Networking at the Monthly PHP Meetup
January 8, 2022
Are you interested in learning more about PHP? Then check out PHP Dublin, a monthly meetup where like-minded PHP-ers discuss ideas, problem solve and bond over pizza. We caught up with Michael Flanagan, who co-organises the event along with Barry O’Sullivan, to find out more about who can attend and what to expect.
Socialise in the Tech Industry
Michael has been at the helm organising these events for the last two years having previously been a keen PHP Dublin member. He saw the events as an opportunity to socialise with people working in the industry. He notes: “Years ago when I started this, I was working from home and I was often on my own – maybe for the whole week. It was a fantastic way to get out and meet some people.”
Innovative Talks
On the night we attended, the theme was Modular Software and Object Orientated Persistence. Jóse Ángel from Smartbox Group kicked things off with a talk on modular software design and the art of writing in a modular way so it’s easy to re-use and extend. This was followed by questions from the audience in particular about the software going open source in the next two months – which caused excitement on the night. After that, Ignasi Bosh from Afilias gave an excellent talk on object orientated persistence and the various patterns you can use.
The Events
The events are held in Dogpatch Labs in Dublin, in ‘The Vault’. There’s a buzz in the air and a really welcoming atmosphere. It’s casual – people help themselves to a beer and catch up. The regulars wave hello to each other on their way to the bar. Michael explains: “Thanks to Dogpatch Labs, we’ve now got this great venue that means we’ve been able to hold this event pretty much every month. We’ve started to see the regulars now showing up which is fantastic. There are a guaranteed 15-20 people that you can recognise. We get on average 40-50 people at each event.”
Share Your Ideas
Anyone can come forward to present on the night, as Michael explains: “We’ve got more people coming forward to speak. For instance, tonight it was somebody’s first public talk on PHP. We’re not a conference and people don’t pay to be here so we try and give people their first talk and the chance to try out concepts or ideas.”
A non-judgmental atmosphere is key for speakers. Michael notes: “It’s people that you know. You’re not standing up in front of 1,000 people. Instead, it’s 40-80 people so you can have some drinks and relax.” That’s not to say they don’t get their share of superstar speakers passing through. Just last January, Rasmus Lerdorf, the inventor of PHP himself, attended their talk causing much excitement within the community.
Interested in Finding Out More?
The group is always open to new members so if you are interested in finding out more about PHP Dublin and their schedule of events, you can join their meetup group here. You can find out more about upcoming tech meetups on the events page of our website.