September 2013 Summaries

The rise of Software People is a developer renaissance, driven by building new models of "rolling software" such as at Tesla, experimenting with interstellar communication, and aggressively scaling fast. The internet has no barrier to customer service, making it extremely powerful for developers who serve their customers well. Developers are building new tools and changing the world with billions of messages for good.

Tim O'Reilly emphasized the importance of leveraging software to spark global change, suggesting that startups should "build something that matters" and utilize platforms like the internet and government to empower individuals and drive connected action. He highlighted Code For America projects as examples of this approach. Mitch Kapor shared his personal journey from unemployment to entrepreneurship, highlighting the impact of his business on underserved youth through the Kapor Center, which provides 6-week programs that help these students gain access to top schools. Both speakers emphasized the role of software developers and businesses in driving positive social change.

TwilioCon 2013 was a launch event for the Twilio Showcase, a one-stop-shop for customers looking for pre-built Twilio solutions and new developer tools. The showcase allows users to easily search for solutions by communication type or partner type, including ISV, infrastructure, technology, and community partners. Twilio has teamed up with AWS to offer developers $20 of "JumpStart" credit towards building their AWS + Twilio powered apps, making it easier to prototype without upfront costs. The company has also updated its module for Parse Cloud Platform, making it even easier to integrate Twilio Voice, Client, and SMS into mobile apps. Additionally, LiveOps and Twilio have partnered to bring a 500-seat call center to the cloud using WebRTC, while RingDNA has launched a Twilio-powered Chrome extension that gives sales teams a browser-based phone specifically designed for their needs.

Twilio.org has launched, providing nonprofits with donated and discounted Twilio services to amplify their communications efforts. The initiative aims to enable nonprofits to reach their goals and send a billion messages for good. Qualified organizations can access an initial donation of $500 in credits, followed by a 25% discount on messaging and minutes.

The text is a recap of Day 1 of TwilioCon, a conference focused on software development and innovation with Twilio. The event featured new product announcements, keynotes from notable speakers, and numerous engaging sessions showcasing the capabilities of Twilio's software platform. Software developers and entrepreneurs built innovative applications and businesses with Twilio, inspiring excitement for future developments.

TwilioCon 2013 featured keynotes by Jeff Pulver, a pioneer in VoIP technology, who discussed the power of communication and its potential to disrupt industries. The event also included astronaut Mae Jemison, who shared her experiences with interstellar communications and vision for bringing this concept back to Earth. Both speakers highlighted the importance of innovation and exploration in shaping the future of communication technologies.

Today marks the third annual TwilioCon, a gathering of innovators driving change in business, social good, and hackitude. Twilio's CEO Jeff Lawson announced several new products to power businesses, including Picture Messaging, Twilio SIP, and developer tools for building business critical apps. These updates aim to provide more value to users, such as lower pricing on text messages, increased character limits, and improved diagnostics and security tools. The company also introduced Twilio SIP, allowing companies to make outbound calls and extend their communications capabilities in the cloud. With these announcements, Twilio is positioning itself as a leader in providing APIs and products that enable businesses to build the future of human interaction.

TwilioCon Workshop Day saw developers embark on an 8-bit style tutorial called TwilioQuest, designed to teach coders how to build apps with Twilio through various programming challenges. Hackers formed guilds based on their preferred programming language and competed to earn loot and experience points by completing increasingly difficult challenges. The event aimed to provide a fun and interactive way for developers of all skill levels to learn about Twilio's capabilities.

The Community Hall at TwilioCon features sponsors and partners that offer solutions to expand communication capabilities, including technology stacks, cloud platforms, developer tools, file storage, 3D motion control, and more. The hall will be open from September 17th to 19th, allowing attendees to meet with these companies and learn about their offerings. Some notable sponsors include Parse, Azure, Atlassian, AWS, Box, Google Cloud Platform, Leap Motion, Salesforce.com, Ink, SF Mayor's Office of Civic Innovation, New Relic, Plantronics Developer Connection, SendGrid, WhitePages PRO, Engine Yard, Call Tracking Metrics, CallPixels, Datalot DialDrive, Oracle | Eloqua, FreshDesk, Fruition Partners, Clearslide, LiveOps, RingDNA, and SendHub. These companies are showcasing their products and services in the Partner Pavilion, providing an opportunity for attendees to engage with them and learn about new technologies.

The Hacker Olympics is an upcoming event at TwilioCon, scheduled for September 19th, where participants will compete in challenges with prizes and recognition. Over 1,000 attendees have expressed interest, but only the first 480 people to arrive can participate. The event will feature ridiculous fun challenges, team formation, and a competition that requires teamwork and strategy. Registration is available now, with a special discount for early registrants who use the code "Hack25".

TwilioCon is hosting a closing keynote featuring a fireside chat between Twilio's CEO Jeff Lawson, partner at Bessemer Venture Partners Ethan Kurzweil, and Managing Director of Draper Fisher Jurvetson Josh Stein. They will discuss the future of developer platforms, how developers are changing communications tools, and the impact of on-demand computing resources in the cloud. The event aims to uncover exciting consumer-facing businesses and explore the shift in how developers build products today. The fireside chat will be followed by a Q&A session where attendees can ask questions to the panelists.

Twilio is hiring for a Software Engineer position, looking for an individual to build critical services for the Twilio API, work with customers, and collaborate across teams to scale and improve the API. A software engineer at Twilio, Kevin Burke, shares his experience of building his first app with Twilio SMS as a senior in college, which led him to a job at Twilio right out of school. Now, two years later, Kevin focuses on scaling the Twilio API, developing tools, and maintaining the backend infrastructure. The company is looking for someone who can contribute to these efforts and apply now to join their team.

TwilioCon is pleased to announce that Tim O'Reilly, a renowned entrepreneur and advocate for open source, will be a keynote speaker at the event. As the founder of O'Reilly Media, which published technical guides with animal faces to obscure languages, O'Reilly has adopted the motto "create more value than you capture." He is known for fighting against patents that stifle developer creativity, organizing the Open Source Convention, and investing in startups that promote open software. Now, he focuses on using digital publishing platforms to communicate data and harness collective intelligence. As a supporter of Code For America, O'Reilly works with civic-minded developers to empower their projects and guide them towards change.

A developer has built an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system using Ruby, Sinatra, and Twilio to create a simple IVR system that can guide callers through different options. The system uses a database-backed approach with data mapping and analytics to track caller behavior. The code includes models for Steps, Metrics, and Call Handlers, as well as templates for displaying the steps and metrics in an HTML interface. The system also includes utility routes for deleting all data or rebuilding the step tree on demand. The developer has created a GitHub repository with the code and invites users to try out the IVR system by dialing one of the provided numbers or downloading the code to configure their own version.

The online scheduling service, 7Shifts, was founded by Jordan Boesch after witnessing his father's struggles with managing employee schedules using printed Excel spreadsheets and post-it notes. The company aims to make employee scheduling easier and more organized for various industries such as restaurants, coffee shops, and universities. 7Shifts uses Twilio SMS to streamline communication between employers and employees on the go, including sending text messages when schedules are posted or changes have been made. The tool has received positive feedback from customers, particularly those without smartphones who appreciate the instant notifications. The company values its partnership with Twilio, citing the provider's excellent support and constant improvements in developer tools, analytics, and reporting.