CloudFest, the world-class cloud hosting and computing conference, pushed through all the Covid restrictions and red tape to put on a safe and successful flagship event, even as Germany hit its highest infection rate. Over 6,000 Cloud Experts flocked to Europa Park for what’s been dubbed by many the CloudFest “Covid Edition,” as attendees were taking countless Covid tests and sporting stylish branded medical masks at every stop.
CloudFest Hackathon
Our first stop was the 2022 CloudFest Hackathon, where we sponsored the event and submitted a project in the hackathon. Project Lead Aleksandar Savkovic led ten people from Codeable, Ionos, Innovation Lab, T-Systems, Healthrise, and 4fb GMBH.
What was the project about?
Our project was securing WordPress through WP-CLI; we overachieved the hackathon goal by completing 10 WP CLI commands instead of the six we initially planned. Thanks to our WordPress Community Manager Aleksandar Savkovic, Cloudways took home the best presentation award!
You can find more about commands and get the code from GitHub by visiting the site we created during the hackathon. https://hackthewp.com
CloudFest Cloudways Keynote
Cloudways CMO Santi Costa gave a keynote address about how to design and develop customers’ experiences from the outside-in. WOAH! EDGILITY! (That’s what the address was called.)
During his keynote, Santi announced the new Cloudways and Cloudflare partnership that uses enterprise level services for just cents per day. Directly after the keynote, Robert Jacobi made a live announcement from the gates of CloudFest!
CloudFest WordPress Panel
Our Director of WordPress, Robert Jacobi was one of the panelists on the excellent panel moderated by Jonathan Wold of Post Status, along with the co-founder of Extendify, Chris Lubkert, and CEO of WP Media, Jean-Baptiste Marchand-Arvier. The topic was “What is the value of the WordPress ecosystem?”
The theme was not referring to the value expressed in the revenue generated by the WordPress ecosystem but the potential value of developing innovative products focused around 42% of the web user base. This lively and informative debate touched on community, developers, agencies, and even the folks who don’t realize that they are a part of an ecosystem! We’re happy to say that this was one of the most well received and attended panels at CloudFest 2022.
CloudFest Faire
CloudFest 2022 seemed to be a cautious return to conferencing with a slower expo than usual as attendees favored meetings outside and away from the main event. But even as we traversed Covid rules, the internet could not be stopped.
Our Cloudways booth was abuzz with our Cloudflare announcement and sweetened with, well, sweets.
We were overjoyed to see our industry friends and engage with our customers and partners. The networking and meetings never seemed to end as we worked late into the night at the events and in the bars and hotel lounges.
The CloudFest Parties
CloudFest is also known for its world class parties and its legendary musical guests. Past CloudFests have had members of The Cult, Run DMC, Public Enemy and Skid Row all performing live on the main stage with The Lords of Uptime (the house band made up of Hosting Executives).
This year The Lords of Uptime skipped the main stage and kicked things off at the Come Together Party. Love them or hate them, there is always a bit of surprise, drama, and special guests included when the Lords of Uptime perform. The Lords left the drama and controversy for the CloudHouse party, when two hemeted DJs took the stage and started banging out Daft Punk songs. Just over a year after calling it quits, was this really Daft Punk?
Photo Credit: rene-lamb.de
Even weeks after the show people are still wondering if this was just a tribute band or the real thing. CloudFest added mystery in a recent CloudFest blog by claiming he never saw them without their helmets and was unsure if it was the dynamic duo.
“The CloudHouse concert, powered by cPanel, raised the outdoor roof ‘One More Time’. However, since we didn’t see the artists beneath the helmets, and considering Daft Punk had apparently just played a secret show in Berlin, the CloudFest team has no way of 100% confirming that the duo onstage was NOT Daft Punk… just saying…”
Rockhouse kicked off the next night with a group of bagpipers atop the Colosseo steps and the heavy metal cover band Barock AC/DC tribute shook the conference all night long. The conference closed out with a BierFest in the park with German food, and of course, German beer!
CloudFest Wrap-up
For many, it was fantastic to return to Europa Park. For others, it was a brand new adventure, but for everyone, it was the best networking in years. We are excited to see CloudFest already has dates to return in 2023 with an exhaustive schedule and another world class event! For more information visit: https://www.cloudfest.com
