GitHub Constellation South Africa: Exclusive Preview Livestream

Introduction and Overview of GitHub Constellation 2024

• The livestream event is hosted by Andre Griffiths from GitHub, who is excited to share details about an upcoming conference and encourages viewers to register for the virtual experience. (2m5s)
• The conference will feature two days of sessions, keynotes, and announcements, and is accessible both virtually and in-person for those in the San Francisco Bay area. (2m27s)
• The event aims to do something special for the South African region, with a focus on developers across South Africa and the continent. (3m2s)
• The agenda includes an introduction to "Constellation 24," discussions on the conference's objectives, and live appearances from some of the speakers. (3m49s)
• Simone from HyperionDev will discuss the educational landscape in South Africa and efforts to bridge the technical and educational gap. (4m15s)
• The event will feature a preview of the speakers, a main event in the afternoon with a "gab constellation training," and a hackathon facilitated by the team from Gucha. (4m50s)
• GitHub Constellation 2024 will be held on November 14th at the Galleria in Sandton, Johannesburg, South Africa, marking the first time GitHub is hosting an official event for the community on the continent (5m59s).
• The event will be a full-day gathering of South African developers, tech leaders, international speakers, and facilitators, with the objective of getting to know the community and bringing people together (7m43s).
• The event is special not only because it's GitHub's first time in the continent but also because the CEO, Thomas Dohmke, will be attending and participating in the event, including walking around to see developers working and using GitHub (8m2s).
• Thomas Dohmke wants to see developers working and using GitHub, and he will be actively participating in the event, including attending the award ceremony and checking out projects during the hackathon (8m32s).
• The event is being organized with the help of events partner Mandate Events, and it promises to be full of surprises, with the goal of transporting attendees to a unique experience (7m12s).
• The event will feature a keynote speaker, and the CEO's attendance is a testament to the leadership's community-minded and open-source approach, with a focus on the developer experience (9m7s).
• The event will also include a hackathon, where attendees can participate and showcase their projects, with the CEO visiting the projects and attending the award ceremony (8m45s).
• The location of the event, Sandton, Johannesburg, is considered one of the strongest and thriving tech hubs in Africa, with a growing demand for tech professionals and experts (6m56s).
• The opening keynote will feature a special guest who has traveled to be part of the event, and the schedule will be shared to give an overview of what's coming up (9m29s).

Event Details and Registration

• To register for the event, attendees can go to GitHub Constellation.com, where they will be asked a few questions, including their GitHub username, which is important for registration approval (10m4s).
• The event will be intimate, with around 300 attendees, to allow for better interaction with developers and leaders (10m31s).
• Registration includes the option to participate in the hackathon, co-pilot training, a full day of networking, swag, and access to amazing speakers (11m5s).

Speaker Lineup and Highlights

• The lineup of speakers includes GitHub's CEO Thomas, Demitri Sh, chief of staff to the CEO, and local talent, including Simone, who will talk about the hackathon (11m23s).
• Other speakers include representatives from the Chaos Project, Chaos Africa Project, and All in Africa Project, as well as Gabar Rutha, who will participate in two panels (11m55s).
• Level, an account technology strategist at Microsoft, will also be speaking, and has been a great partner in the region (12m29s).
• Louie, a senior technical consultant at Netbank, will share an adoption story on how they implemented and used GitHub Co-Pilot to scale collaboration and teamwork (12m47s).
• Phillip, co-founder of OfferZen and creator of the South Africa State of Developer report, will be joining the event from Amsterdam to discuss the explosion of South African software and its key players in the region, continent, and world (13m8s).
• Deon, founder and CEO of HyperionDev, will be participating in the event as a renowned speaker, sharing his expertise and insights (13m47s).
• Samson Goddy, co-founder of Open Source Community Africa, will be joining the panel from Lagos or San Francisco, bringing his experience in making Africa a hub for open source collaboration, creation, and contribution (14m1s).
• Kai and Gamai, participants from the Allin and Africa initiative, will be sharing their experiences and insights on the program, which kicked off last year and will have new cohorts focused on the region (14m28s).
• Ala, technical trainer for the GitHub Copilot session, will be leading a limited-space session, providing access to GitHub Copilot and potentially some surprises, with participants selected through a random process (14m56s).
• The event lineup features a diverse range of speakers from the tech ecosystem in South Africa, including thought leaders, tech solution providers, and trainers, showcasing the strength and skill of the developer community in the region (15m48s).

Registration Details and Benefits

• The registration process for the GitHub Constellation South Africa event is simple, requiring basic information such as name, email, and student status. A special code will be shared to help students sign up for the GitHub Student Developer Pack, which offers free software licenses and credits. (17m3s)
• The GitHub Student Developer Pack includes access to tools like GitHub Copilot, and students are encouraged to participate in training sessions and the Constellation Hacks event. (17m51s)
• The event will provide catering, including breakfast and lunch, and participants are asked to share any dietary requirements. (18m0s)

Discussion with Simone from HyperionDev on Tech Education in South Africa

• Simone, the Director of Education Operations and Impact at HyperionDev, is introduced as a guest. She is recognized for her efforts in promoting tech education in South Africa, particularly for young girls and those from challenging socioeconomic backgrounds. (18m38s)
• Simone discusses the tech talent gap in South Africa and the opportunities available to address this issue, emphasizing the importance of empowering youth, especially women, to pursue careers in technology. (20m11s)
• By 2030, South Africa is projected to face a shortage of over 1 million skilled tech professionals due to rapid digital transformation. (20m45s)
• South Africa currently has one of the highest youth unemployment rates globally, with around 60% unemployment for those aged 20 to 24. (21m14s)
• HyperionDev is focused on addressing the shortage of skilled tech professionals in South Africa by offering boot camps in data science, software engineering, web development, and AI engineering. (21m20s)
• The programs are designed to equip students with practical, job-ready skills in high-demand areas through a personalized mentor-led boot camp model, where learners work on real-world projects and gain experience with tools like GitHub. (22m23s)
• Learners are also supported by career coaches to prepare their CVs, practice interviews, and build a portfolio to ensure they are job-ready. (22m51s)
• There is a perception that entering the tech field can be intimidating, especially for those who feel they lack certain skills like math, but HyperionDev offers a trial to help individuals determine if tech is the right path for them. (23m30s)
• The tech boot camp program offers personalized support to students, including one-on-one career coaching to help them get ready for the job market, addressing the fear and uncertainty that many students face when entering the tech industry (24m57s).
• The program has seen successful outcomes, including a recent success story of someone who completed the boot camp and became a web developer within six months, without needing to study for two years (25m52s).
• Approximately 80% of students finish their programs, compared to the usual 10 to 20% completion rates from other courses, which is attributed to the one-on-one support and regular check-ins with students (26m21s).
• The program's hands-on projects, real-world coding experience, and one-on-one support enable students to graduate and get into the job market with the help of career services (26m56s).
• The potential for deepened tech education in South Africa is significant, with the possibility of positively contributing to the country's socioeconomic impacts, including expanding the market for people considering self-employment and opening up companies to boost the economy (27m38s).
• In South Africa, students typically complete their National Certificate after leaving school, which may include subjects like accounting, maths, English, geography, and biology, but this may not directly lead to a career in web development, highlighting the need for bridging programs to provide one-on-one support (27m53s).
• Not everyone may be able to get a job in the tech industry, but acquiring skills can enable individuals to start their own businesses and become self-employed, allowing for natural growth and freedom (28m16s).
• The trend of people becoming self-employed with skills that are theirs and cannot be taken away is expected to continue, not only in South Africa but also globally, driven by technologies like AI (28m31s).
• This empowerment can contribute to making people more self-sufficient and positively impact the economy (28m44s).
• A 50% discount is currently being offered due to Black Friday, and interested individuals can sign up on the website hyperdev.com (29m5s).
• Providing opportunities for non-traditional backgrounds in tech is crucial, and organizations like HyperionDev are doing significant work in this area, especially for girls in tech (29m35s).
• The non-traditional background is no longer an obstacle in the tech industry, as individuals can learn and demonstrate their skills at any point in their lives (30m8s).

GitHub Constellation Hackathon Details and Participation

• The event will feature special guests, including the team from Gulta, who will be facilitating the event, and their participation is highly anticipated (30m57s).
• The GitHub Constellation hackathon will take place on November 14th at the Galleria, following the Constellation conference (32m48s).
• The hackathon will challenge teams to come up with AI-driven solutions that address common problems within society, particularly in South Africa (33m35s).
• Teams can form and develop solutions such as chatbots, apps, websites, data visualizations, analysis, hardware, and IoT projects (34m0s).
• The hackathon will consist of two rounds of judging, with 10 teams selected to present their solutions in front of judges, each having four minutes to present (34m26s).
• The hackathon is both a learning experience and a competition, with a total cash prize of $2,500 to be shared amongst the top three winners, as well as a special prize (34m44s).
• The event aims to address social challenges in South Africa, and teams are encouraged to come up with innovative solutions to these problems (33m46s).
• The hackathon proceedings will be explained in more detail, including the activities leading up to the event and the judging process (32m43s).
• The event is open to interaction, and participants are encouraged to engage with the organizers and other attendees on the chat (32m15s).
• The event is an AI-driven hackathon focused on social impact challenges, open to developers, designers, and sector experts, including those from partner organizations. Participants are encouraged to use open-source tools and integrate AI components into their solutions. (35m11s)
• Prizes for the hackathon include $1,000 for the first team, $2200 for the second team, $400 for the third team, and several special prizes valued at $200. (35m50s)
• Participants are encouraged to engage in social media conversations using a specific hashtag, tagging GitHub, and sharing their experiences leading up to the hackathon. (36m17s)
• The hackathon allows participants to bring existing solutions and integrate AI, utilizing tools like GitHub Copilot and GitHub datasets to enhance their projects. (37m11s)
• Registration for the hackathon is open, and participants are encouraged to use the provided GitHub repository to engage in discussions, find teammates, and share ideas. (38m6s)
• Participants should start working on their solutions by November 8th, with the first official briefing session scheduled to help teams begin development. The hackathon will take place during the GitHub Constellation conference. (38m36s)
• The GitHub Constellation event will feature the GitHub CEO as one of the mentors, along with other developers and mentors from across South Africa, providing guidance and support to participants (39m30s).
• Participants will be expected to submit their solutions, including a GitHub repository and a demo video, as well as a live business canvas, which will be used to assess their problem statement, solution, and business sense (39m52s).
• The first round of judging will involve an adjudication panel assessing all submissions and selecting the top 10 teams to present at the main stage of the GitHub Constellation conference (40m31s).
• The top 10 teams will present in front of judges, the GitHub CEO, and other notable attendees, providing an opportunity to showcase their skills (40m46s).
• Prizes will be awarded, including certificates of participation, and special prizes for categories such as best open source project, aligning with GitHub's values of embracing and championing open source (41m3s).
• The hackathon is open to anyone registered for the GitHub Constellation conference, regardless of location, and will take place in person in Johannesburg on November 14 (42m19s).
• Teams are encouraged to participate, with a recommended mix of skills, including business, design, and coding, to complement each other's strengths (42m34s).
• To prepare for the hackathon, it is recommended to master at least 10 key Git commands to ensure that code can be pushed to GitHub (43m9s).
• The hackathon will kick off at 2 p.m. and participants can work on their solutions ahead of time with the assistance of workspaces and mentors (43m25s).
• On the day of the hackathon, participants will need to submit their project materials, including a GitHub report, demo video, and LM business convers (44m5s).
• The assessment of solutions to determine the top 10 will take place from 3:30 to 16:15, and the top 10 teams will be announced within 15 minutes (44m24s).
• The day will end with presentations and prize-giving on stage (44m39s).
• The hackathon is a great opportunity to meet new people, work on something fun, and potentially have projects evolve into something bigger (45m8s).
• A good comprehensive team should include a mix of professionals, such as developers, project managers, designers, and business people (45m33s).
• Everyone is welcome to participate, and teams should also consider having a hype person to promote their project (46m1s).
• The hackathon will take place on November 14th, and the organizers wish everyone the best of luck (46m27s).
• Participants in the hackathon are encouraged to sign up and register to receive communication on how to onboard into the platform and start working, as they will only have a few hours to begin before the event starts. (46m49s)
• Students participating in the hackathon have a special opportunity to apply for the Student Developer Pack using a specific code that expedites approval. This code is valid until Thursday, and students need to upload proof of enrollment in an educational program to access resources for the hackathon. (47m11s)
• The hackathon is open to everyone, and participants are encouraged to register their teams and bring their best ideas to the event on the 14th. (48m42s)

GitHub Copilot Training Session

• The event aims to create a community where impactful software is built, emphasizing hands-on participation rather than just listening to talks. (49m54s)
• A special training session will be introduced at the conference for the first time, adding a unique element to the event. (50m24s)
• GitHub Universe was a massive conference that took place over three days, with around 4,000 to 5,000 attendees, featuring certification examinations, demos, and more (50m32s).
• A training session on GitHub Copilot will be held in Johannesburg on November 14, where attendees can learn how to use the tool to its full potential (50m47s).
• The training facilitator is ATA Orya from Nigeria, a software developer and open-source maintainer who serves as the budding lead and technical lead at CHAOSS (Community Health Analytics Open Source Software), an initiative of the Linux Foundation (51m17s).
• GitHub Copilot is a generative AI coding assistant developed by GitHub and Open AI, initially released in 2021 and powered by the GPT-3 model, but now fully powered by the GPT-4 model (52m30s).
• GitHub Copilot helps developers have a great programming experience by simplifying coding and allowing users to ask questions in natural language, which the tool can then turn into code (53m30s).
• The benefits of GitHub Copilot for developers include enhancing their programming experience, navigating unfamiliar coding frameworks, reducing time spent on reading documentation, and scaling through onboarding processes (53m51s).
• GitHub Copilot can be particularly helpful for new developers or those new to an organization, allowing them to quickly get up to speed with the codebase and start contributing (54m44s).
• A demo of GitHub Copilot will be shown, illustrating how it can assist developers in navigating unfamiliar codebases and completing tasks efficiently (54m55s).
• GitHub Co-Pilot is a tool that helps developers work smarter by leveraging its features, and it is available for various integrated development environments (IDEs) such as VS Code, Jetbrains, and Vim (55m18s).
• To use GitHub Co-Pilot, users need to install it in their local system and have a license, and then install the extension in their preferred IDE (56m1s).
• GitHub Co-Pilot provides pre-built prompts for users to ask questions, such as "Can you tell me about this repository?" which can help developers understand the code base they are working on (56m53s).
• GitHub Co-Pilot can explain specific files, such as GitHub Actions workflow configuration files, and break down the steps in natural language (57m41s).
• The tool can recognize the file a user is currently working on and provide explanations and assistance (58m46s).
• A workshop on GitHub Co-Pilot will cover a deeper introduction to the tool, practical demonstrations, feature exploration, workflow optimization tips, and hands-on practice (59m6s).
• The workshop will also discuss best practices for using GitHub Co-Pilot and provide room for question and answers (59m42s).
• Attendees of the workshop will receive a free GitHub Co-Pilot license for 24 months (59m51s).
• GitHub Constellation South Africa is an upcoming event that will feature a workshop where attendees can learn about Co-Pilot and receive 24 months of free GitHub Co-Pilot (1h1m19s).
• To participate in the workshop, attendees need to register for the conference, and due to limited space, selection will be random (1h1m19s).
• The workshop will be led by Adi Yinka, and attendees will have the opportunity to connect with him and learn about Co-Pilot (1h1m32s).
• The event will take place on the 14th in Johannesburg, and attendees are encouraged to register for the conference to participate in the talks, hackathon, and Co-Pilot training (1h3m7s).
• The event organizers are excited to have Adi Yinka represent Nigeria and contribute to the code and development community in Africa (1h2m4s).
• The event will feature various speakers and guests, and attendees will have the opportunity to connect with them in person (1h2m20s).
• The event organizers are grateful for the opportunity to work with African communities and are excited to meet attendees in person (1h3m41s).
• The event will feature surprises and will be a good day for everyone, with the organizers counting down to the 14th (1h3m28s).

Final Remarks and Call to Action

• The event encourages attendees to tune into the GitHub Universe keynote, which will feature significant announcements expected to revolutionize software development. (1h4m4s)
• On the 14th, attendees will have the opportunity to use new tools announced at the event and meet the CEO and the GitHub team, along with various community groups like Hyperion and G culture. (1h4m48s)
• Registration for the conference is encouraged, with efforts being made to provide a virtual experience for the morning sessions, though this is not yet confirmed. (1h5m24s)
• The event is highlighted as a great networking opportunity, with attendees encouraged to share LinkedIn profiles and connect, especially for those participating in the hackathon. (1h6m3s)
• The GitHub Universe event is described as having a casual atmosphere, with opportunities for attendees to present and participate in panel discussions. (1h7m1s)