The energy, the sessions, the speakers, the hallway conversations exactly what the dev community is all about. Huge thanks to the organizers Robert MacLean and Candice Mesk or pulling off yet another incredible event.

It was an absolute privilege to represent the Cape Town MS Developer User Group as a community sponsor and get to hang out with my fellow organizers Matthew Leibowitz and Neil Thompson.

This was also my third year speaking at DevConf! The talk was “Holograms, man Holograms” and the message is a simple one I keep coming back to every year (and every talk I do): Build fun things, build cool things and find your joy in tech. Learning is also best done doing interesting and entertaining build projects. Every one the fun projects I do, the learnings comes back to the day job in some form or another to create better solutions for clients.  Thank you to everyone that came to my sessions. The content is available here: https://explorationspace.co.za/2026/05/18/devconf-2026-cape-town/

Thank you Cape Town and Johannesburg for an amazing week! 

Also thank you to DevConf, OfferZen, Christine Immelman, Derek Gardiner and Comotion for the epic swag and dinner.

Want to keep the learning going and stay connected with the developer community? Join us at the Cape Town MS Developer User Group for monthly in-person meetups! Our next event is on the 27th of May at Microsoft Cape Town. See you there! Join here: https://www.meetup.com/cape-town-ms-dev-user-group/

devconf2026 #developers #community #mvpbuzz #CPTMSDUG #hologramsmanholograms #inspiringtommorowtoday Microsoft Most Valuable Professional

It was a bit rushed at the end, but it was great meeting everyone, even if only briefly, both during and after the session. Everyone is welcome to contact me to continue those conversations.

All that was shown is available in the GitHub repo: https://github.com/apead/devconf-2026

That includes:

Pyramid Compositor – Wayland Compositor for quadrant rendering

Hologramfan – ESP32 basd LED fan

Mauiholodisplay – Mobile app for displaying Pepper’s Ghost and pyramid holograms

Mauihud – Heads-up display for a vehicle

AvaloniaTeleprompter – Application for Windows and Linux to create your own teleprompter

LiveAvatar – Azure Speech Services Live Avatar

3D Designs

Printable templates for making holograms

You are also welcome to contact me about anything.

Learning should be fun, and that’s something I genuinely believe. Sure, coding can feel repetitive at times, and grinding through the same tasks day after day isn’t always thrilling. But that’s the beauty of tech: there’s always a way to make it exciting again. I hope this talk helped in some way to add some excitement and joy around tech. You are in control, do things that make you happy and excite you. #codingforfun

I was reading all the feedback this morning. There are truely so many amazing people in the developer community and I’m now inspired to do these types of talks even more and, following my own beliefs, have fun doing them. Not going to lie, it’s an incredible amount of work to do this, but it is definitely worth it. There is also one comment that stood out that was really helpful and practical: “Have a look at making your domes parabolic, harder to produce but will give a far less distorted image.” THE NEXT RABBIT HOLE HAS STARTED ALREADY! Thank you for that. #continuouslearning

Hope to see all the cool things you build! #hologramsmanholograms

Also maybe show them off at Cape Town MS Developer User Group and inspire others to do awesome things with tech.

#DevConf2026 #iot #tech #mvpbuzz #developers #fun #dotnetmaui #avalonia

It was so cool meeting everyone after the talk and I see a lot of requests for all the resources. I’ll share all the designs, templates, including all the code for the custom bits (Yes a lot of it is c#, but there is some c++ too and some html and js. #notbiasedatall ) when I land in Cape Town again.

I really do believe the best way to learn is to have fun doing it. Sometimes also, work may be boring, you may find writing code not be the most exciting doing mundane things day in and day out, but there is so much you can do with tech to make it fun. #codingforfun

Check out the code here: https://github.com/apead/devconf-2026

Hope to see all the cool things you build! #hologramsmanholograms

DevConf#DevConf2026#iot#tech#mvpbuzz#developers#fun

Seven Years and Counting

Our first local .NET Conf event was back in 2018. That is a long time of running these conferences, and looking back at the journey – the growth, the people, the cities – it is nothing short of epic. Thank you to everyone who has attended over the years. You are the reason we keep doing this.

Milestones and Achievements

This year was special. Not just in terms of attendance, but in terms of what we achieved as a community.

First .NET Conf SA in Durban!

We finally took the event to Durban! A huge thank you to everyone who came out and made the inaugural Durban leg so special. Launching a new city is always a leap of faith, and Durban responded brilliantly.

Record-Breaking Cape Town!

Cape Town set a new record – the biggest attendance of any .NET Conf event in South Africa, in any city, ever. That is not a small thing. Thank you so much for showing up in full force, Cape Town. The community is absolutely amazing.

The People Who Make It Happen

Events like this do not run themselves. Behind every smooth conference day is a team of people who gave their time, energy, and expertise to make it work. This year, some specific callouts are very much deserved.

Carike Botha – thank you for being the glue that makes the Johannesburg event come together on the day. Your dedication keeps that city running like clockwork.

Niels Berglund – thank you for being the glue that made Durban happen through the AI/ML community. The Durban leg would not have been what it was without you.

Matthew Leibowitz – a huge, heartfelt thank you. Matthew has been pivotal in this community since the very beginning – always there, always working to make every city’s event succeed. His involvement goes all the way back to .NET Conf South Africa 2018, Cape Town MS Developer User Group, and before that, CTXUG (Cape Town Xamarin User Group). This community owes a great deal to Matthew’s consistent, tireless contribution.

Neil Thompson – thank you for always coming along on the roadtrips and going well above and beyond the sponsorship of multiple cities. From helping move things around in airports and hotels to always being ready to assist – you are a cornerstone of these events, and it does not go unnoticed.

Veliswa Boya – thank you not just for the sponsorship, but for the epic hacks and fun you added to the events. And critically – thank you for making the Durban event possible. Without you and AWS support, stretching to Durban simply would not have happened.

The volunteers – thank you for the hard work behind the scenes. You are the ones who make the day run smoothly for everyone else, and that matters enormously.

Thank You to Our Incredible Speakers

Events are nothing without speakers, and this year we had an extraordinary lineup across all three cities. Thank you to each and every one of you for sharing your knowledge with the community:

Abed Matini, Warrick Sabatta, Alistair Pugin, Carike Botha, Matthew Leibowitz, Allan Pead, Hennie Francis, Jacqui Muller, Okuhle Mhambi, Shaqeel Less, Niels Berglund, Ian Houvet, Luke Padiachy, Craig Risi, Veliswa Boya, Neil Thompson, Lehlohonolo Mofula, Michael Johnson, Siyabonga Sithole, Precious Mamotingoe Lesupi, Abisola O Adeyanju, Stian Le Roux, Andile Skosana, Dustyn Lightfoot, Carike Blignaut-Staden, Sphiwe Khuzwayo, Dean Martin, Kwanele Mazibuko.

It is YOU who made this the biggest .NET Conf South Africa ever. Thank you for being just epic!

Thank You to Our Sponsors

None of this happens without the generous support of our sponsors. Many have been on this journey with us for more than three years, and that kind of sustained commitment to the community means everything.

A massive thank you to:

Microsoft, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Accso, Richfield, CyberPro Consulting, BBD, DVT, TTD Consulting, OfferZen

Your support is what turns an idea into a multi-city event. Thank you.

Here’s to 2026

What an amazing 2025 it has been. From the first Durban leg to record-breaking Cape Town, from a lineup of brilliant speakers to sponsors who believe in this community year after year – it has been a privilege to be part of it all.

Thank you for an incredible year. Happy Holidays, and Happy New Year!

#communityout #dotnetconf #dotnetconfsa #mvpbuzz #ai #github #githubcopilot #dotnet #seasonofai #community

What a run. What an absolutely packed, sleep-deprived, swag-laden, heart-full run.

The past couple of weeks have been a blur of airports, conference venues, tech talks, and incredible people. An event per weekend – sometimes one in between – and I wouldn’t have had it any other way.

## .NET Conf South Africa

First up: [#dotnetconfsa](https://dotnetconfsa.co.za). Organizing .NET Conf South Africa across **three cities** – Durban, Cape Town, and Johannesburg – is no small feat. It’s months of planning, logistics, sponsor wrangling, speaker coordination, and a whole lot of group chat messages that never seem to stop.

But when you walk into a sold-out venue and see the energy in the room – developers genuinely excited to learn, connect, and geek out together – every late night and weekend hour is instantly worth it.

The attendance was through the roof. The speakers, as always, delivered. And the people who came out to each city? Absolutely epic. South Africa’s tech community continues to punch well above its weight, and events like this are proof of that.

Huge congratulations and gratitude to the organizing team for pulling off a massively successful conference. It takes a village.

## GitHub Universe

Sandwiched in between the .NET Conf city stops was **GitHub Universe** – always a highlight on the developer calendar. Whether you’re following along online or engaging with the local community watch parties and discussions, Universe is one of those moments that reminds you why you love building software. The announcements, the energy, the conversations that follow. Good stuff.

## BSides Cape Town – Going Volt

And then, to top it all off: **BSides Cape Town**.

BSides is one of those community-run security conferences that just has a different vibe. It’s grassroots, passionate, and packed with people who genuinely care about the craft of security. I had the privilege of attending as a **Volt** – a volunteer who helps keep the conference running smoothly behind the scenes.

Playing a tiny part in a huge event like this is a genuinely humbling experience. The fellow Volts I worked alongside were brilliant – professional, enthusiastic, and great fun to work with. If you’ve never volunteered at a conference, I’d highly recommend it. You see the event from a completely different angle, and you come away with a real appreciation for the effort that goes into making these things happen.

(The swag was also next level. Just saying. )

## Taking Stock and Looking Ahead

Now that the dust has settled, and after a well-earned nap, it’s time to reflect.

The end of the year is always a good moment to take stock of what the past twelve months looked like and start thinking about where to focus energy going into the new year. For me, 2026 is going to require some intentional thinking about how I navigate tech community involvement. There’s no shortage of opportunities – the challenge, as always, is being thoughtful about which ones to pursue and how to show up fully rather than thinly spread.

More on that as the new year takes shape.

For now: **Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!**

To every organizer, speaker, attendee, volunteer, and sponsor who made any of these events happen – thank you. The South African tech community is something special, and I’m grateful to be part of it.

#community #dotnetconfsa #bsides `#github #mvpbuzz #communityout

We ran the second leg of the country-wide tour – .NET Conf 2025 Community Edition South Africa – and the city did not disappoint. The turnout was incredible, the energy was electric, and the day was nothing short of epic.

Thank You, Cape Town

To everyone who came out and spent their Saturday with us – thank you. You are the reason we do this. Seeing a packed room of developers genuinely excited about .NET, AI, GitHub, and everything in between is what makes all the planning and preparation worth it.

Cape Town, you showed up. Big time.

The Speakers Made It

Events are nothing without the speakers, and we had some truly amazing ones on the day. A huge, heartfelt thank you to each and every one of you for taking the time to share your knowledge with the community:

• Abed Matini
• Warrick Sabatta
• Alistair Pugin
• Carike Botha
• Matthew Leibowitz
• Allan Pead
• Hennie Francis
• Jacqui Muller
• Okuhle Mhambi
• Shaqeel Less
• Niels Berglund
• Ian Houvet
• Luke Padiachy
• Craig Risi
• Veliswa Boya
• Neil Thompson

It is YOU that made this the biggest .NET Conf South Africa ever. The breadth of topics, the quality of the sessions, the passion each speaker brought to the stage – it was something special. Thank you for being just epic!

Part of Something Bigger

This Cape Town leg is just one stop on the tour. A huge shoutout to the Cape Town MS Developer User Group and the JHBMSDUG – Johannesburg Microsoft Developer User Group for making this country-wide event possible. The collaboration, the logistics, the community spirit behind pulling this off across multiple cities – it is no small thing.

What’s Next

If you missed Cape Town, the tour is not done yet. Stay tuned for more.

And if you were there on Saturday – thank you. You made it unforgettable.

#dotnetconf #dotnetconfsa #mvpbuzz #ai #github #githubcopilot #dotnet #seasonofai #community

Thank you. Genuinely, from the bottom of my heart – thank you to everyone who came out to my session at **.NET Conf 2025 Community Edition South Africa** in Durban.

“Tiny Devices, Big Potential: .NET & C# IoT” is one of those sessions I love giving, because it lets me show off what I think is one of the coolest parts of the .NET ecosystem – .NET for microcontrollers. And the audience in Durban made it absolutely special.

The Room Was Electric

The interaction and engagement throughout the session was next level. Questions, reactions, the energy in the room – it made the whole experience so much fun. That kind of audience is what every speaker hopes for, and you delivered. Thank you so much!

The DMs Keep Coming

The DMs have been rolling in since the session, and honestly, it is so awesome to see all the interest in **electronics, C#, robotics, IoT, education, and AI**. The community enthusiasm for this space is real, and it is growing fast.

If I haven’t gotten back to you yet – I will! Your messages mean a lot and I want to make sure I get to every one of them.

Get the Sample Code

All the sample code shown during the session, plus links to get started with **.NET nanoFramework**, **AWS IoT**, and **Azure IoT**, are all in one place:

Session Resources and Sample Code](https://github.com/apead/dotnetconf2025tinydevicedemos)

Bookmark it, fork it, tinker with it. That is what it is there for.

Thank You to the Sponsors and Venue

A big thank you to all the sponsors on the day – none of this happens without your support. And a special shoutout to **Richfield** for providing an amazing venue to speak at. Great space, great setup, great day.

Until Next Time

If you attended, thank you for being part of it. If you missed it and want to know more about .NET on microcontrollers, check out the resources link above and feel free to reach out.

The .NET ecosystem is massive, and the microcontroller corner of it is one of the most exciting places to be right now. Come join us!

`#dotnetconf` `#dotnetconfsa` `#iot` `#mvpbuzz` `#csharp` `#dotnet` `#nanoframework`

“Tiny Devices, Big Potential: .NET & C# IoT” is one of those sessions that always gets me fired up, because I get to show off what I genuinely believe is one of the coolest parts of the .NET ecosystem – .NET for microcontrollers. And Johannesburg brought the energy in a big way.

The Audience Was Amazing

The participation throughout the session was fantastic. Thank you for that! The questions, the engagement, the reactions – it made the whole experience so much fun. I really had a great time showing off .NET on tiny hardware, and having an audience that was just as enthusiastic about it made it even better.

As Promised – The Sample Code

All the sample code from the session, plus links to get started with .NET nanoFramework, AWS IoT, and Azure IoT, can all be found here:

Session Resources and Sample Code

Here is a quick rundown of what is in there:

Agricultural MCP Server Example using SSE

Build a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server on an ESP32 with a Semantic Kernel client for natural language control via LLMs. Yes – AI talking to tiny hardware. It is as cool as it sounds.

Hardware-Accelerated Camera

Real-time camera streaming and image capture with nanoFramework on the ESP32-CAM. Hardware-accelerated, performant, and running C# on a microcontroller.

Hardware Interfacing Examples

Interface with electronics and sensors using the MXChip AZ3166 development board as a practical, hands-on example. A great starting point if you are new to hardware with .NET.

Bookmark it, fork it, and start tinkering!

The DMs

I see quite a few DMs have arrived on the topic since the session. If I haven’t gotten back to you yet – I will! Looking forward to continuing the conversation around IoT, electronics, AI, and all things microcontrollers in C#.

Thank You to the Sponsors and Venue

A big thank you to all the sponsors on the day – your support makes events like this possible. And a special shoutout to BBD for providing an amazing venue to speak at. It was a fantastic space for a fantastic day.

Come Join the Tiny Revolution

If you are curious about .NET on microcontrollers – whether you are coming from a software background or an electronics background – there has never been a better time to explore it. The ecosystem is growing fast, and the intersection of .NET, IoT, and AI is one of the most exciting spaces in tech right now.

Grab the sample code, have a play, and reach out if you have questions.

#dotnetconf #dotnetconfsa #mvpbuzz #iot #ai #mcp #sse #nanoframework #csharp #dotnet

The live demo sample code can be found here: https://github.com/apead/seasonofaiintrodemos

Slides for the session

Where to buy the parts for Building a Microscope

Camera

Microscope Lense

https://www.pishop.co.za/store/microscope-raspberry-pi-high-quality-camera—012-18x

Unicorn HAT

https://www.pishop.co.za/store/unicorn-hat

Raspberry Pi

https://www.pishop.co.za/store/raspberry-pi-4-model-b-4gb

Microscope Stand

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CBLT82BK/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

5″ Display

https://www.pishop.co.za/store/5inch-hdmi-lcd—bi-colour-case-for-raspberry-pi

Tips

SuperVisor

You can find the MicroLights source code here:

https://github.com/apead/DevConf2024

Thank you to everyone that attended my session at Microsoft Season of AI!

The live demo sample code can be found here: https://github.com/apead/seasonofaiintrodemos

Slides for the session

Where to buy the parts for Building a Microscope

Camera

Microscope Lense

https://www.pishop.co.za/store/microscope-raspberry-pi-high-quality-camera—012-18x

Unicorn HAT

https://www.pishop.co.za/store/unicorn-hat

Raspberry Pi

https://www.pishop.co.za/store/raspberry-pi-4-model-b-4gb

Microscope Stand

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CBLT82BK/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

5″ Display

https://www.pishop.co.za/store/5inch-hdmi-lcd—bi-colour-case-for-raspberry-pi

Tips

SuperVisor

You can find the MicroLights source code here:

https://github.com/apead/DevConf2024