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Cover image for [Keynote] Coding's a Drag

[Keynote] Coding's a Drag

About This Keynote

In this keynote for CodeLand 2021, I tell the story of my journey as a coder and drag performer who is committed to making everyone feel that they belong in the tech industry. My goal with this talk is to reach early-career developers who might be doubting their own abilities and validity in this field. You can learn to code, become a software developer, and have a great time doing it!

Takeaways

  • Combining your passion with code
  • A beginner friendly data structures lesson
  • One developer's path to success as an engineer and finding community in the tech space

Slides

>> Click to Download Slides

🌈 After I present, please leave your thoughts, comments, and questions about my keynote in the comments below!


About Anna Lytical

Anna Lytical is a Developer Experience Engineer at Google and a coding drag performer who creates fun and educational coding content to engage a early-career developer audience on TikTok, Twitter, YouTube, and beyond.


This keynote will be presented as part of CodeLand 2021 on September 23. After the talk is streamed as part of the conference, it will be added to this post as a recorded video along with the slides.

Top comments (41)

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towers1209 profile image
Loreto E. Torres

Anna,
Thank you very much for your presentation. It was entertaining and and informative. Most of all, very inspiring.

I know that your stated target audience are the young LGBTQ+ budding Computer Scientists and Software Developers. However, this β€œold dog” is quite inspired and appreciative of your presentation.

This β€œold dog” has lived so far back into the closet and had not lived a full life as a person or as a Software Developer. it’s only been recently that I am taking a peek through the closet door cracks.

I have left the industry for sometime now and is currently working in retail. I am looking into going back in the software development industry and had been taking online courses β€” Udacity and Udemy.

My presence in CodeLand is also part of that effort. I had to request personal days off just to be fully present in all the presentations today and tomorrow.

I just wish that I had the mentorship and supportive environment you had.

Here’s to wishing me the best β€œluck” in my effort to get back on the saddle.

Thanks again, Anna/George.

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theannalytical profile image
Coding Drag Queen Anna Lytical πŸŒˆπŸ‘©πŸ»β€πŸ’»πŸ‘ΈπŸ»

Good luck George!!! Thank you for sharing your story and for getting back into things!! You'll do amazing πŸ’œ

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towers1209 profile image
Loreto E. Torres • Edited

Ohh, ohh. Anna Lytical. I was addressing you as Anna/George in the thank you line.

My name is Loreto. No worries. I can truly see how my message can be confusing. Funny. 😊

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whatnotery profile image
Jos O'shea (they/them)

Hi Anna! I'm an aspiring developer who's LGBTQ. I'm wondering if you know of any explicitly queer online developer communities, initiatives, or open source projects?

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theannalytical profile image
Coding Drag Queen Anna Lytical πŸŒˆπŸ‘©πŸ»β€πŸ’»πŸ‘ΈπŸ»

Hi Jos! I don't have any that I know of unfortunately πŸ₯Ί I think there are a variety of organizations that do like LGBTQ+ tech meetups but I find the majority of those to be completely untechnical (which is great to increase the community, but I've found them to almost be less helpful for myself because then I'm like am I the only queer coder here??) Perhaps it will be something in my future to put together πŸ‘€ πŸ’œπŸ’œπŸ’œ

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whatnotery profile image
Jos O'shea (they/them)

Bummer, thanks for the response though! Might be worthwhile to try and cultivate some sort of community like that myself. Even if it's just a discord or slack channel?

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ifo profile image
Ifo Ikede

@whatnotery you might find some connections from these sites ..

outintech.com/

lgbtstem.wordpress.com/

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elleon003 profile image
elleon003 • Edited

OMG I am so excited for this talk! Anna Lytical is a freaking brilliant Drag Queen name!!!

This is one of the best explinations of coding concepts I've seen. This presentation is fire.

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theannalytical profile image
Coding Drag Queen Anna Lytical πŸŒˆπŸ‘©πŸ»β€πŸ’»πŸ‘ΈπŸ»

So glad you loved it!!!! I always bring the πŸ”₯πŸ’œπŸ”₯

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michaeltharrington profile image
Michael Tharrington

That "impossible" dress was so freaking cool! I'm glad that folks are out there making the impossible happen. πŸ™Œ

All in all, this is just such a fun, awesome talk. Thanks so much, Anna!

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theannalytical profile image
Coding Drag Queen Anna Lytical πŸŒˆπŸ‘©πŸ»β€πŸ’»πŸ‘ΈπŸ»

Glad you had fun! πŸ’œπŸ’œπŸ’œ

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glennchon profile image
Glenn

Nothing is impossible! For me it has always been about whether the effort is worth the outcome. :D

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austinxduong profile image
austinxduong

this talk is so exciting, fun, & colorful! brilliant. I'm living for this πŸ¦„ πŸ˜„

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theannalytical profile image
Coding Drag Queen Anna Lytical πŸŒˆπŸ‘©πŸ»β€πŸ’»πŸ‘ΈπŸ»

πŸ’œπŸ’œπŸ’œ

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callumreid profile image
callumreid

I couldn't have been more excited until the keynote speaker came on in drag! I had not looked ahead at the speakers and this was the greatest surprise to me

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theannalytical profile image
Coding Drag Queen Anna Lytical πŸŒˆπŸ‘©πŸ»β€πŸ’»πŸ‘ΈπŸ»

Just being my glamorous self πŸ’β€β™€οΈπŸ‘ΈπŸ’œ

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itsasine profile image
Kayla

This feels like a fun chat with a friend, not a stuffy slideshow πŸ‘

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theannalytical profile image
Coding Drag Queen Anna Lytical πŸŒˆπŸ‘©πŸ»β€πŸ’»πŸ‘ΈπŸ»

A stuffy slideshow??? I would NEVER πŸ’œ

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sharacrosslin profile image
Shara Crosslin

I love the parallels you are drawing between coding and drag, brilliant!

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fizzybuzzybeezy profile image
fizzybuzzybeezy

Thank you for your keynote, Anna!

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fizzybuzzybeezy profile image
fizzybuzzybeezy • Edited

I grew up at a time and place where programmers (potential mentors) where few and far between.

Finding coding opportunities were tough outside of college, so I felt like I had to go into a CS program. Still having a friendly community was very difficult to find and maintain connections to.

It's so great to know that there are more welcoming communities out there now.

πŸ‘'ing for you too!

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theannalytical profile image
Coding Drag Queen Anna Lytical πŸŒˆπŸ‘©πŸ»β€πŸ’»πŸ‘ΈπŸ»

The tech landscape is always evolving, just like the world, so I think there amount of communities and support is only increasing which is wonderful πŸ’œπŸ’œ

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efoley326 profile image
efoley326

The gloves are 😍 😍 😍 😍

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adiatiayu profile image
Ayu Adiati • Edited

I love Anna's positive vibe and the simple explanations about concepts!

"Data structures can be glamorous!"

Thank you Anna!

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theannalytical profile image
Coding Drag Queen Anna Lytical πŸŒˆπŸ‘©πŸ»β€πŸ’»πŸ‘ΈπŸ»

Good vibes only!! πŸ’œ

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adiatiayu profile image
Ayu Adiati

Yesssss!!! Thank you so much for the talk, Anna!

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stephback profile image
Stephanie Back • Edited

πŸ‘πŸ‘ You are fabulous!
Also that dress is amazing!

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arteyescas profile image
Artemisa Yescas Engler

I love and appreciate so much Anna's explanations. My programming classes would have been so much easier to understand.

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theannalytical profile image
Coding Drag Queen Anna Lytical πŸŒˆπŸ‘©πŸ»β€πŸ’»πŸ‘ΈπŸ»

I think so many programming classes could be easier to understand πŸ˜«πŸ’œ

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hpmarsle profile image
Maria (Mars)

My favorite talk of the day! Love the approachability of learning CS concepts through things we are familiar with in the real world. So so fun!

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theannalytical profile image
Coding Drag Queen Anna Lytical πŸŒˆπŸ‘©πŸ»β€πŸ’»πŸ‘ΈπŸ»

Yay! I'm glad you had fun, I had fun! πŸ’œ