Open source technology, services and solutions provider Obsidian Systems is spearheading Docker 'DevOps' meetups or community groups, a trend the company says is beginning to take root in creating awareness around digital tools, specifically software.
The company says the meetups, which will be held in Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg, have been organised to discuss and share projects and solutions regarding using the Docker tool to solve real world problems for software developers.
Obsidian Systems believes DevOps' overarching ideal is to get people talking and break down silos within an organisation.
Dean Schaffer, community manager for Obsidian, says these Docker user groups are just one of many meetup groups around many software stacks or open source solutions that are becoming widespread throughout South Africa and the world.
He says the meetups allow the entire community that works with or around these software stacks (or even folks just wanting to learn) to share information.
"When we share knowledge with one another we all grow. A typical meetup group is really just users of all levels getting together to talk about both wins and pain points in using a particular software package or open source solution."
Some meetup groups use Skype or other technologies to allow for remote viewing, or provide call in numbers via phone - it really depends on the group and its members, says Schaffer. Generally, most meetups are held at a location and during a specific time convenient to its members every month or two, he adds.
The community groups are not about sharing company secrets but rather learning how to better utilise a tool or do something different that will produce a better result within a specific environment, says Muggie van Staden, Obsidian Systems MD.
"We see the value in communities coming together and learning from one another. It shouldn't ever be a sales pitch. It has to be about sharing knowledge with one another, helping each other, assisting each other with whatever woes we have," says Schaffer.
Within business, this mentality of sharing has in the past been considered counterproductive to meeting the bottom line or staying in a particular position, he adds.
"When like-minded folks get together to discuss best practices or pain points, we all learn from these discussions. No one person has all the answers..."
"We will expose methods and methodologies to help build systems and developers to be more productive and help businesses to be more competitive in today's ever-changing technological landscape," says Van Staden.
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