PHPCamp 08 - My Experience

On Saturday I attended the biggest PHP Unconference of Pune. It got huge response and everyone was amazed to see such a big PHP community. I planned to give a session on “OpenSocial” at this camp. Saturday morning started with heavy rains but call for volunteers made me to reach camp at 8:45 AM. Unfortunately I was not knowing anyone except Amit, with whom I communicated through emails.
I reached to see 3-4 volunteers already present over there but not Amit (:. I called Amit to know he is on the way. I was curious to register my session as soon as possible for which I prepared burning mid night oil. Someone from volunteers told me that registration for sessions will start at 10 AM and there will be votes through Wiki to select sessions. As my topic was of much interest I was sure I will win the votes.
Alahs!!! But it turned in to disappointment when I saw a girl marking slots on the white board. Peeyush took marker from her and went stright to book almost all of the sessions at 7th Floor. First session registered at 7th Floor for 11:00 AM was OpenSocial, exactly my topic. Someone told me that 4th floor is having only seating capacity of 100. As no session before 4:00 PM was available at 7th Floor, I booked 2:00 PM session on 4th floor with name “OpenSocial : Building Orkut applications using PHP” . I forgot to add name of my organization “Clarion Technologies Pvt. Ltd.” which I added after initial introduction session at 10:50 AM.
Morning sessions
First session I attended was OpenSocial. Frankly speaking I didn’t liked it much even his topic was also OpenSocial. I answered one question asked by another camper during this session for which Peeyush given me Satyam T-Shirt. Thanks Peeyush. I got a chance to announce my session, as current session was also about OpenSocial. I was a bit tense before this session, thinking I will not get any attendance for my session. But after session I was quite relaxed that much is left which I can cover during my session. The next session was continuation of this which was “Shindig and OpenSocial”. This was again bouncer for most of the people, where I again got chance to answer one question. I liked the way Satyam guys make advertise of their company saying they deal with OpenSocial and something like partner of Google for this. But they wrongly mentioned that through application we can access database of Orkut ( or there is shared database) and we can not store information of our application on our own server.

Lunch Time
Before lunch I got a chance to meet my ex Clarionite friends. We enjoyed lunch together. I was happy to listen that some of them came to attend my session when they see my session phpcamp site.

My Session
I reached 10 mins before my session time at 4th Floor. It was really a small hall compared to 7th Floor. By the time I set up my presentation, TV and my data card internet, hall was almost full. Before starting session I just looked at the audience and I was surpised to see amlost 60% of the attendies were standing because of less space. Hall was completely packed and there was no room even to stand. Subestian was standing just behind me (close to door) and looking at my laptop as he was having back towards TV screen. I started session with some history and introduction of OpenSocial followed by around 3 small code examples. Because of internet at my laptop I was able run these  applications on Orkut Sandbox. Seems like most of the participants liked the idea and they understood the concept well.
A lot of questions by audience confirmed that they understood basic concepts of how to create the application. When I got the suggestion from someone ( I think Rahul ) to store information of MySpace, Orkut users in our database and link their accounts. I was very happy as it was indication that concept is perceived by them very well.
At the end of session the big applaud made me proud that I conducted session at the Camp. I enjoyed cofee with Asish after session and then we went to 7th floor to attended session on OWASP.

Session on OWASP was something new and sheding light on security concerns. By that time I missed the BOF’s going on at other side.

Once all sessions were completed I returned home happily having never forgetting memories in mind. I made many new friends like Rahul, Tarun, Prasoon, Amit, Deepak, Rohit, Pankaj, Sebestian throgh this camp. PHPCamp rocked !!!!!

Note :- Presentation and code that I used at session is available here http://www.myphpdunia.com/phpcamp.html