What I’ve Learned from WordCamp Biratnagar, Nepal 2018
Liton Arefin is the founder and CEO of Jewel Theme which is a WordPress Theme and Plugin Development Company. He’s a Father, WordCamp Speaker, WordPress Developer.
Who am I?
My name is Liton Arefin from Dhaka Bangladesh. I’m a Father, WordCamp Speaker, WordPress Developer. I love Music, Movies, Cricket.
I’ve done “Information and Communication Engineering” graduate degree from Rajshahi University, Bangladesh.
I’ve started my career with WordPress since 2008. My journey begins when I was 1st year Student of Information and Communication Engineering, Rajshahi University in 2007.
I was trying to do something because my friends were doing Tutions and other Part-time jobs, which I’m not able to do( Less money, lots of effort most importantly I’m not a good teacher).
Exploring the Internet world and read lots of articles about making money from home. Started with Blogging, the main goal was generating revenue from Google Adsense. After one year earned nothing, I decided to fully stop it.
In the meantime, I learned there is some basic stuff related to Websites. On that time Joomla was very much popular, I tried but everything went over my head !!!
Then started WordPress, fallen in love on the very first day. After 10 years my love is the same as first-day love. I have worked for a few well-known companies around the world. When I was prepared for entrepreneurship, then I decided to start my own. My Company Jewel Theme established on 16th December 2014, We’ve passed 4th year successfully.
In 2012, I wrote a Book “WordPress Plugin Development Beginners to Advance” for my Local Community in the Bengali Language. Which was record number of Downloads 1.5M in 10 Day!!! Which was remarkable at that time.
Besides my work, I’m trying to Contribute to the Community. I’ve 9 WordPress Themes and 17 WordPress Plugins on WordPress.org repository.
What’s WordCamp?
WordCamp is a conference that focuses on everything WordPress. WordCamps are informal, community-organized events that are put together by WordPress users like you. Everyone from casual users to core developers participate, share ideas, and get to know each other.
Reference: WordCamp Central
Why I joined WordCamp Biratnagar?
Still, now there’s not a single WordCamp happened on my country. I wanted to explore myself outside. I wanted to meet talented people those aren’t very far from me. My main goal was Networking, meet with some great persons.
Nepal is a country surrounded by India, Bhutan, China.
I was trying to contribute on WordPress on the various way from the beginning of 2018. It’s my duty to give back something to the community what I’ve earned and learned.
There are 6 Themes approved in 2018 on WordPress.org Theme Repo. I’ve seen most of the Theme Reviewers from Nepal. I was very much curious about them. Bangladesh has also outstanding WordPress Developers, Community but I felt not like them. Something lacks on our efforts, I need to see this.
I’ve never attended any International Conference. So, it’s a great opportunity for me to Attend and Speaker.
I’ve decided to attend WordCamp Biratnagar, Nepal which was held on 22nd December 2018.
I’ve applied for Speaker and got Invitation on 24th October 2018. I was so much excited to join there. Instantly I replied and confirmed my attendance.
Facing Problems with Gutenberg Editor? Disable it now
About My Speech
As a WordPress Plugin Developer, I was interested to give my Speech about Plugin related. This is my comfort field.
I’ve given Speech on New Era of WordPress Plugin Development. Discussed new Techniques about Plugin Developments based on Gutenberg Blocks.
Obvious Technologies have to learn about New Plugin Developments, Benefits of Plugin Development etc. My focused points were:
- What is a WordPress Plugin?
- Benefits of WordPress Plugin Development
- Who can Develop Gutenberg Plugins?
- Gutenberg Development Technologies
- Do I Need to Learn all of them?
- Required Files/Functions Structures
- ZERO Configuration “Create Guten Block” A zero-configuration Gutenberg Developer Toolkit, created by “Ahmed Awais” https://github.com/ahmadawais/create-guten-block
- What about Themes?
hashtag: #wcbrt2018
What did I learn from WordCamp Biratnagar, Nepal?
I went to Biratnagar, Nepal 21st December 2018. Attended Pre-Party/Dinner. Actually, it’s an informal meeting to a get-together. Persons like me those are ashamed to Speech in front of an audience.
Pre-Pary/Dinner Venue: Purple Haze https://goo.gl/maps/7bsS9ZYeR4q
Time: 6:00 PM
It was a very nice experience to meet some excellent people like Fahad Murtaza, Sandilya Kafle, Abul Khayer, AB Rana, Sagar Tamang, and Specially Pracas Upreti and Kamal Prasad Shah.
I was attending first WordCamp as well as Speaker. I was so much excited, thrilled and nervous also. My session started around 11:30 pm. My session was 15 mins.
I couldn’t take much preparation for my speech. But, in the end, it seemed good to me.
What I’ve observed whole day of WordCamp Biratnagar, Nepal. Key points are given below:
- Huge participants ( Over 400+). Most of them came for learning about WordPress.
- Exceptionally great Community. Worked last 4 months tirelessly. Even last 15 days before the Event date they couldn’t get time for sleep.
- I met a few Core Contributors. Everyone was trying to contribute WordPress on many ways( Sponsoring, Volunteering, Organizing, Speaker )
- Everyone was very helpful to others.
- Each and every single facility was available there. Started from morning Breakfast, Tea, Coffee, Games, Inspiring People Crests, Stickers, WordPress T-Shirts, WordPress Hoody, Lunch, DJ Party, Dinner etc.
- They specially cared for Speakers came from abroad.
- WordPress Museum( First time on any WordCamp History ).
- Honorable City Mayor was also there for inspiring people.
I must say that I’ve never seen a large number of people working together as a team. This was the best part. I really like their community participation.
