GIDS Great Indian Developer Summit: What It Is

The Great Indian Developer Summit (GIDS) is India’s longest-running multi-track conference for software developers, held annually in Bengaluru. It brings together thousands of programmers, architects, and tech leads for talks, workshops, and networking focused on practical, current software engineering topics. This article explains what GIDS is, its history, what to expect, how to choose sessions, and common questions attendees have.

Background and History

GIDS began in 2010 as a response to the lack of a large, developer-focused conference in India. It was founded by the organizers of the popular developer community platform DeveloperMedia (now part of the Geeknight network). The first edition had a few hundred attendees; by the late 2010s, it regularly drew over 2,000 developers. The conference is known for its breadth: instead of focusing on one language or framework, GIDS covers everything from web and mobile to cloud, DevOps, AI, and data science. Over the years, it has hosted international speakers from Google, Microsoft, Amazon, and leading startups, alongside prominent Indian tech leaders.

What Happens at GIDS

GIDS is a multi-day event, typically spanning three days. The core is a set of parallel tracks—each track is a series of 45-60 minute talks on a theme. Past tracks have included:

Web & JavaScript: frameworks like React, Angular, Vue, and Node.js best practices.
Cloud & DevOps: Kubernetes, Docker, CI/CD pipelines, and cloud architecture.
Mobile: Android, iOS, Flutter, and cross-platform development.
AI & Data: machine learning, deep learning, TensorFlow, and data engineering.
Architecture & Design: microservices, event-driven systems, and software design patterns.

In addition to talks, GIDS offers full-day workshops (hands-on coding sessions), a vendor expo where companies showcase tools and services, and extensive networking breaks. Many attendees value the hallway conversations as much as the sessions.

Who Attends and Why

The audience is primarily professional developers, tech leads, and engineering managers from Indian IT companies and product startups. Students and freelancers also attend. People go for several reasons:

Learning: sessions are practical, often including live code demos and real-world war stories.
Networking: meet peers from other companies, potential employers, and open-source contributors.
Career growth: exposure to new technologies that may not be used at their day job.
Recruitment: companies sponsor to scout talent, and some attendees are actively job hunting.

How to Choose Sessions

With multiple tracks running simultaneously, you cannot attend everything. A good strategy:

Review the schedule in advance (published on the official website).
Pick a primary track that aligns with your current work or career goals.
Mix in one or two sessions from other tracks to explore adjacent areas.
Prioritize workshops for hands-on learning—they have limited seats.
Leave buffer time for networking and visiting the expo.

Costs and Registration

Ticket prices vary by type and how early you buy. Early-bird tickets are significantly cheaper. There are usually multiple tiers:

Conference pass: access to all talks and the expo.
Workshop pass: includes one or more full-day workshops (often at an extra cost).
Student discounts: offered with valid ID.
Corporate group rates: for companies sending several employees.

Prices have historically ranged from roughly ₹5,000 to ₹25,000 (about $60 to $300) depending on tier and timing. Check the official GIDS website for current pricing.

Common Problems and Misconceptions

First-time attendees often worry about the scale and whether they’ll get value. Here are common issues and clarifications:

“It’s too expensive.” Early-bird tickets are much cheaper; also, many companies sponsor employee tickets as professional development.
“I’m a beginner—will I understand anything?” Sessions range from introductory to advanced; check the difficulty level indicated in the schedule.
“I can just watch videos later.” Recordings are not always released, and you miss live Q&A and networking.
“It’s only for web developers.” GIDS covers far more, including AI, cloud, and mobile.

Comparison with Other Developer Conferences

GIDS is often compared to other Indian tech events like Rootconf (focused on infrastructure and DevOps) and JSConf India (focused solely on JavaScript). GIDS stands out for its breadth—it’s a generalist conference, so you get exposure to many topics in one place. International conferences like QCon or Google I/O are larger but are either more niche or not held in India. For a developer wanting a broad overview of the current tech landscape without traveling abroad, GIDS is a strong choice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is GIDS worth attending?

For most professional developers, yes. The breadth of topics and networking opportunities provide real value, especially if you choose sessions that match your skill level and goals. The main cost is time and money, so weigh it against your team’s training budget.

How do I get a discount on tickets?

Register early for early-bird pricing. Also, check if your company has a corporate partnership with the organizers, or if there are promo codes from sponsors (often shared on social media). Student discounts are available with a valid university ID.

Are sessions recorded and available online?

Some sessions are recorded and later uploaded to the official YouTube channel, but not all. Even when available, videos lack the live interaction and networking experience. Assume that not every talk will be published.

What should I bring?

A laptop is essential for workshops. For talks, a notebook or tablet for notes. Bring plenty of business cards if you plan to network. The venue is air-conditioned, so a light jacket is useful.

Can I attend only one day?

Yes, single-day passes are usually available. However, the full experience often spans multiple days, and workshops are typically full-day. If you can only attend one day, choose the day with the most relevant track.

Is there a code of conduct?

Yes, GIDS enforces a code of conduct to ensure a harassment-free environment for all attendees. It is typically posted on the official website and at the venue. Report any issues to the organizers.

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