonomous, those components are interdependent, and those interdependencies complicate provisioning and deployment--resulting in a certain degree of orchestration to get all components to "play nice" in a particular environment.

.NET Aspire is like dependency injection at the distributed component level, empowering features such as service location, observability, health checks, and containerization via orchestration. In this session, we will cover the following topics:

  • Why would you need .NET Aspire?
  • Where does .NET Aspire fit in?
  • What Benefits does it offer?
  • How do I get started?
  • Caveats

Can Azure AutoML Beat the Assiniboia Downs (With No Scary Machine Learning)

K
Azure's AutoML is a powerful tool for creating machine-learning models without having to dive deeply into the complicated world of optimizing which model to pick and which parameters to tune, but just how well does Azure's AutoML perform? In this talk, we'll go over, from start to finish, the complete process of creating and using an optimized machine learning model to predict the outcome of horse races with Azure AutoML using public horse racing data. Then we'll look at how well the model we created performed against live horse races at the Assiniboia Downs over the summer.

Resilient Teaming - The path to happy, healthy, and engaged people.

E

Your team's biggest problem likely isn't what you think it is. While countless factors contribute to the existence of a problem, the one common thread for all of us is people. Over the last number of years, young and emerging professionals have only known constant transitions in their working and personal lives. The result is that nearly all workers (97%) between the ages of 18-34 are burned out (ref: 2023 survey, Cigna Global Health Services.) While older demographics are faring better, they also feel the effect, with nearly 30% reporting feeling burned out. The challenge is that only 8% of the workforce currently feels up to handling their daily challenges.

Enter the role of a leader.

As leaders, you have a significant role to play in helping people feel in control of how they cope, confront, and recover to resilience. Resiliency, though, is a journey and not a destination. Companies that work to maintain a resilient culture defy the dismal statistics. Resilient cultures teach and promote healthy coping strategies to help people recover to resilience more often than continuing to cope.

In this talk, people will:

  • Experience the difference and importance of coping and resilience in our lives.
  • A simple formula to reduce coping and overwhelm.
  • Learn the three conditions needed to put teams on the path to resilience more frequently.

8:00 - 8:45

Breakfast and Registration

A1
Scrambled Eggs, Bacon, Sausage, Savoury Breakfast Potatoes, and Pastries with a Selection of Butter and Preserves.

8:35 - 9:35

The Magic of Perception

A2
Think you know what's real? In this session, we'll explore how our individual perception is shaped by everything we've previously experienced, and our reality might differ from others. Through magic & illusions, we'll explore how our individual realities are unique. No magic wand required!

Playwright: Reliable End-to-End Testing

A3
Flaky tests, difficult to maintain test code, challenging test setup code...yeah, writing end-to-end tests can be a painful experience. That all changes with Playwright! In this session, we'll learn how to write reliable cross-browser, cross-platform end-to-end web tests in your choice of language. We'll also explore the rich codegen, inspector, and trace viewer tooling that makes Playwright an amazing developer experience!

Guarding the ML Galaxy: Beyond Accuracy to Privacy and Security

A4

The last handful of years have seen an immense evolution and adoption of Machine Learning (ML) in multifarious domains. Regardless of our fascination or loathe for it, ML-powered services and products are influencing our decision-making power and dominating our lives heavily. The scope of impact of these intelligent systems implies that the confidentiality of both data and the underlying algorithm is highly critical. A slight slack in the design of these systems can lead to disastrous outcomes propelled by cyber-attacks, reverse engineering, and leakage of sensitive data like personal conversations, financial transactions, medical history, and so on.

This talk analyses the contemporary interpretation of privacy and security in the ML realm and the significance it holds in myriad settings. It reviews the prevalent types of privacy and security attacks on ML systems. Furthermore, it introduces the audience to some techniques for retaining the privacy of data & proprietary design, warranting the security of the deployed model, and staying compliant with the latest regulations and policies to ensure trust among all the stakeholders.

The goal is to ignite the public dialogue regarding privacy impacts, ethical consequences, fairness, and real-world harms of non-privacy-compliant ML systems.

Next-Gen API Management: A Closer Look at AI Gateway Capabilities

K
Discover the transformative AI Gateway capabilities within Azure API Management, designed to enhance the scalability and management of applications utilizing Azure OpenAI services. Learn about the innovative token limit policy, semantic caching, and load balancing features that empower developers to efficiently distribute workloads and optimize token usage. Explore the seamless integration process with Azure OpenAI, including the single-click API import experience and the ability to send token usage metrics to Azure Applications Insights for comprehensive analysis. Join me to elevate your intelligent application development to new heights.

Terraform: The Developer's Swiss Army Knife for Infrastructure

E

Dive into the intricate realm of infrastructure automation and learn how developers can use Terraform as a versatile tool for building and updating application infrastructure. During this presentation, we will journey through the core tenets of Infrastructure as Code (IaC), unraveling the fabric of Terraform's declarative configuration language and its profound impact on development workflows.

Throughout the session, attendees will be immersed in hands-on demonstrations showcasing Terraform's prowess as a conduit for seamless integration with cloud services and APIs. Witness firsthand how developers wield Terraform to sculpt scalable and maintainable infrastructure deployments with unparalleled agility and efficiency.

But Terraform is more than just a tool; it's a catalyst for collaboration, bridging the chasm between development and operations teams. Explore how Terraform fosters a shared responsibility and innovation culture, empowering teams to merge their expertise and drive continuous improvement in infrastructure management practices.

Drawing from real-world use cases and best practices, this presentation equips developers with the knowledge and tools needed to harness Terraform's capabilities effectively. Armed with this newfound understanding, participants will emerge ready to conquer the ever-evolving landscape of modern infrastructure automation, poised to elevate their development workflows to new heights of efficiency and innovation.

9:45 - 10:45

Integrating Threat Modelling in Web Application Teams

A2
Attackers don't play by the rules. Attackers will do whatever they can to disrupt, steal, or manipulate applications and their data. The STRIDE framework is a key tool in analyzing our applications, understanding the threats these attackers pose, and building countermeasures commensurate with risk. Combine that with an operationalized Secure SDLC approach and your organization can implement the security controls needed to keep your data safe. The path to Secure Design is there, but you need to take the steps. Join me in this talk to spread awareness about effectively integrating threat modelling into your application design process.

Aspiring .NET with Azure Open AI

A3

Dive into the future of .NET development with .NET Aspire by learning how to integrate AI capabilities into your applications using Azure OpenAI!

In this session, we will walk through building an Aspire Application from scratch, leveraging the power of local Azure deployments to enhance functionality and performance. Attendees will gain hands-on experience with setting up and deploying a fully functional AI-driven application, exploring best practices and innovative techniques to make the most of .NET and Azure's robust infrastructure. Whether you're a seasoned developer or just starting out, this talk will provide valuable insights and practical skills to elevate your projects with cutting-edge AI technology.

Crafting Consistent APIs at Scale: Embracing Linting & Reusable Models

A4

In an era where digital transformations drive business value, the importance of developing consistent, scalable, and robust APIs cannot be overstated. As teams expand and projects multiply, maintaining a unified API design can pose significant challenges. This presentation delves into the powerful combination of linting and reusable models as tools to navigate these challenges and ensure consistency across large-scale API designs.

We will explore API linting using the open-source Spectral project to enable teams to identify and rectify inconsistencies during design. In tandem we will navigate the need for reusable models, recognizing that the best specification is the one you don't have to write or lint at all! These two approaches not only facilitate the smooth integration of services but also foster collaboration across teams by providing a shared, consistent foundation.

Code and Convince: Mastering Persuasion at Work

K

This presentation will go over some practical strategies and techniques for leveraging persuasion at work. From pitching your latest project to persuading your team to adopt Agile methodologies, I'll provide actionable insights that you can start using to achieve your goals.

We'll explore the principles of persuasion, including reciprocity, social proof, and scarcity. You'll learn how to craft compelling arguments, deliver persuasive presentations, and build consensus among diverse stakeholders. Influencing others with integrity and effectively mastering the art of persuasion can elevate your career and drive results for your organization.

Hit The Lights: Bring Dark Mode to Your Apps

E
Historically, visual customization in apps has been...lacking. Today, more devices and browsers than ever are embracing their dark side with dark modes. In this talk, we'll discover how easy it is to add a little darkness to your web, desktop, and mobile apps, without harming the visuals you've worked so hard for. We'll also discuss the theory behind designing for dark modes, how to integrate a dark color scheme into your apps, and how to ensure you maintain accessibility. It's time to embrace your dark side!

11:00 - 12:00

Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes

A2
Using the game "Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes", we'll explore and highlight teamwork, communication, developing shared language, creating a shared understanding, and so much more. This session will be an interactive session for a small group, with other observing; with multiple rounds, pretty much anyone and everyone who wants to participate will be able to, but no one will be forced to participate! This is a very practical team activity, which easily scales beyond the team, and works well in-person, but even better with distributed teams as we explore the ways we need to interact when not co-located.

Tweaking Code Reviews for Maximum Potential

A3
Code reviews can be an extremely useful tool for a team to ensure the quality of their code. However, there are many ways in which code reviews can become counterproductive and even toxic. Making small adjustments to the process can have a significant impact on the outcome of the review, whether it's an informal quick check or a formal review process. This presentation will explore ways in which meetings can be kept productive and ensure the happiness of everyone involved.

SSR Web Components Everywhere (with WASM)

A4

Web Components are the browser native way to extend HTML. But as a primarily browser based technology they are defined with JavaScript which limits them to either rendering solely client side ... which has janky performance, poor SEO, and is not optimally accessible ... or within a server-side JavaScript runtime, which isn't always an option for shops that use other backend runtimes. In this talk we will explore leveraging the power of WASM to unlock server-side rendering Web Components for any backend runtime.

We really believe this is a leapfrog moment for frontend development. Server-side rendering is a key requirement for personalized web applications. Organizations that prioritize the stability, performance and accessibility of web standards run workloads in a huge variety of backend runtimes. Now we can build browser native web interfaces that cross the runtime chasm.

Building Generative AI applications using Azure Integration Services

K

Azure Integration Services is redefining digital transformation for every industry by enabling rapid and scalable integration of data, applications, and systems.

By using Azure Integration Services, developers can harness the power of AI to build innovative and intelligent solutions that can transform business processes, customer experiences, and operational efficiency. Azure Integration Services has multiple AI capabilities that enhance the developer experience and enable the creation of intelligent applications. For instance:

Azure Logic Apps provides an AI-powered assistant that helps developers at every step as they build applications. This tool, based on Azure Open AI, answers any questions developers might have about using Logic Apps.

Azure Logic Apps also provides the building blocks to create Generative AI applications that can generate content, images, or text based on user input. The Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) framework can be used to enhance Large Language Models (LLMs) with a domain-specific data, ensuring that the model's responses are fine-tuned and relevant to the customer needs. RAG patterns can be performed in Azure Logic Apps without writing any code - or write code only where your business drives that need. This democratizes AI application development and empowers developers to focus on value-driven applications.

Another example is API Management, which can use Intelligent Load Balancing to optimize the performance and availability of APIs. This feature leverages OpenAI to dynamically distribute the traffic among the backend instances based on various factors, such as latency, error rate, and resource utilization.

I will demo how to build Generative AI solutions with Azure Integration Services.

Conversations That Matter

E
Be honest: how many times have you needed to have a talk with someone, but have avoided it because you know it will be awful. Or what about those times when a discussion takes a sharp left turn and suddenly everyone's shouting at each other, and then someone storms out and now nothing is going to get decided. Conversations don't have to be this way! There are skills that all of us can learn to have more meaningful, more productive, more harmonious conversations, at work and at home.

12:00 - 1:00

Lunch

A1
Chicken Parmigiana, Cheese Manicotti w/ Tomato Sauce, Caesar Salad, Mixed Garden Greens, Manitoba Rice Pilaf

1:00 - 2:00

On Pragmatic Estimation of Test Automation Effort for Software Sustainment Applications

A2

In many established software-intensive organizations, software sustainment applications refer to software systems that are already in operation, and require regular maintenance and support to ensure their continued relevance and usefulness to the users and the organization. The sustainment activities can include compatibility or security updates, data migration, and performance optimization. Test automation is integral to the success of large-scale regression testing of sustainment applications. For a positive ROI, effort required for test automation should be estimated before any commitment.

This presentation proposes a general and scalable approach for estimating test automation effort for software sustainment applications (for which automation is not in place yet). Its steps can be summarized as:

  • (1) Elicit the total number of test cases for test automation and target percentages for test automation
  • (2) Use a set of parameters to decide the level of effort for the entire suite of test cases
  • (3) Identify whether the application is Desktop, Web UI, Mobile, API, or Data/ETL
  • (4) Select the test automation tool(s) to be used based on the type of application being tested
  • (5) Classify the test cases based on their perceived complexity
  • (6) Use a three-point estimation technique to calculate a “weighted” average of optimistic, pessimistic, and realistic estimates, depending on the level of confidence desired
  • (7) Calculate the effort for test script design and the effort for test execution
  • (8) Consider the number of test executions required for each pre-production environment.

This approach aims to help test automation engineers ensure that automation testing is developed and delivered on time.

Integrations, Orchestrations, Automations: Paving the Path for AI in Enterprise Architecture

A3
This enterprise architecture-centric session delves into the evolving integration landscape within today's market, emphasizing the strategic necessity of distinguishing between integrations, orchestrations, and automations. The presentation argues for the development of a robust foundation that supports data and digital governance, which is critical for managing these three integration types effectively. This foundational strategy not only streamlines current processes but also sets the stage for leveraging Artificial Intelligence technologies. Attendees will explore how to build and implement integration strategies that not only meet current needs but also anticipate future technological advancements and business requirements. The session provides actionable insights into creating a cohesive framework that facilitates both immediate improvements and long-term innovation.

Performance Testing Modern Software: Lessons Learned

A4
Performance testing used to be easy: hook up a profiler, collect some benchmarks, identify hotspots, and optimize your code! But, modern languages and environments make it a lot harder, with network traffic, concurrency, deferred execution, advanced CPUs, and rich environments all conspiring to misdirect and mislead. Darryl has been working with his team for several months to improve the performance of a CPU-bound web service, and in this talk, he'll be giving an overview of some of the problems his team encountered, the solutions they found, and the lessons they learned. Ask questions, learn from their experiences, and perhaps you can avoid some dead ends the next time you find yourself wondering "Wasn't this a lot faster a couple years ago?"

How to get a website going when JS is not your cup of tea

K

In a web world dominated by JS frameworks, there is light at the end of the tunnel for the backend developer.

With Blazor release a few years ago, developers got a chance to build rich websites using C# and run them either client side using WASM or server side both with pros and cons.

In its newer release Blazor 8 brings amazing functionality that is able to rival any modern JS framework.

How to make a career as a [technology] expert!

E

Explore the career journey of two professional Atlassian consultants, Ben Goldstein and Heather Ronnebeck from Work Wranglers as they share their experiences to become "experts" and find work and opportunities in the Atlassian technology community.

This journey can be expanded to other major technology products like Salesforce, azure, AWS, and more. This talk will help participants plot a course in their career toward becoming an "expert"

2:15 - 3:15

This is Fine: Effective Incident Management and Postmortems

A2

Any team that has been on-call knows one thing, incidents happen. Being on-call, dealing with incidents and learning from the experiences, does not have to be a painful process. This talk will guide you through the following:

  • setting up an effective, sustainable on-call rotation
  • keys to a successful incident response plan
  • how to effectively manage incidents
  • the importance of post mortems

Learn more about how to detect, mitigate and prevent incidents through fostering a culture of learning and effective incident response management.

Enhanced Monitoring and Troubleshooting with Azure Application Insights and .NET Aspire's Open Telemetry Dashboard

A3

Monitoring and troubleshooting a live, production application is vital. One of the most stressful things a team can do, is trying to diagnose a distributed system without adding to the disruptions. Application Insights, part of Azure Monitor, is a tool that can you can plug into your applications to get the data you need. It goes far beyond a simple, logging solution by automatically detect performance anomalies and providing a live view into your applications.

We will cover how to enable Application Insights in our applications, both on prem, or in the cloud. I'll share examples in C#, JavaScript, and Python. We'll explore the integrations with DevOps and development tooling. Together we’ll look at the way Application Insights provides a deep view into application performance, errors, and usage. Finally, we’ll look at how to detect anomalies before they become complete outages and get alerted.

After this session, you'll be able to use Application Insights to help you continuously improve performance and usability. When issues arise, you'll have the insights to resolve problems quickly.

Sculpting Data for Machine Learning: Generative AI edition

A4
The emergence of GenAI has revolutionized various domains, from creative content generation with text, synthetic images, video and so much more. However, the success and effectiveness of GenAI models heavily rely on the quality of the underlying data during the fine-tuning process. Volumes of crude data are available on the web nowadays; all we need are the skills to identify and extract meaningful datasets and present them to GenAI models to unleash their full potential. This talk presents the power of the most fundamental aspect of AI - Data Curation, which often does not get its due limelight. It will also walk the audience through constructing good-quality datasets with hands-on Pythonic examples. By emphasizing the indispensability of quality data, this talk underscores the need for robust data collection and preprocessing practices to propel the advancements in GenAI.

Securing the Web: Mastering HTTPS for Developers

K

In today’s digital world, HTTPS has become the standard for web security. However, the process of website development is not as easy as it seems. In this presentation, we will dive deep into the complexities of HTTPS and explore how developers can effectively utilize its power. We will provide a comprehensive demonstration, guiding you through the process of establishing secure communication from the foundation up. By the end of this session, you will have a newfound confidence in HTTPS. The only thing that will give you a shiver down the spine will be the thought of sites still lingering on HTTP.

Hands on with React 19

E
In this session, we're going to explore what's new in React 19: What are the code breaking changes that would affect your application, and how can you prepare for this future release. This session will provide you with a roadmap and a demonstration for setting/upgrading your React applications to a successful release.

3:30 - 4:30

Keeping Message Data Private - Simple Peer-to-Peer Messaging Platforms

A2
Peer-to-peer messaging platforms are one of the most powerful ways of giving users privacy in an era where users grow more and more concerned about who has access to their data. In this talk, we’ll go through the architecture of simple peer-to-peer messaging applications. Highlighting positive and negative differences between peer-to-peer and the more common client-server messaging platforms. We’ll also look at the steps it would take to create a generic peer-to-peer messaging system. Then using public libraries we’ll see how easy it is to create our very own peer-to-peer messaging website that provides enhanced privacy for potential users compared to a traditional client-server platform.

Hybrid Dev - Integrating Pro and Low Code together with Azure Logic Apps

A3

The development world is changing and there is an increased focus on low code. How does a traditional pro code developer fit into this world? This talk explores how to leverage the knowledge, skills and patterns of a pro code developer in the low code environment of Azure Logic Apps.

Within this talk, we will explore the following areas:

  • Why is the world of technology changing?
  • How do pro code developers fit into this new landscape?
  • What is Azure Logic Apps and how does it facilitate low code development?
  • How do pro code developer skills translate into low code environments?
  • What are the software development patterns that we use in pro code that translate into low code?

We will have discussions and demos that show parallels between source code that pro code developers would write and how that translates into a low code environment. Some specific examples are: - Try, Catch, Finally for error handling; - Code organization, naming conventions, commenting, and; - Input validation.

Building GitHub in my Bathroom* with Codespaces

A4
*OK, not *really* from my bathroom, but come to this session where I'll show you how GitHub CodeSpaces works and how it empowers developers to code wherever they want to!

Domain-Driven Design, Being Ontological

K

The patterns and practices of Domain-Driven design are very similar to creating an ontology. Ontologies deal with the nature of being. Domain-Driven Design in a way deals with the question "what does it mean to *be* a part of this domain?".

This session compares and contrasts Domain-Driven Design and ontologies. It then answers, "How can taking an ontological view of a domain help in successfully gathering accurate needs and expectations of stakeholders to design a system with the domain in mind?" This session also discusses how to translate the information gathered from answering these questions into strategic plans, such as designs and architecture.

Confessions of a YESaholic

E

Winnipeg Floor Plan

2024 Sponsors

NorthfieldIT

Johnston Group

Lotlinx

Online Business Systems

Lambert Nemec

Conquest Planning

Atlassian

Become a Sponsor

We love our sponsors and provide numerous benefits for sponsoring organizations!

Cost: $3000 + GST

What's provided for sponsors?

  • Logo Recognition (Signage and Online)
  • A Booth at the Conference
  • 3 Free Registrations
  • Sponsor Discount on Registrations

Tickets

Until September 20th

$745*

  • Groups of 3+ get an extra $50 off each registration
*Plus GST. Tickets are not refundable but are transferrable.

We use Ti.to as our ticketing service, clicking the button above will redict you to their website.

If you'd prefer to receive an invoice, click the button above to contact us to arrange one!

Sending 20 or more people? Contact us about our large group rate!

Venue

Canad Inns Destination Centre Polo Park

1405 St. Matthews Ave., Winnipeg, MB R3G 0K5
Phone: 1-204-775-8791

Attendee Info

Below are answers to the most commonly asked questions about attending the conference. If you have a question not covered, please send us an email by clicking the "Email a Question" button below!

What are the start and end times?

On both days of the conference breakfast and the registration table open at 8AM and conference sessions end at 4:30 PM.

Where are the conference rooms and registration?

Registration is outside the Ambassador ballroom on the main floor of CanadInns Polo Park.

Do I have to pre-register for specific sessions?

We take a "Vote with your feet" approach to the sessions. Attend whatever sessions you like, no pre-registration is required. Finding a session isn't what you thought it was? No problem, feel free to go to a different session!

Will sessions be recorded?

Prairie Dev Con is meant to be a live, in person event. As such we don't record sessions for later viewing, but check with our speakers to see if their talks have been recorded elsewhere.

Will food be served at the conference?

Yes! Both days will feature hot breakfast & lunch buffets and two coffee breaks.

Breakfasts: Scrambled Eggs, Bacon, Sausage, Savoury Breakfast Potatoes, and Pastries with a Selection of Butter and Preserves

Lunch Monday: BBQ Chicken, Vegetarian Cabbage Rolls, Mixed Garden Greens, Oriental Noodle Salad, Red Skin Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Lunch Tuesday: Chicken Parmigiana, Cheese Manicotti w/ Tomato Sauce, Caesar Salad, Mixed Garden Greens, Manitoba Rice Pilaf

I have a food allergy, preference, or restriction.

Please ensure that you've filled out our supplemental registration form found here where you can specify any food requirements. We'll ensure there are acceptable food options for you at the conference.

I have accessibility needs.

Please ensure that you've filled out our supplemental registration form found here where you can specify any accessibility needs. We'll ensure to accomodate as best as possible.

Is there parking available?

CanadInns Polo Park has free parking on their lot.

What is the dress code for the conference?

There is no set dress code for the conference, wear what you're comfortable in keeping in mind our Code of Conduct.

If I have a concern or issue during the conference what do I do?

The conference organizer, D'Arcy Lussier, will be available throughout the conference. His contact information while at the conference will be provided on Day 1 and you're free to contact him regarding any concern you have.

Prairie Dev Con Code of Conduct

All conference participants (attendees, speakers, sponsors and volunteers) at our conference are required to agree with the following code of conduct. Organizers will enforce this code throughout the event. We expect cooperation from all participants to help ensure a safe environment for everybody.

Prairie Dev Con is dedicated to providing a harassment-free conference experience for everyone, regardless of gender, gender identity and expression, age, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, ethnicity, religion (or lack thereof), or technology choices. We do not tolerate harassment of conference participants in any form.

Additionally sexual language and imagery is not appropriate for any conference venue, including talks, workshops, vendor areas, social events, and social media/online ineractions.

Conference participants violating these rules may be sanctioned or expelled from the conference without a refund at the discretion of the conference organizers.