Api Platform Conference 2023

We returned to the charming city of Lille for this year's edition of the API Platform Conference. However, this time, we weren't merely attendees; we were speakers. As we again set foot in France, we knew we were in for another exceptional experience.

This return to Lille allowed us to reconnect with old friends and make new ones while immersing ourselves in the latest and greatest technologies within the PHP world. Our talk, Converting a legacy app to API Platform awaited its moment on the big stage, setting the tone for what promised to be an awesome conference.

Our very first conference talk

Stepping onto that conference stage, our hearts raced with excitement. We were about to share our journey of migrating the backend of a legacy Python app to ApiPlatform in a fairytale storytelling adventure. It was a big moment for us, and we couldn't have done it without the support of our conference veteran, Stephan Hochdoerfer. He was there for us in Lille, cheering us on and providing the guidance we needed. But that's not all – our Design Team played a crucial role in making our presentation slides truly epic. Their creative touch added an extra layer of excitement to our talk, and we were grateful for their contribution.

Before hitting the big stage, we had the chance to practice our talk at the PHP User Groups in Mannheim and Frankfurt. These practice sessions were essential, as they gave us valuable feedback and helped us improve our presentation. As we stood there, cables and microphones in place, we took one last deep breath before the countdown reached zero. Our excitement levels were off the charts. Thankfully, all the hard work and preparation paid off. Our talk went off without a hitch, and the positive feedback we received afterward was incredibly motivating to continue giving conference talks and become more deeply involved in the open-source community.

This experience marked a significant milestone in our journey, and we can't wait for more opportunities to share our knowledge and experiences with others.

Conference Recap

This personal journey was just a small part of the incredible experience we had at the APiPlatform Conference 2023 in Lille. To give you a short recap, here are some of our highlights

A Taste of French Hospitality

Before the conference officially kicked off, we were treated to an unforgettable evening at the Speaker Dinner. The ambiance was welcoming, and the spread of French food and drinks was nothing short of extraordinary. It set the tone for the rest of the event.

FrankenPHP ready to take over

One of the highlights of the conference was the introduction of FrankenPHP's first stable beta version. It is a new application server for PHP that improves performance but also makes it very easy to set up development and production environments. It also introduces a worker mode for PHP and other awesome features.

Navigating APIPlatform Documentation

The conference brought exciting updates to APIPlatform, particularly in the documentation department. Interactive guides with a working PHP Playground for all examples were introduced, making it easier than ever for developers to grasp the concepts and implement them in real projects.

Optimizing with DTO in APIPlatform 3.0

DTO (Data Transfer Object) optimizations were a hot topic at the conference. Attendees got valuable insights into how to leverage DTOs effectively in APIPlatform, paving the way for more efficient data handling.

PHP Kitchen Nightmares and Speeding Ahead with Commerce Weavers

The conference wasn't all serious tech talk. We had our share of fun, including a session humorously dubbed "PHP Kitchen Nightmares." It was a lighthearted take on the challenges developers face, complete with solutions that kept the audience engaged and entertained. Also Commerce Weavers caught our attention with their booth, featuring a remote-controlled race car track. This playful setup tied in perfectly with their talk about removing speed bumps in API projects, emphasizing the importance of optimizing processes like database queries.

Community-Building at Its Finest

Besides learning so much throughout the conference, it was also about building a strong community. There were plenty of opportunities to exchange opinions and experiences over drinks and games, making it a memorable event for networking and enjoying each other's company.

In Conclusion

The APiPlatform Conference 2023 in Lille was a transformative experience for us. From stepping onto the big stage for the first time to indulging in French hospitality, we came away with valuable knowledge and unforgettable memories. The event showcased the vibrant PHP community's spirit and dedication to pushing the boundaries of technology.

As we look back on this adventure, we can't help but feel grateful for the opportunity to be a part of such an incredible conference.