Spring is coming, which means that the calendar is starting to fill up with high-tech events. And the last addition? Microsoft confirmed today that its Build-only online developer conference will be held from May 25th to 27th, although there is still no information on when registration will open. (If last year is any indication, our money is at the end of April.)
“Microsoft Build is where developers, architects, start-ups and students learn, connect and code together, sharing knowledge and expanding their skill set, while exploring new ways to innovate for the future,” explains the company’s events page .
Unfortunately, Microsoft has not yet updated its specific Build web page with information about this year’s priorities or schedule, but we are almost certainly looking at another packed event. Last year, Microsoft continued (among other things) on enhanced collaboration tools for its Office productivity application suite, an AI-focused supercomputer running on its Azure cloud platform and new cloud tools designed specifically for healthcare professionals .
Historically, spring and summer are full of great face-to-face events where application and software developers get a first look at upcoming platform and strategy updates, participate in code reviews and workshops, and often mingle with their colleagues. However, starting last year, the global coronavirus pandemic has forced companies that organize these events to quickly rethink their approaches.
Some, like Microsoft and Apple, quickly switched to informational topics only online, which include full days of sessions, demos and chats by the fireplace. (For what it’s worth, Apple announced this week that its own World Developer Conference will also continue as an online-only event from June 7 to 11.) In the meantime, Google has yet to confirm whether it plans to stage its Google I / developer. O throughout the conference this year – the company canceled the show entirely in 2020, but said last month that it plans to host some version of its annual Google Cloud Next event in October.
Between an increase in the production of the COVID-19 vaccine and the news of relaxed restrictions for vaccinated travelers, Build 2021 may very well be the last purely virtual developer conference that Microsoft will need to hold. With any luck, the developers will resume their pilgrimages to Seattle next year, and who knows – maybe those tiny Build 2018 emotional support horses will show up again.