GDG Kisii

Reflections on GDG DEVFEST KISII 2023: Insights and Takeaways

Summary: The GDG DEVFEST KISII 2025 was praised for its insightful talks and engaging workshops, as highlighted by Hyacinth Onchangu. Participants are encouraged to share their experiences and thoughts on impactful sessions, newly acquired skills, and networking opportunities. Hyacinth Onchangu shared their learnings on building secure systems using AI and cloud technologies, emphasizing structured development practices and AI persona definition. They explored tools like Gemini Code Assist for AI-assisted coding and highlighted the importance of utilizing various AI platforms and resources to enhance their understanding of AI, data science, and cloud-based development.
AI Summary

GDG Kisii Members!

The recent GDG DEVFEST KISII 2025 was an incredible event filled with insightful talks, engaging workshops, and a vibrant exchange of ideas. Now that we've had some time to reflect, we'd love to hear your thoughts and experiences from the event.

Discussion Points:

  • Memorable Sessions: Which session or speaker left the biggest impact on you and why?

  • New Skills Acquired: Did you learn something new or gain any skills that you're eager to apply in your projects?

  • Networking Experiences: Were there any connections or conversations that stood out to you during the event?

  • Future Improvements: What would you like to see in future DEVFEST events to enhance your experience?

  • Ideas to Implement: Are there any innovative concepts or ideas from the event that you plan to incorporate into your work or personal projects?

Your feedback and insights are invaluable to us and help shape our future events. We encourage everyone to share their reflections and continue the conversation. Let's keep the momentum going and support each other in our tech journeys!

2 comments
Hyacinth Onchangu
10 months, 3 weeks ago

Attending GDG DevFest was a highly insightful experience. I learned how to build safe and secure systems using AI and Cloud technologies, with an emphasis on structured development practices. One of the key lessons was the importance of defining an AI agent’s persona and having a clear plan before prompting, ensuring more accurate and controlled outputs. I was also introduced to the concept of Vibe Coding, a modern approach to writing code with AI-assisted workflows.

Another major highlight was exploring Gemini Code Assist, which supports developers by generating code, completing functions, and explaining complex code blocks. I interacted with several AI terminals including Gemini CLI, Google AI Studio, Jules, Firebase Studio, and Scope, all designed to streamline AI development workflows. The event also provided exposure to building and deploying AI agents using tools like the Gemini Vercel SDK, Google Generative AI SDK, and the Angular Language Service.

Additionally, I explored the wider ecosystem of datasets and AI platforms, including dialect datasets, Sunbury AI, Google Cloud, Kaggle, Hugging Face, TensorFlow, and various open-source resources. Overall, the sessions deepened my understanding of AI, data science, and cloud-based development, equipping me with practical tools and frameworks for future projects.

Maina Sirgini
10 months, 2 weeks ago

The defining sentiment of DevFest Kisii 2025 was that "building is easy, but building right is hard." The theme Innovating Responsibly anchored almost every session.

  • The Insight: We have moved past the "Hello World" phase of Generative AI. Developers are now grappling with bias, privacy, and the "black box" problem of LLMs.

  • For developers in 2025, understanding AI Ethics (fairness, transparency, accountability) is as critical as knowing Python or TensorFlow. The sessions emphasized that African developers must ensure local datasets and contexts are represented to prevent biased AI models.

  • AI & Machine Learning: The "Agentic" ShiftThe conversation shifted from simple chatbots to AI Agents—systems that can take action (e.g., booking tickets, querying databases) rather than just generating text.

  • Trend: The conversation shifted from simple chatbots to AI Agents—systems that can take action (e.g., booking tickets, querying databases) rather than just generating text.

  • Highlight: Sessions on Gemini and Function Calling demonstrated how to turn AI into a functional backend component.

  • Mobile & Web: Maturity in Tooling

    Android & Flutter: The "Build with AI" narrative bled into mobile. Talks on Android Material 3 focused on adaptive layouts that work seamlessly across the exploding variety of device screens (foldables, tablets) now common in the Kenyan market.

    Web (Angular): With Wayne Gakuo (GDE) present, the Web track emphasized the "DRY" (Don't Repeat Yourself) principle and the modern Angular Signals architecture.

    Insight: The web is becoming "smarter" by default. The line between a web app and an AI tool is blurring, with frameworks now offering first-class support for AI integration.

"Don't just be a consumer, be a builder

  • Don't just use AI; control it. Learn how to fine-tune models or use RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation) to make AI specific to your local data.

  • Audit your Ethics. If you are building an app that uses user data, ask yourself: "Is this transparent? Is this fair?"

  • Specialise. The era of the "generalist" is fading. Pick a lane—whether it's Mobile UI with Material 3, Angular Signals, or Cloud AI Ops—and go deep.

Hyacinth Onchangu
10 months, 3 weeks ago