Better the Devil you NoSQL - A Battle of Paradigms

SQL or NoSQL? We’ll build the same app on DynamoDB and on Aurora DSQL, the latest cloud native database. Then compare modeling, query patterns, cost, latency, transactions, and ops. Takeaway practical insights from this packed micro demo.

## Abstract
I spent years living happily in my NoSQL safe space. I avoided SQL out of intimidation, without realizing the cost. Inspired by Ghost Rider’s redemption arc, I used the Devil I know to learn about the one I don’t. We’ll build a “Soul Contract Manager” for Ghost Rider with both DynamoDB and Aurora DSQL. In the process, we’ll see:

- How data modeling shapes query flexibility and agility
- The realities of multi-record consistency (transactions vs. item-level ops)
- Cost and latency levers under typical read/write mixes
- Secure connection patterns (IAM-issued tokens vs. app-managed secrets)

Our goal isn’t to pick a winner; instead, you’ll get my hard-won lessons because redemption isn’t about choosing sides; it’s about feeling confident in your choices.

## What You’ll Learn

- **Mental models:** Access-pattern modeling (NoSQL) vs. relational modeling (SQL), you can explain to your team.
- **Modeling tradeoffs in practice:** Keys/GSIs/streams vs. schemas/joins/transactions.
- **Performance & cost levers:** How workload shapes (read/write ratio, query mix) changes outcomes.
- **Security patterns:** Secrets-free connections with IAM tokens; least-privilege access.

## Why You Can’t Miss It

- **Memorable and Entertaining Analogies:** Inspired by Ghost-Rider’s redemption story to make concepts stick.
- **Hands-on realism:** The *same* workflow implemented two ways—no hand-wavy “it depends.”

# Audience & Level

General developers, backend/full-stack, cloud/serverless engineers, Beginner–Intermediate level

Adaptations of a Self-Taught Dev: Learning CompSci the Hard (and Fun) Way

Description

What if the story of your developer journey was a screenplay, and every bug, burnout, and breakthrough was a hidden computer science lesson in disguise? Inspired by Adaptation starring Nicolas Cage, this talk reimagines ten years of “just hacking JavaScript” as a story of discovery, improvisation, and transformation.

Through real-world scenes such as mis-wiring an Arduino over WebSockets, debugging async chaos, and wrestling with retry logic in AWS Lambdas, you’ll see how the fundamentals of logic, state, algorithms, and computation quietly emerge from hands-on experience.

This isn’t a theory-heavy lecture. It’s a reflective journey for anyone who has learned by doing. You’ll walk away with a framework for turning day-to-day challenges into lasting understanding, reframing impostor syndrome as curiosity in disguise, and finding confidence in the messy middle of self-taught growth.

What You’ll Learn

Relatable Analogies:
How real-world problems map to classic CS concepts such as state machines hidden in UI bugs, queue theory hiding in async systems, and recursion revealed in debugging loops.

Practical Reflection:
Methods to capture and translate on-the-job learning into a personal CS curriculum without going back to school.

Mindset Shift:
Why embracing uncertainty is the key to mastery and how to transform impostor syndrome into fuel for continuous growth.

Why You Can’t Miss This Talk

Memorable Learning:
By blending storytelling and technical insight, this talk makes abstract CS ideas tangible and emotionally resonant.

Actionable Growth Framework:
You’ll leave with tools to recognize patterns, reflect on mistakes, and document your own “curriculum by experience.”

Broad Appeal:
Perfect for self-taught developers, bootcamp grads, mentors, and educators seeking ways to connect practice with principle.

Empowering Takeaway:
Your career isn’t an accident. It’s an adaptation in progress. Learn how to embrace the script as you write it.

Data Gone in 60 Seconds: A Serverless ETL Heist

Have you ever seen Gone in 60 Seconds starring Nicolas Cage? Experience the same adrenaline rush in data processing! We’ll use the iconic movie to create our own “heist” and build a serverless ETL pipeline using AWS Lambda, S3, Athena & SQS, transform it in a flash, and deliver blockbuster insights.

Data Gone in 60 Seconds: A Serverless ETL Heist
Ever wondered how the adrenaline of a high-speed heist can transform your approach to cloud-native architectures? In this talk, we harness the wild energy of Gone in 60 Seconds—starring Nicolas Cage—to craft a humorous, memorable analogy that demystifies complex serverless ETL pipelines using AWS Lambda, S3, Athena, and SQS.

What You’ll Learn
Engaging Analogies:
We assign cinematic roles to AWS components: imagine Lambda as your agile crew pulling off the heist, S3 as the secure vault for your “loot” (raw sensor data), Athena as the strategic mastermind who deciphers hidden insights, and SQS as the dispatcher ensuring every move is synchronized. This storytelling approach makes it easy to grasp and remember intricate cloud concepts.

Real-World Architecture:
Dive into a step-by-step demonstration of building a serverless ETL pipeline. Learn how to ingest, partition, enrich, and transform data at scale, then deliver the final insights to an external data warehouse—all with best practices for security, cost efficiency, and scalability.

Practical Insights:
Gain actionable tips on integrating AWS services, handling errors, automating data partitioning, and optimizing for performance. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to refine your existing cloud solutions, you’ll find valuable techniques that you can immediately apply to your projects.

Why You Can’t Miss This Talk
Memorable Learning:
Using a beloved movie as a metaphor, this talk transforms dry technical details into an engaging narrative that sticks with you long after the session ends.

Actionable Strategies:
Walk away with a clear, practical blueprint for building robust serverless ETL pipelines that can scale with your business needs.

Broad Appeal:
Perfect for cloud newcomers and seasoned architects alike—this session cuts through complexity with humor and clarity, making advanced concepts accessible and fun.

Cutting-Edge Cloud Solutions:
Discover how to leverage AWS’s latest serverless technologies to design data pipelines that are both cost-effective and powerful. Get ready to revolutionize the way you handle data processing in the cloud.

Buckle up and join us for a data heist that’s as thrilling as it is instructive—Data Gone in 60 Seconds: A Serverless ETL Heist is the must-attend talk for anyone serious about cloud innovation!

Happy deploying!