Do you want to say goodbye to null errors? Are you interested in exploring alternatives to null, making your code more robust? Curious about why programming languages use null and how they are evolving in this regard?
In this 2-hour hands-on lab, we'll answer these questions, dive into various alternatives to using null, and discuss when each is most suitable depending on the programming language. And that's not all—through hands-on exercises, you'll gain a practical understanding of the problem and its solutions.

Null was introduced by Tony Hoare to represent partial functional relationships in Algol 60. He called it later "the billion-dollar mistake."
In this hands-on lab, we'll explore conceptually why using null/nil is problematic, the issues it creates, and the various ways to avoid it. We'll do this through practical exercises in the programming language of your choice.
Content:
- Conceptual Overview: Understanding why null/nil leads to issues.
- Historical Context: The origins and intent behind the creation of null.
- What Does Null Mean?: A deep dive into its significance.
- Five Alternatives to Avoid Null/Nil: Pros, cons, and when to apply each.
- Practical Exercises: Hands-on activities for each solution.
- Null/Nil Verification as a Parameter: How to handle it effectively.
- Null vs. Nil: Differences in syntax and object-oriented approaches.