In this episode, Karl and Taylor engage in a lively conversation with Brian Gonzales, a graphic designer, web developer and founder of Solver Collective. Brian shares his origin story, detailing his transition from Drupal to Shopify and his passion for building a Shopify developer community in Portland. He discusses the pivotal moments in his career, including his passion for retail and the importance of in-person connections. The conversation explores the challenges and successes of fostering local meetups, navigating Shopify's support and sponsorship, and the importance of creating a technically focused community Takeaways - Brian is a graphic designer and web developer from Portland. - Brian founded an agency called Solver Collective. - He transitioned from Drupal development to Shopify in 2018. - He emphasizes the importance of community in the Shopify space. - In-person connections are vital for building strong networks. - Community building requires clear messaging and purpose. - Building a community takes time and persistence. - Navigating brand guidelines can be challenging but necessary. - Community events foster connections and knowledge sharing. - Personal connections enhance professional networking. - Swag can be a fun way to engage community members. - Creating a fun atmosphere at events can enhance participation. Timestamps 00:00 Introduction and Early Morning Energy 02:57 Parenting and Work-Life Balance 06:01 Basecamp and Project Management Tools 08:59 Guest Introduction: Brian Gonzales 12:01 Brian's Superhero Origin Story 15:01 Transitioning to Shopify Development 18:51 The Journey Begins: From Fear to Opportunity 25:09 Navigating Career Choices: The Temptation of the Porn Industry 30:32 Building Community: The Importance of In-Person Connections 37:24 Reviving a Dormant Group: The Birth of a New Community 43:18 Fostering Technical Engagement: A Focus on Developers 49:46 Creating Value: Engaging the Community through Participation 50:05 The Quest for Swag and Community Engagement 52:16 Navigating Shopify Collaborations 56:30 Building Community Connections 01:01:01 Change Log Insights and Updates 01:05:03 Personal Picks and Recommendations Find Brian Online
- Solver Collective: https://solvercollective.com/ - PDX Shopify Website: https://shopify.pdxmeetup.com/ - PDX Shopify Meetup: https://www.meetup.com/pdx-shopify-meetup/
Dev Changelog
- Support added for $app in product queries by metafield: https://shopify.dev/changelog/support-added-for-app-namespaces-in-product-queries-by-metafield - InventoryItem Queryable and Updatable with Products Scopes: https://shopify.dev/changelog/inventoryitem-queryable-and-updatable-with-products-scopes - Apps will be reviewed for necessary scopes: https://shopify.dev/changelog/apps-will-be-reviewed-for-necessary-scopes - shop.metaobjects is now just metaobjects in liquid: https://shopify.dev/changelog/shopmetaobjects-is-now-just-metaobjects-in-liquid - [Action Required] New Catalog APIs: https://shopify.dev/changelog/new-catalog-apis - [Deprecation] Payout statuses In Transit and Scheduled have been merged: https://shopify.dev/changelog/payout-statuses-in-transit-and-scheduled-have-been-merged Picks of the Week
(Karl) Banana Chips! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0096EVMTE (Taylor) Buckeye Express Carwash (Brian) - Polyphia: https://polyphia.com/
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