O'Devs Website Redesign Project

2024-09-16

Orlando Devs Website Refresh Project: A Journey Toward Innovation and Community

As a passionate web developer and active member of the Orlando Devs community, I’m excited to lead a new initiative to refresh the O’Devs website. This project is more than just a redesign—it's about collaboration, innovation, and creating a digital space that reflects the true spirit of the Orlando developer community. The refreshed website will serve as a hub for our thriving network of tech professionals, hosting information about meetups, events, and providing resources for developers of all levels.

Project Overview

The Orlando Devs website has been a cornerstone of our community for some time, but like all digital spaces, it needs updating to meet the evolving demands of its users. After discussing the project with Brian Rinaldi, president of Orlando Devs, we identified the opportunity to not just give the site a visual update but to enhance its functionality and user experience significantly.

Our objective is clear: to create a state-of-the-art platform that will not only showcase the diverse talent of Orlando’s developer community but also streamline event management, communication, and engagement. This includes new features such as:

• Event Integration: A fully integrated event calendar with automatic updates via an API to pull information from Eventbrite, Slack, and other platforms, keeping all our events visible at a glance.

• Modern, Responsive Design: A sleek, modern design that reflects the cutting-edge nature of our community while ensuring a smooth, intuitive user experience across all devices.

• Content Management System (CMS): A user-friendly CMS that allows community members to easily contribute, manage, and update content, fostering a collaborative, open-source environment.

• Community-Focused Features: Sections dedicated to community spotlights, highlighting projects, meetups, and key Orlando Devs initiatives.

Team and Process

The heart of this project lies in the collaboration with fellow developers, designers, and tech professionals from across Orlando. After putting out a call for volunteers, we received an overwhelming response from talented individuals eager to contribute their skills and expertise. Together, we’ve assembled a well-rounded team to take this project to the next level.

Here’s a breakdown of the talented volunteers who’ve stepped up to help:

Meet the Team:

1. Jean Diaz – A frontend developer with a strong UI/UX focus. Jean has worked extensively with WordPress and developed themes for high-traffic websites like Flippers Pizzeria. He’s available on weekends and evenings, and he's excited to give back to the Orlando Devs community through this project.

2. Mauricio Reina – A frontend developer with experience in modern JavaScript frameworks such as React, Next.js, Node, Angular, and Vue. Mauricio is available on weekdays and is passionate about building intuitive, user-friendly websites. His knowledge will be invaluable as we integrate advanced features.

3. Jonathan Killian – Jonathan has a strong frontend background, and he has previously helped address issues with the performance and member details on the old Orlando Devs site. He’s particularly interested in event integration and enhancing the CMS, and he’ll bring those skills to the table for this refresh.

4. Robert Schneider – A cloud DevOps specialist with deep expertise in infrastructure management using tools like Terraform. Robert is available throughout the week and has experience building API integrations, making him a key player in ensuring the backend of our site is as robust and scalable as possible.

5. Manny Martinez – As a Senior Full Stack Engineer at Microsoft, Manny brings a wealth of experience, particularly in deep neural networks and advanced full-stack systems. He’s available in the evenings and is looking forward to meeting more locals while helping the project take shape.

6. Christopher Pecoraro – A Director of Web Development with experience working for Rollins College (Rollins.edu). Christopher is well-versed in enterprise-level web development and is excited to contribute his expertise to ensure the site is high-performing and scalable. He’s available on weekends and evenings.

7. Craig Albertson – Craig is a QA Analyst and frontend developer who has worked on internal apps and client-facing websites. His experience with quality assurance will be critical to making sure our site runs smoothly and meets the high standards we’re setting for the project. Craig is available on weekends.

8. Mike Butler – Mike is a product manager with extensive DevOps experience, specializing in automation and infrastructure management. He has worked on large-scale Docusaurus sites and brings strong leadership to our DevOps efforts. He’s available on weekends and evenings.

9. David Kerr – A talented frontend and backend developer who has worked on various projects, including his personal portfolio, which can be viewed here. David’s coding skills, available on weekdays and evenings, will play a key role in making our new site dynamic and scalable.

10. Bharat Katyal – Bharat has experience in product design and backend development, particularly within AWS environments. He has participated in over 20-30 hackathons in the last year, making him a seasoned veteran of collaborative coding projects. He’s interested in co-leading the project, and his availability in the evenings makes him a great asset.

11. William Cook – A seasoned developer with 5 years of professional experience, William has contributed to various Orlando DevOps projects and other open-source initiatives. He’s passionate about ensuring the new ODev website is accessible to all community members and easily extensible. Available on weekends and evenings, William’s focus on community inclusion will be invaluable as we build a website that serves everyone. You can learn more about his work at https://williamcook.dev. 

The Development Process

We’re kicking things off with an initial virtual meet-and-greet on Saturday, September 21st at 1 PM via Slack Huddle. This will be a chance for the team to connect, share ideas, and discuss project goals. I’ve asked each participant to prepare a 1-5 minute presentation to share their thoughts on what the website could become.

The agenda for our first meeting includes:

1. Feature Identification: We’ll brainstorm and discuss which features will be crucial to the new site. Whether it’s event management, user authentication, or integrations, the goal is to clearly define our functional requirements.

2. Design and Layout: Once we identify key features, the next step will be to collaborate on the website's design and layout. We want to make sure it’s modern, responsive, and reflective of Orlando Devs' innovative spirit.

3. Tech Stack Discussion: Some early questions have already been raised, including which tech stack we’ll use. Frameworks like React and Vue are top contenders, but we’re also exploring Eleventy (which was used for the current site) and potentially moving toward a JAMstack architecture. This will be a collaborative decision.

4. Development Workflow: We’ll discuss how we can streamline coding, testing, and deployment using DevOps best practices. With team members experienced in Git workflows, automation, and cloud infrastructure, this is a key part of ensuring smooth progress as we build the new site.

You can RSVP for the meeting and see more details about the event here:
O'Devs Website Refresh Initial Meeting
Sep 21 • 1 – 2 PM • Slack Huddle
https://calendar.app.google/2gLPHY35BLBPPcTh7

Our Vision

This website refresh is more than a simple upgrade—it’s an opportunity to set a new standard for how tech communities can engage online. The final product will be open-source and community-driven, with regular contributions from Orlando Devs members. Our goal is to create a future-proof platform, one that evolves with the community’s needs.

We envision the new website not only as a hub for Orlando Devs events and news, but also as a resource where developers can share knowledge, access learning materials, and highlight key projects. Additionally, we’re exploring ways to integrate RSS feeds, live event updates, and API-driven content to keep the platform dynamic and engaging.

Moving Forward

As we move through each stage of this project, from feature planning to design and implementation, I’ll be sharing regular updates here. Our next steps after the initial huddle will include finalizing the tech stack, solidifying design mockups, and creating a timeline for development milestones.

I’m thrilled to be working with such a talented and passionate group of developers, and I’m confident that together, we’ll build something truly remarkable for the Orlando Devs community.

For any inquiries or if you’re interested in being a part of this exciting project, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Stay tuned for more updates!

2024-10-15 - O'Devs Website Redesign Project – Update

Orlando Devs Website Refresh Project: Progress & Collaboration

As we continue on this exciting journey of refreshing the Orlando Devs website, I’m thrilled to provide you with an update on our progress and upcoming steps. The project has been moving forward with a lot of community collaboration, new ideas, and valuable contributions. The refreshed website will serve as a hub for Orlando’s tech professionals, housing everything from event details to community spotlights, all while reflecting the true spirit of the Orlando developer community.

Project Overview

Our core objective remains the same: to create a state-of-the-art platform that not only showcases the talent within Orlando’s developer community but also streamlines event management, communication, and engagement. We’re making headway in refining features and ensuring the new site becomes a seamless resource for everyone.

Key Features Under Development:

• Event Integration: We’re building an automated event calendar that will pull in updates from Eventbrite and other platforms via API, ensuring all events are visible at a glance.

• Modern, Responsive Design: Our goal is a sleek, modern design that reflects our cutting-edge community while being responsive and intuitive across all devices.

• Simplified Content Updates: The community will be able to contribute content easily, ensuring the website evolves alongside the community.

• Community Spotlights: We’ll feature spotlights for key Orlando Devs initiatives, projects, and members, further fostering connection within the group.

Recent Updates

Our initial virtual meet-and-greet was a great success! Since then, we’ve expanded our team of talented volunteers and have had many discussions around improving the user experience, enhancing event integration, and ensuring that the platform is easy to maintain and scale.

A collaborative coding session is now planned for Sunday, October 6th, at 1 PM. This session will provide an opportunity for everyone to contribute ideas, share leadership roles, and dive into the technical details. We’ll be screen-sharing and walking through the current site to discuss enhancements and align on project objectives. If you can’t attend, we’ll be recording the session and sharing the video on the project page for future reference.

Here’s the link to join the session:
https://calendar.app.google/sneQedbLYjcJZMcF9

Meet the Team

We’ve been lucky to have many talented individuals step up to join the project. Here are some of the key contributors so far:

• Jean Diaz – Frontend developer with a UI/UX focus.

• Mauricio Reina – JavaScript expert with experience in React, Next.js, and other modern frameworks.

• Mike Butler – DevOps specialist helping with automation and infrastructure.

• David Kerr – A talented frontend/backend developer who has already contributed greatly to initial planning.

• Bharat Katyal – Product designer and backend developer with extensive hackathon experience.

• Robert Schneider – Cloud DevOps specialist helping to ensure our backend is scalable and reliable.

With more members joining, the collaboration has been remarkable, and each of these talented individuals is making an impact on the project.

Tech Stack and Infrastructure

We’ve settled on Astro for the website’s architecture. This framework allows us to build a performant, modern static site while ensuring flexibility for future updates. The site will be hosted on Netlify, which provides us with a streamlined deployment process and supports our aim of creating a responsive, scalable platform for the Orlando Devs community.

We’ve also introduced an AI project manager to help us manage tasks and stay organized throughout the process. Orlando Devs Website Engineer 1.0 is designed to assist with project tracking, technical guidance, and team collaboration. You can check it out here:
https://chatgpt.com/g/g-MHuFpv6Bo-orlando-devs-website-engineer-1-0

Next Steps and Upcoming Plans

1. Collaborative Coding Session:
   Join us on Sunday, October 6th at 1 PM for an open-format meeting where we’ll discuss the project in detail and continue to refine our technical approach.

2. Design & Development:
   We’re moving forward with design concepts, working through UI/UX ideas, and solidifying our plan to create a seamless user experience. Feel free to jump in and provide feedback or contribute to the discussion on our Figma design concepts:
   https://www.figma.com/design/8YAszYoGniXwG99w0ziIFb/ODevs-Site-Redesign?node-id=0-1&t=RFPEaETB1rgBv71n-1

3. Event Integration:
   We’re actively working on pulling events directly from Eventbrite, ensuring that community members can easily access all event details on the site.

4. Ongoing Contributions:
   Whether it’s helping with coding, UI/UX design, or DevOps, all hands are welcome as we continue this exciting process. The project will be open-source, and community-driven contributions will be a key component moving forward.

Looking Forward

This website refresh is shaping up to be an inspiring project that combines the talents of many passionate individuals from the Orlando Devs community. Our aim is to build something future-proof, user-friendly, and reflective of the innovation that defines our local tech scene.

I’m incredibly excited about the direction we’re heading and look forward to seeing how this project evolves. If you’re interested in contributing or just staying updated, feel free to reach out or follow along on my blog for regular updates.

Let’s build something amazing together!

For any inquiries or if you’d like to get involved, don’t hesitate to reach out.