My Day at Jogja{DevDay} 2025: A City of Code and Community

The air in Yogyakarta always has a special feeling, a mix of old traditions and new energy. But yesterday, November 3rd, 2025, there was a different kind of buzz in the air, a specific kind of excitement. It was the day of Jogja{DevDay} 2025, and as I walked towards the GIK UGM building, I could feel that anticipation. You know that feeling when you’re about to be in a room full of people who share your passion? That was it. The big blue banner at the entrance, with its cool robotic hand graphic, was like a welcome sign for all of us tech geeks. It wasn’t just a conference; it felt like a gathering of a huge, extended family. The theme was “innovate, collaborate, inspire,” and I was ready for all three. The registration area was already busy, with hundreds of developers, students, and IT professionals all checking in, grabbing their lanyards, and greeting friends.

The day started strong in the main hall. After a welcoming speech by the organizers from Rumahweb, who did an amazing job putting this all together, we dove into the first keynote. The speaker was Caleb Kow from Verisign, and he gave a fascinating talk about digital transformation across Southeast Asia. It was the perfect way to start, giving us a “big picture” view of where our region is heading. He talked about the digital economy, the importance of solid infrastructure, and how intelligence is being built into everything. It made me realize that the code we write in Jogja can have an impact far beyond our city limits. But the moment many of us were waiting for came next. The legend himself, Onno W. Purbo, took the stage. Seeing the “Bapak Internet Indonesia” in person was incredible. His talk was titled “Bikin AI Sendiri: from zero to hero,” and it was exactly as inspiring as it sounds.

Professor Purbo’s session wasn’t just a technical lecture. It was a call to action. He has this amazing ability to make complex topics, like Artificial Intelligence, feel accessible to everyone. He talked about the power of open-source tools and how we don’t need to wait for big corporations to lead the way. We, as individuals and as a community, can build our own AI solutions. He showed examples and shared stories with so much passion and humor that the entire room was captivated. His message was clear: the future of technology is in our hands, and we have a responsibility to learn, build, and share. I left that talk feeling not just smarter, but empowered. I saw so many students in the audience taking notes like their lives depended on it, and I knew that a new generation of innovators was being inspired right in front of me.

After that intense dose of inspiration, the lunch break was a welcome change of pace. This is where the “collaborate” part of the theme really came to life. The event wasn’t just about sitting and listening; it was about connecting. The organizers had even set up a “Throwing Server Competition” outside. Yes, you read that right. It was a hilarious and brilliant icebreaker, where people literally competed to throw old server equipment. It was the perfect, fun-loving, slightly nerdy activity that only a developer conference could have. While I didn’t participate (I’m better at deploying code than throwing hardware), it was so much fun to watch. I grabbed lunch, and the best part was finally getting to have a real ‘kopdar’ (kopi darat). I spotted faces I’d only ever known from online forums and chat groups. It’s a great feeling to finally shake hands and talk in person with people you’ve been discussing code with for months. Within minutes, we were chatting about Professor Purbo’s talk, the challenges of working with AI, and which local Python community they were from. This is the magic of events like Jogja{DevDay}.

In the afternoon, the hardest part was choosing which sessions to attend. There were multiple tracks running at the same time, covering everything from coding to cloud technology. I decided to check out a talk by Fuadit Muhammad, a programmer and content creator many of us follow online. His topic was “Menghadari Dunia IT di Era AI” (Facing the IT World in the AI Era). This one hit close to home. He talked honestly about how AI is changing our jobs, not by replacing us, but by changing the skills we need. It was less about the technical side and more about the mindset, the need for continuous learning, and how to stay relevant. It was a practical and thoughtful session that gave me a lot to think about for my own career.

After that, I drifted into a session by Rizqinofa Putra Muliawan, one of the co-founders of Skyshi, called “Vibe Coding.” The name alone made me curious. It wasn’t about a specific language or framework but about the culture and atmosphere of a development team. He talked about how to build a team that “vibes,” how to communicate effectively, and how the right environment can make a team more productive than just having the best individual coders. It was a reminder that technology is, at its core, built by people. We spend so much time optimizing our code, but it’s just as important to optimize our human connections and teamwork. It was a refreshing perspective that I really appreciated.

One of the highlights of the late afternoon was the panel discussion: “Yogyakarta: The Rising of Indonesia Tech Hub.” This session really tied the whole day together. The panel featured leaders from various local communities and companies, all discussing what makes Jogja’s tech scene so special. They talked about the strong collaboration between universities like UGM, the vibrant startup culture, and the deep pool of talent. Listening to them, I felt a strong sense of pride. Looking around the packed room at GIK UGM, it was impossible to disagree. We were all proof that Jogja is not just a city of culture and education; it’s a city of code and innovation. The event itself, supported by companies like Rumahweb, felt like a testament to that fact.

As the day wrapped up with final announcements and lucky draw prizes, I felt that perfect kind of tired. The kind where your brain is full of new ideas, your notebook is covered in scribbles, and you’ve finally connected with your online community in real life. Jogja{DevDay} 2025 was more than just a conference. It was a celebration of the community. It lived up to its theme perfectly. I saw innovation in the AI talks, I collaborated with fellow developers (both new and old friends), and I left feeling completely inspired by speakers like Onno W. Purbo. As I walked out of the GIK UGM, back into the warm Yogyakarta evening, I was already thinking about what I was going to build next. I can’t wait to see what this amazing community does in the coming year, and you can bet I’ll be first in line for tickets next time.