RoachFest 2022, the first-ever CockroachDB customer conference, was held in New York City, bringing together data innovators and engineering experts to discuss and explore the database's applications and best practices. The event featured notable speakers from companies like Netflix, Twitter, DoorDash, and Hard Rock Digital, who shared insights on utilizing CockroachDB's distributed system for scalability and operational simplicity. Key themes included the shift towards everything-as-a-service to reduce operational burdens and the importance of understanding the nuances of distributed databases. Attendees engaged in discussions on topics like migrating from AWS Aurora, optimizing performance, and handling schema changes. The conference emphasized CockroachDB's compatibility with Postgres, providing developers with a familiar environment while leveraging the benefits of a distributed system. The event also highlighted the value of CockroachDB support in aiding users to make informed decisions and the vibrant community resources available, such as Cockroach University and forums. The conference concluded with networking activities hosted by partners like Google Cloud, AWS, and Red Hat, and promised future access to the recorded sessions.