After Paris: Time Together in Germany
After Paris, we went to Germany. It was a mix of working and learning together, exploring, eating well, and having a lot of fun. The discussions were one part of days that also included Lime rides, swims in the lakes, and time with friends.
The Value of In-Person Open Source
Open source brings people together remotely, but spending time in person adds something special. You can ask a question as it comes up, talk an idea through, and get to know the people you usually work with through messages and calls.
On the days we spent working together, we discussed the overall architecture and design of what we were building. We also spent time with Nils Magnus, talking through ideas and the broader approach to the work.
An important part of these discussions was coordination between teams: understanding how our work connected, talking through dependencies, and making sure we had a shared understanding of what needed to happen next. Being in the same place made it easier to ask questions and discuss things together.
Having time to listen to each other's perspectives helped us see the work more clearly and understand how to collaborate. The time we spent together outside those discussions mattered too: it made us more comfortable with each other and gave us shared memories beyond the work.
The Reichstag, Lime Rides, and Lake Swims
Mario, Saksham, and I visited the Reichstag, the German Parliament, and went inside its dome, the Kuppel. Exploring the building and seeing the dome together was one of the sightseeing highlights of our time in Germany.
We also went on Lime rides and made plenty of trips to the lakes for a swim. There was a lot of fun mixed into the trip, with time to get outside, explore, and enjoy being together.
Döner Kebabs and Mario's Cooking
Saksham and I ate a lot of döner kebabs during our time in Germany. They deserve a mention of their own in any account of the trip's food.
And then there was Mario's cooking. Mario is a really great cook: somehow, he finds a way to make even the healthiest food taste amazing. Sharing meals at his place was a highlight, both for the food and for the time we got to spend together around the table.
Spending time with Alejandro and Nangi, including the barbecue and hanging out together, was another memorable part of the trip. Those moments gave us a chance to relax and get to know each other outside work.
Looking back, the trip was a mix of useful discussions, new places, good food, and a lot of fun. I remember talking through ideas with Nils, visiting the Reichstag, swimming in the lakes, and sharing meals with everyone. All of that belongs in the story of our time together.