This November, the Daytona Developers Club Tour returned to Africa with stops in Cairo, Tunis, and Casablanca. Following the success of the first leg in July, which laid the foundation for an exciting journey across the continent, the second leg of the tour brought together over 400 attendees across three cities.
In addition to the tour stops, Daytona has also supported 10 additional meetups across Africa since July, organized by local community partners. These independent events further underscore the vibrant developer communities across the region and the growing momentum for collaboration and innovation.
Africa’s tech ecosystem is booming, and Daytona is here to amplify that momentum. Over three action-packed days, we connected with hundreds of developers, shared insights on the latest tools, and showcased the power of open-source collaboration.
Cairo: Where It All Began
The tour began at The GrEEK Campus in Cairo, buzzing with energy as developers and tech enthusiasts gathered to exchange ideas. This was the second full-house event in Cairo, with over 200 participants in attendance, following the success of the first event this past summer. The enthusiastic turnout underscored the city’s vibrant tech community and its growing appetite for collaboration and innovation.
Fady Ibrahim served as the moderator, guiding the event and ensuring a seamless experience. Daytona’s Toma Puljak delivered a talk titled "Eliminating the 'Runs on My Machine' Problem: A Developer's Guide, offering practical solutions to streamline development environments and overcome one of the most persistent challenges faced by developers.
Eslam Medhat introduced the latest in Firebase for building generative AI features, highlighting tools and updates to enhance mobile and web app development. Mohamed (Mohi) Mohi El-Dien provided a beginner's guide to artificial intelligence, demystifying AI concepts and showcasing practical applications. The evening concluded with Daytona’s Toma Puljak emphasizing the transformative impact of contributing to open-source projects, encouraging developers to engage with the global community.
Tunis: Innovation Meets Mediterranean Flair
In Tunis, the event was held at MSB, where the local tech lead Mahmoud Mansouri warmly welcomed an eager audience. The talks covered a range of topics, with Toma Puljak addressing the "Runs on My Machine" challenge and sharing strategies to streamline development environments.
Manai Mohamed Mortadha captivated the audience with a session on Explainable AI (XAI), exploring techniques to make complex AI models more interpretable and trustworthy. Ahmed Chouihi delivered a fascinating talk on the evolution and significance of open-source software, tracing its history and impact on modern technology. The event concluded with a call to action from our Toma, highlighting the personal and professional benefits of contributing to open-source projects.
Casablanca: The Grand Finale
The final stop in Casablanca, hosted at Commons Zerktouni, brought the tour to a memorable close. The event began with Sanaa Harmach extending a warm welcome to attendees. Toma kicked off the discussions with insights on solving the "Runs on My Machine" issue, offering practical guidance for developers.
Merouane Zouaid offered an introduction to open-source software, emphasizing its principles and the importance of community collaboration. Mehdi Alouane delivered a technical session on best practices for setting up and structuring high-performance Go backends, sharing insights into optimizing development workflows. The event concluded with a final address by Toma, reiterating the life-changing potential of engaging with open-source communities.
Wrap-Up
Throughout the tour, each event prioritized networking opportunities, fostering meaningful connections among participants and encouraging the exchange of ideas and knowledge. The success of the tour was made possible by the dedication of local organizers, inspiring speakers, and the enthusiastic developer communities in each city.
As Toma reflected, "It’s inspiring to see so much talent and energy coming from Africa’s tech communities. We’re here to connect, learn, and grow together—and I can’t wait to see what’s next."
Join the Daytona Community
The Daytona Developers Club remains committed to supporting and empowering developers across Africa, fostering a collaborative environment that drives innovation and growth in the tech ecosystem. If you’re passionate about the future of technology and the shift toward standardized development environments, we invite you to join the Daytona community. Together, we can continue building a brighter future for developers worldwide.
