May 2020 Summaries

Local developer communities, such as Google Developer Group (GDG) and Developer Student Club (DSC), have been creatively adapting to virtual formats to maintain their connections and support among members. For instance, the GDG West Sweden collaborated with the Swedish Government on "Hack the Crisis," a virtual event aimed at addressing challenges through innovative projects, including a plan to update the government's employment website for better remote job matching. In Singapore, a DSC at the Singapore University of Technology and Design recreated their campus in Minecraft for virtual tours, enhancing the experience with a chatbot guide. Meanwhile, in the Middle East and North Africa, over 200 developer communities and experts have launched MENA Digital Days, a 32-week series of live workshops covering diverse topics in multiple languages to engage and educate developers, women, students, and startups. These initiatives highlight the resilience and adaptability of developer communities in fostering engagement, education, and employment opportunities in a digital-first world.

Google Cloud has introduced a beta version of the Java 11 runtime for its Cloud Functions, allowing developers to write serverless functions in Java, alongside existing options like Node.js, Go, and Python. Cloud Functions enable code execution in response to HTTP requests or cloud events without server management, and developers can use the open-source Functions Framework to write, run, and debug functions locally or in the cloud. The Java Functions Framework supports both HTTP functions, which handle HTTP requests, and background functions, which respond to cloud events such as Pub/Sub messages or Cloud Storage updates. Developers can leverage the Gson library for easier JSON parsing when dealing with background functions. The Functions Framework's portability means functions can be deployed not only on Google Cloud but also on other environments like Cloud Run and Kubernetes. The article also highlights the use of alternative JVM languages such as Groovy, Kotlin, and Scala, and third-party frameworks like Micronaut and Spring Boot for building serverless functions, emphasizing the flexibility and broad applicability of the framework across different platforms and languages.

Google Cloud is offering a series of free, on-demand training webinars and resources aimed at enhancing cloud skills and knowledge, covering everything from basic to advanced topics, such as building robust cloud architecture with Google Kubernetes Engine and using BigQuery for data analysis. These sessions include hands-on labs and challenges, accessible via Qwiklabs, and are designed to accommodate both beginners and cloud professionals. The webinars also provide insights into big data, machine learning, and the COVID-19 research process using public datasets. Additionally, specialized role-based training and Google Cloud certification preparation are available through webinars focused on Professional Cloud DevOps and Cloud Architect roles. Until May 31, 2020, free access to Google Cloud training courses on platforms like Pluralsight is available, allowing participants to learn at their own pace and stay connected with the Google developer community.

In response to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, communities worldwide have been leveraging technology, particularly edge AI, to foster resilience and ensure safety. The Coral team, under the direction of Billy Rutledge, is at the forefront of this movement, advocating for intelligence at the edge to facilitate real-time, privacy-preserving solutions. Innovations like occupancy monitors in Belgium, wearable health devices in India, and hygiene compliance tools in US hospitals demonstrate the practical applications of Coral's technology. Additionally, Coral has partnered with global initiatives like the COVID-19 Detect and Protect Challenge to encourage the development of affordable solutions in developing countries, further supported by reduced prices for Coral products. These efforts aim to empower developers globally to create impactful solutions while maintaining accessibility and affordability in emerging markets.

In response to unforeseen global challenges, the Android team, led by VP of Engineering Dave Burke, updated the release timeline for Android 11 to allow more flexibility and adapt to remote collaboration. A fourth Developer Preview was released, and Beta 1 was moved to June 3, coinciding with an online event called #Android11: The Beta Launch Show, which replaces the in-person Google I/O conference. The event will feature talks on Android development topics and a live Q&A session. The updated schedule extends the timeline for Beta releases by a month, with Beta 2 in July and Beta 3 in August, leading up to a final release in Q3. This adjustment provides developers additional time for app testing and ensures compatibility with the final APIs, encouraging early feedback and updates from the developer community. Developers are encouraged to begin testing on Pixel devices or through the Android Emulator, with detailed resources available on the Android 11 developer site.