Welcome
to the PHP
community
by Nara Kasbergen (@xiehan)
#SunPHP19
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Hello!
My name is Nara, @xiehan on Twitter.
I'm a senior full-stack web developer
at NPR, based out of Washington, DC.
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About Me
× Grew up around computers
× Taught myself to code
around age 10
× Used PHP starting in
the days of PHP 3(!)
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4
April 2016
I got on a plane to Dallas, TX
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PHP
kinda
sucks.
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Yes, PHP kinda sucks…
BUT
We're here to make it better.
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I'm still here!
3 years later
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Types of conferences I've spoken at
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PHP has one of the best communities
in all of tech.
Controversial opinion time
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PHP has one of the best communities
in all of tech.
… but it won't stay that way forever
unless more people start giving back.
Controversial opinion time
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Leveling up in the PHP Community
Level 1:
Engage
Level 2:
Contribute
Level 3:
Give back
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Level 1: Engage
with the conference, Twitter,
and your local PHP community
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Hello!
Please raise your hand if this is your
first PHP conference.
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Outgoing Shy
Extroverted
Introverted
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Outgoing Shy
Extroverted
Introverted
I am here
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Are you introverted or shy?
× So am I! It's okay! We can do this!
× Take care of yourself first & foremost.
Take breaks! You don't have to go to
every single session.
× You can sit with me.
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The "Hallway Track" is a real thing
× It may sound cliché, but this is the best
value of the whole conference.
× Shy? Set a goal, e.g. 1-2 new friends.
× Talk to the speakers! They enjoy it.
× No hero worship.
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Tonight's social
× SunPHP has a great conference social
× alcohol optional
× structured activities (games, hack night)
make it easier for introverts to participate
× Don't skip it!
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Give feedback on joind.in
× joind.in - a platform nearly all PHP
confs use to collect talk feedback
× Let speakers know what worked well
and what didn't
× Also useful for conference organizers
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The feedback sandwich
1. Something you appreciated about the
talk or the idea. Must be true; no lying.
2. Something you think can be improved.
3. Something else you appreciate, proving
that if #2 is addressed, they're headed
in the right direction.
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Other tips for good feedback
× Try to avoid saying "I liked" or "I didn't
like" because it's not about you.
× Mention what changes you're planning
to make based on the talk.
× Consider emailing the speaker instead.
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Connect with your local PHP community
× Try to make it out to your local PHP
usergroup (meetup) at least once.
Get to know the organizers.
× If you're from this area, check
out SoFloPHP
× Inquire at registration
× Check the website
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Keep the conversation going on Twitter
× For better or worse, Twitter is a key
component in most tech communities.
× Follow the people you met and the
speakers whose talks you enjoyed.
× Keep in touch after February 9, 2019.
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Level 2: Contribute
to your local PHP community
and the greater community
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Help your local PHP Usergroup
× Bring friends/co-workers to a meeting
× Take some load off the organizers
× Reach out to potential speakers
× Help with buying food/drinks
× Give a lightning talk at a meeting
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Join other organizations in the php Community
× NomadPHP: an online usergroup that
values continuous learning
× PHP Mentoring: a formal, personal,
long-term, peer-to-peer mentorship
organization
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Start adding thorough tickets to OSs projects
× When you encounter a bug in an open
source project, create a GitHub issue
and be thorough. Include:
× What you were trying to do
× Sample code demonstrating the bug
× System specs
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Start answering questions on StackOverflow
× Remember all those times you found a
post by someone with the same issue
as you but no one replied with the
solution? Once you find the solution,
remind yourself to go back and add it
to that SO post.
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Go to all the conferences
× SunshinePHP is great, but there are
hundreds of other excellent tech
conferences throughout the year.
× You'll truly feel part of the community
once you start seeing familiar faces.
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Volunteer at the next #SunPHP
× Volunteering is a great way to get to
know the pillars of the community!
× Mark this timeframe (early February)
in your calendar for next year
× Get in touch with Adam
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Make it a continuous habit.
Repeat.
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Level 3: Give Back
by blogging, speaking, and
contributing to open source
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You are able to do
your job as a
developer because of
the contributions of
thousands of other
Developers.
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making it easier to do a thing that used to be hard
demystifying complex topics & introducing new ideas
explaining how to do a thing
Blog posts
Open-source projects
Conference talks
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So,
Give Back!
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× Setting up a technical blog is
easier than ever. Use
Medium or Wordpress.com
× Write about gnarly problems
you've solved
× Talk to Dave Stokes about
writing for php[architect]
Blogging and writing
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Speaking at conferences
× Your viewpoint is unique. Your ideas
matter. You matter.
× Be a visible role model for others.
× As an introvert, it actually makes
socializing with others easier!
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My challenges with public speaking
× Introverted
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My challenges with public speaking
× Introverted
× Shy
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My challenges with public speaking
× Introverted
× Shy
× Not a natural public
speaker
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My challenges with public speaking
× Introverted
× Shy
× Not a natural public
speaker
× Don't like the sound of
my own voice
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My challenges with public speaking
× Introverted
× Shy
× Not a natural public
speaker
× Don't like the sound of
my own voice
× Don't like attention
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My challenges with public speaking
× Introverted
× Shy
× Not a natural public
speaker
× Don't like the sound of
my own voice
× Don't like attention
× Stage fright
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My challenges with public speaking
× Introverted
× Shy
× Not a natural public
speaker
× Don't like the sound of
my own voice
× Don't like attention
× Stage fright
× Not a morning person
at all
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My challenges with public speaking
× Introverted
× Shy
× Not a natural public
speaker
× Don't like the sound of
my own voice
× Don't like attention
× Stage fright
× Not a morning person
at all
× Flight anxiety
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Public speaking
Is awesome
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Getting started with public speaking
× Speak at your local meetup
× Speak more at work
× Talk to Matt Trask
× helpmeabstract.com
× Open CfPs: Scotland PHP,
Cascadia PHP, more soon!
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Contributing to open source
× Creating a new library is great… but
also consider what's out there already.
× Many maintainers are burning out and
looking for co-maintainers to help.
× Contributions are not just code!
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Help run your local PHP usergroup
× One of the most underappreciated
roles in the community
× Many current organizers are on the
verge of burnout
× Sign up to be a co-organizer!
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But . . .
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Put on your oxygen mask before assisting others
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Mental health matters
× Open Sourcing Mental Illness
(OSMI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit
trying to change how we talk
about mental health in tech
× Talk to myself or Matt Trask
about how OSMI can help you
and/or how to volunteer
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by blogging, speaking at conferences, and building OSS
with #sunphp19 and your local community
to your local community and the web
Level 1: Engage
Level 3: Give back
Level 2: Contribute