Introduction
Much like AWS re:Invent's attendee guides—crafted by AWS Heroes, partners, and others to help attendees navigate the vast array of sessions—I wanted to create a personal guide for the sessions I am most excited about. If your interests align with mine in areas such as AWS, DevOps, AI/ML, and FinOps, you might find this curated list helpful too!
This is not just a guide for me but also for those who share similar passions. It highlights sessions that I believe will add immense value and practical insights. Whether you're attending in person or following online, this guide aims to help you make the most of your experience.
A Quick Note on Session Levels
I’ve taken advice to heart:
For topics I’m familiar with, I’ll attend 300/400-level sessions.
For topics I’m less knowledgeable about, I’ll stick to 200-level sessions for foundational learning.
Let’s dive into the sessions that caught my attention.
Keynote
Walk-up only: No reserved seating required
Keynotes are an unmissable part of any event, showcasing the latest innovations and setting the tone for the conference. I’ll be attending the keynote virtually to catch live announcements.
Breakout Sessions
These sessions are my top picks for in-depth learning and understanding.
Data Engineering for ML and AI with AWS Analytics
Level: Expert (400)
Why Attend: Explores advanced data engineering workflows for building scalable ML pipelines using AWS analytics services like Glue, Redshift, and S3. Ideal for those looking to optimize ML operations.Amazon EKS as a Data Platform for Analytics
Level: Expert (400)
Why Attend: Demonstrates how EKS can serve as a robust platform for analytics, with a focus on performance optimization and cost management. A must-attend for anyone leveraging Kubernetes for big data workloads.Scaling Machine Learning with Containers on AWS: Lessons Learned
Level: Advanced (300)
Why Attend: Provides practical insights on deploying and managing ML models at scale using containerized solutions like ECS, Fargate, and SageMaker. Perfect for those exploring container-based ML workloads.Boosting Productivity with Amazon Q Developer Agents
Level: Intermediate (200)
Why Attend: Introduces Amazon Q Developer, showcasing how generative AI can simplify and accelerate development tasks. An exciting session for those new to Gen AI tools.Best Practices and New Tools for Cost Reporting and Estimation
Level: Intermediate (200)
Why Attend: Covers actionable strategies for understanding and managing AWS costs. Ideal for those exploring FinOps and looking to integrate cost estimation into their workflows.Solving Different Data Ingestion Use Cases with AWS
Level: Advanced (300)
Why Attend: Tackles diverse data ingestion challenges and presents AWS-native solutions tailored to real-world scenarios. A great fit for data engineers seeking to refine their ingestion pipelines.Navigating the Cloud Compute Landscape with Amazon ECS
Level: Advanced (300)
Why Attend: Highlights ECS’s capabilities for running diverse workloads efficiently, helping attendees choose the right compute option for their use cases.
Builders’ Sessions (1–2 Sessions)
Hands-on learning is always exciting. These sessions are designed for those who want to dive into the practical aspects of AWS services.
Accelerate from Monolith to Modern Developer Platform with Gen AI
Level: Advanced (300)
Why Attend: Offers practical insights into transitioning legacy systems to modern architectures, leveraging Gen AI for productivity gains.Accelerated Hands-on Recipes for Building Strong Cloud Foundations
Level: Advanced (300)
Why Attend: Provides hands-on experience with foundational AWS tools and best practices for creating scalable and secure environments.
Chalk Talks (1–2 Sessions)
Chalk talks are highly interactive and provide a deeper understanding of specific topics.
Cost-Effective Architecture: Serverless, Monolith, or Containers
Level: Advanced (300)
Why Attend: Evaluates trade-offs between serverless, monolithic, and container-based architectures. Essential for architects making cost-aware decisions.Amazon EKS: Infrastructure as Code, GitOps, or CI/CD
Level: Expert (400)
Why Attend: Delves into best practices for managing EKS clusters using modern DevOps methodologies like GitOps and IaC. Ideal for experienced DevOps professionals.Architecting a Developer Platform on AWS
Level: Advanced (300)
Why Attend: Discusses how to build an efficient developer platform on AWS, focusing on productivity and scalability.
Code Talks
For developers who love diving into code, these sessions are a must-attend.
Streamline Amazon EKS Operations with Generative AI
Level: Advanced (300)
Why Attend: Explores how generative AI can simplify EKS management, with practical code examples.Accelerate .NET Development with Amazon Q Developer
Level: Advanced (300)
Why Attend: Demonstrates how Amazon Q can enhance .NET development with AI-assisted coding.
Workshops
Workshops offer an unparalleled opportunity to get hands-on and learn alongside experts.
Terraform Expertise: Accelerate AWS Deployments with Modular IaC & AI
Level: Advanced (300)
Why Attend: Teaches modular Terraform practices and how to integrate AI for optimizing infrastructure as code.Learn Multi-Tier Application Architectures on Amazon ECS
Level: Advanced (300)
Why Attend: Guides participants through designing resilient multi-tier applications on ECS.Advanced Cost Allocation for AWS Containerized Workloads
Level: Expert (400)
Why Attend: Provides a deep dive into managing and optimizing costs for containerized applications.Automate SaaS Provisioning & Deployment with Kubernetes DevOps Tooling
Level: Expert (400)
Why Attend: Covers end-to-end SaaS deployment workflows using Kubernetes and DevOps tools.
Closing Comments
I hope this guide serves as a helpful resource for planning your time at re:Invent 2024. If you’re attending in person, I strongly recommend prioritizing workshops and chalk talks, as they often provide insights that are not available online.
Remember to wear comfortable shoes, stay hydrated, and take time to network—it’s often during hallway conversations that the best ideas spark. And don’t forget to enjoy the social events; they’re a fantastic way to unwind and connect with like-minded professionals.
Let me know which sessions you’re excited about.
Happy learning!