Birds of a Feather (Code BEAM America 2025)

We’re introducing Birds of a Feather (BoF) sessions into the conference schedule on both days. These sessions will provide an open space for informal, attendee-driven discussions on topics that align with the conference’s main themes or address current hot topics.  

How It Works

Propose a Topic: Attendees can submit topic proposals before or during the conference. Proposals should reflect areas of interest or shared challenges.  

Voting: Topics will be voted on during the event, and those receiving at least 5 votes will get a table.

Pre-Selected Topics: To kick things off, we’ve pre-selected a few topics suggested by speakers and guests:

• Embedded and Frameworks - Moderator: Peer Stritzinger  
• Language/Tool Adoption - Moderators: Jenny Bramble & Adrian Dunston
• Domain-Driven Design - Moderator: John Mandalakas
• Designing for Scalability and Reliability - Moderator: Alvaro Callero 
• OpenRiak - Moderator: Nicholas Adams
• Technical Debt on the BEAM - Moderator: Bryan Hunt

Session Details

• Purpose: BoF sessions are for people with a shared interest in a topic to collaborate, explore ideas, and use collective knowledge to address challenges or find solutions.
• Duration: 40 minutes.  
• Format: Moderated roundtable discussions. Each table seats up to 10 participants, with flexibility for attendees to switch tables during the session if space permits.
• Moderators: If you propose a topic, you’ll also moderate the discussion (see guidelines below).  

Guidelines for Moderators

Pre-Session

Prepare Your Topic:

• Write a clear and concise description to help attendees choose.
• Identify 2–3 key questions or themes to guide the discussion.  

Understand Your Role:

• Facilitate rather than lead; your job is to encourage equal participation and ensure the discussion stays engaging and productive.
• Be open to diverse perspectives.  

Optional Tools or Aids:

• Bring visuals or examples to inspire discussion (optional).
• Have a notebook or device for note-taking or capturing ideas.  

During the Sessions

Kick-Off the Conversation:

• Introduce yourself and the topic.
• Share the key questions or themes you’d like to explore.  
• Invite participants to introduce themselves briefly.  

Foster Engagement:

• Encourage open-ended questions and equal involvement.  
• Manage dominant voices to ensure everyone has a chance to speak.  
• Explore tangents that add value but gently redirect if off-track.  

Be Flexible:

• Welcome new participants mid-session and provide a quick recap. 

Encourage Actionable Outcomes:

• Summarize key takeaways or next steps toward the end.
• Suggest attendees exchange contact details to continue discussions after the event.  

Post-Session

Provide a Summary: 

• Share key takeaways, open questions, or actionable ideas via the designated platform.  
• Summaries can be informal—bullet points or a few sentences are fine.

Feedback:

• Let the organizers know what worked, any challenges faced, or suggestions for future sessions.  

Logistics

BoF sessions will take place after early-afternoon talks and before the second coffee break in the following rooms:

• Commandants Room
• Heritage Room  
• Rosenberg Room (All on the 10th Floor; see the floor plan.)  

Each table will seat up to 10 participants. No equipment or audio setup will be provided.

BoF sessions are available for in-person or online (via the SwapCard platform) discussions. Hybrid formats cannot be accommodated.  

Outcome and Output 

BoF sessions should have an outcome and an output. Examples of output include:

• A shared collaborative document summarizing the discussion.  
• A post-session write-up by the moderator or participants, which can be shared on social media or a community platform.  

Post-Session Summary Prompt

Help us capture the value of your session by providing a quick summary:  

• Key Takeaways: What were the most interesting ideas or solutions discussed?  
• Open Questions: Any thought-provoking challenges or questions that emerged? 
• Next Steps (Optional): Any actionable suggestions or resources shared?  

Feel free to keep it casual—just a few bullet points or sentences. Submit your summary sending it to info@codesync.global or posting on SwapCard.