The best of DevConf Cape Town: People, serverless, and car hacking

by Eric Ndebe

I had the opportunity to attend DevConf Cape Town this year. Having attended in the past, I have always found it to be incredibly valuable. It’s a chance to network with industry experts and connect with technical professionals in our field. This year, there were many thought-provoking talks, and I’d like to highlight three that particularly resonated with me.

John Kamara, CEO of Adanian Labs & Chair of AI Center of Excellence Africa, kicked off the conference with a keynote speech. John introduced the PDI Model for Progressive Data Transformation. This model highlights the importance of People, Data, and Infrastructure, in that order, and stresses a people-centred approach to technology. Kamara made it clear that, while AI and automation are powerful tools, the human element is still crucial.

John addressed the common belief that AI will take over many jobs. He shared a story about a friend who runs a company with a public relations team. This friend used a chatbot to draft a press release and questioned whether a marketing team was necessary if a machine could do the same job. John then demonstrated that the chatbot-generated content was almost identical each time, lacking the unique insights and understanding that a human team could provide.

John stressed that, while AI can handle repetitive tasks, it cannot replicate the deep understanding of clients, the intricacies of products, and the creative strategies that humans offer. He pointed out that people are an organisation’s most valuable assets. Although companies often spend a large part of their budget on salaries, they frequently fail to truly invest in their human resources. He argued that developing these human assets is crucial for any organisation’s growth and success.

One of the standout talks for me was by Reuben Kruger, a seasoned software engineer and architect at Investec Bank. With extensive experience in helping both startups and large corporations achieve their goals, Reuben’s expertise is backed by his certifications, including Microsoft Expert Certified Solutions Architect and DevOps Engineer. He is also active in tech communities and events, known for his ability to connect people and facilitate valuable interactions.

Reuben’s talk, “Death to the Server: The New Serverless Era,” provided an informative and educational exploration of serverless computing. He began by introducing the key concepts of serverless technology, highlighting its advantages while also addressing potential challenges and strategies to overcome them.

He explained how serverless functions work on platforms like Azure and AWS, where small containers run bits of code and then shut down automatically. To demonstrate the practical aspects, Reuben showcased a project he worked on, despite some technical hiccups during the presentation.

Reuben shared a unique project involving Investec’s APIs. About two years ago, Investec introduced APIs that allow for automation and integration with banking services — a rare move among banks. Reuben used these APIs in a project where he aimed to receive a cheeky message every time he made a purchase at McDonald’s. This project involved picking up different card transactions, identifying McDonald’s registers, and using machine learning to analyse transaction details. The system then sent a humorous message via email, WhatsApp, or SMS, reminding him of his frequent visits to McDonald’s.

Although technical issues with Azure prevented a full demonstration, Reuben emphasized the ease and speed of deploying serverless applications. The core advantage of serverless computing, he pointed out, is its scalability and efficiency. With serverless, you can write code quickly, deploy it with a few clicks, and handle thousands of simultaneous users without the system falling apart.

Reuben also discussed the benefits of serverless computing, such as the ability to scale effortlessly and the reduced need for constant server management. This approach allows developers to focus on writing code and solving problems without worrying about infrastructure.

In our industry, serverless computing is becoming more common, and terms like AWS Lambdas are frequently mentioned. These small, ephemeral compute instances perform specific tasks and then disappear, making them ideal for processes that require short bursts of computing power, like generating PDFs or handling computing jobs.

The third talk I would like to highlight was from Rudi Grobler, another incredibly seasoned software engineer at Lightstone. With over two decades of experience developing software for various industries, Rudi has a deep well of expertise. Recognised as a Microsoft MVP for his work with XAML-based products like Windows Phone, WPF, and Silverlight, he brought a unique blend of humour and technical insight to his presentation, “From Overheating to Overachieving: A Comedic Tale of Hacking My Car.”

Rudi’s talk was both enlightening and entertaining, as he shared his adventures in car hacking. His journey began when his old car started overheating, baffling several repair shops. Frustrated, Rudi decided to take matters into his own hands. Armed with an on-board diagnostics (OBD) connector and a determination to understand his car’s inner workings, he embarked on a mission to decode its systems.

He began by giving us a brief introduction to reverse engineering and basic electronics, making it accessible even for beginners. Using an Arduino, Rudi decoded the mysterious signals on his car’s CAN bus, a system that allows all parts of the car to communicate. He explained how every component in the car has an ID and how specific codes control different functions, like engaging the right front brake.

Rudi’s main goal was to install a screen in his car to display real-time data such as speed and fuel consumption. He demonstrated how the car’s systems record detailed information, often not fully utilised by the vehicle’s default display. Despite his efforts, his car hacking adventures were fraught with humorous missteps and challenges, including wiring errors that led to the car catching fire.

While the car didn’t survive his experiments, Rudi managed to salvage the speedometer. He connected it to a Raspberry Pi, showcasing the data he could extract. His tale was a perfect mix of technical insight and comedy, making complex concepts accessible and entertaining.

Attending Rudi’s talk was a reminder of why we attend conferences like DevConf: to learn, to be inspired, and to enjoy the journey of discovery, even when things don’t go as planned. His humorous approach to problem-solving and willingness to share his misadventures made his presentation one of the most memorable and enjoyable sessions at the conference.

Images: Devconf