Tips on Starting a Xamarin Developer Group

Question

User25759 posted

If you are looking to start a Xamarin Developer Group in your city we are here to help! You can find official Xamarin and .NET presentations and workshop on the .NET Foundation Presentations website. We encourage all group leaders to announce their group and events in our Events forum. To get you started we have assembled this list of tips on how to get your group off to a great start:

• Where to setup group: Meetup.com offers an easy way to create and manage developer groups.
• Name: [City] Xamarin Mobile .NET Developers Group -- This is great because it brings in not only Xamarin developers but .NET developers in general and will allow you to focus on both Xamarin and .NET topics.
• Name your URL: http://www.meetup.com/[City]XamarinMobileDevelopers
• Event Date: It is important to meet consistently, the same day each month is optimal, for instance “Second Tuesday of Each Month”.
• Event Time: See what works best for you and your group. 6 PM to 7 PM seem to work well, but again it is optimal to select the same time each month.
• Location: Ideally it is great to have the same location each month as well. We have found that a lot of local colleges are eager to work with user groups. Local shared work spaces, libraries, and local businesses that use Xamarin products may have space available as well.
• Social It is really useful to create a Twitter account for your user group. This is a more appropriate way to send out quick updates without having to spam your users with emails. You can add your Twitter account to Meetup.com under "Group Tools -> Group Settings -> Optional Features". Facebook Pages are also a great tool based on your members usage.
• Meetup.com Topics: Be sure to include "Xamarin" as one of your topics as this will ensure your user group will show up on http://xamarin.meetup.com

When you are up and running be sure to apply to get sponsored by the .NET Foundation

Answer 1

User76865 posted

Hi James,

This is Nash from Bangalore, India. I have worked as Architect and developed various large Enterprise Applications. I come from Technology consulting background and mostly worked on Microsoft Technologies like ASP, ASP.net, MVC, C#, .Net, SQL etc... I am also active speaker in company Tech community and do trainings, Tech Talk, Road shows etc. With me there are many enthusiastic Tech people who are either exploring XAMARIN or started using XAMARIN. I am based out of Bangalore and Bangalore is Silicon Valley of India where almost every Software companies are here. It will be great if we can start a "XAMARIN User Group" in Bangalore. I can manage this and bring lot of people to this community. This group will be increase awareness about XAMARIN here in Bangalore, We will do weekly meeting, Tech Talks where People will come, learn and spread the word about XAMARIN. This will also help its community member how to build enterprise solutions utilizing XAMARIN & .net.

If given an opportunity I can start this here. I have more ideas and am open for discussion.

Please let me know if you have some 15-30 mins to discuss about this. We can have call or SKYPE Call.

Regards Nash

Answer 2

User15531 posted

Hi Nash,

My name is Nish and I work for Xamarin from Bangalore. I would love to connect with you and hear your ideas.

Please note: We have an exclusive user group for Xamarin in Bangalore called Xhackers. If you wish to work with them, I will be happy to connect you there.

Feel free to write to me [e-mail]

Answer 3

User35181 posted

Hello James, I'm in the San Diego Ca. area and would love to find or help start a group. I met you last year when you toured with the .Net Rocks team, you helped me with an issue after you gave your talk.

Thanks,

Marquis

Answer 4

User25759 posted

@MHoward, can you shoot me an email [e-mail] as there were a few others in that area looking to start a group.

Answer 5

User82902 posted

Hello James, i'm Ammar From Tunisia (North Africa),i'm very happy to work this community, i like to create the developer user group here in Tunisia, i have a good .NET developer Team and i'm a Microsoft Certified professional.

Answer 6

User73249 posted

Hi @AmmarZaied ! We would love to see a Xamarin group in Tunisia! If you are interested in getting one started, feel free to email me and I will help get you on your feet: [e-mail]

Thanks!

Answer 7

User32234 posted

I hate that there are no Xamarin user groups here in Manchester, UK, so I'm willing to start one. Any help on how to start this will be appreciated.

Answer 8

User95950 posted

Hello everybody, I have started a new Xamarin Dev. meetup group in Southern California, you can find it here: http://www.meetup.com/OC-Xamarin-Developers/ All welcome to join! The first meetup will be help beginning-mid March!

-Imad

Answer 9

User76045 posted

Thanks for sharing such a valuable information. Its really good idea to make such changes. I know one group in US also of Xamarin app developers. You can join them here : SIMpalm.com

Answer 10

User103208 posted

Hi James, We have a community named as "Micrososft Developers Community, Odisha" in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India. We usually do Tech sessions, meet ups like activities in each month. In each of our activity we include Xamarin along with the other .net technologies. Can we use that group for this purpose as well ?

Thanks, Nirmal

Answer 11

User73249 posted

Hi @NirmalH,

Feel free to use the slide decks for Xamarin presentations at your group's events. You can also look to the Presentations forum for even more great Xamarin materials :)

Thanks! Jayme

Answer 12

User89414 posted

Hi @NishAnil

Are there any user groups in the Delhi NCR region,India?

Answer 13

User62601 posted

No , there isn't any group in Delhi but if you want we can make the one :smile: . There is a group in Bangalore though, which organise meetups and hackathons on the monthly basis.

Answer 14

User91590 posted

Hi James,

I started a new Mobile Developers Group, Here it is the link

http://www.meetup.com/es/MonterreyMobileDevelopers/

I hope you can support me to grow this group

Greetings from Monterrey, MX

Answer 15

User400 posted

We have a Mobile .Net meetup for Silicon Valley. You can find it here http://www.meetup.com/Silicon-Valley-Mobile-Net-Developers-Group/

We took a summer break while looking for a new location to host our meetups. We'll probably start with new meetings soon and maybe add a bi-weekly "office hours" where developers can help each other with projects they're working on

Answer 16

User1191 posted

Hi,

We have been organizing .NET Movile dev. talks for a while, but just recently made it an official Xamarin User Group.

http://www.meetup.com/Mobile-Do/

Co-organizers: Andres Pineda Yamille Ramirez

Answer 17

User74310 posted

We restarting the Xamarin User Group for Malaysia. You can find it here http://www.meetup.com/Malaysia-Mobile-NET-Developers-Group

We try to organize this meetup every month after working hours (Malaysia Time) to gather all developer.

Regards, Eng Teong

Answer 18

User74310 posted

@JamesMontemagno and @Jingleton

May I ask about how we request swag for the xamarin user group for coming event? Because I organize the Xamarin User Group on 22 January 2016 (Friday).

Thank you.

Answer 19

User66671 posted

@JamesMontemagno Hello, This is Artem from Dnipropetrovsk (Ukraine). For this moment I'm doing native iOS development during my working hours and I have experience with .NET and C#, and also I'm using Xamarin for my indie projects. As I know there is huge Xamarin community in Ukraine and many outsourcing companies using it, but there is no Xamarin conferences or meet ups, where experienced developers would connect to each other and share their experience and knowledge with Xamarin newcomers. So, I'd like to take a part in organising such meet up or conference.

Please let me know if you have some time to discuss my idea.

Cheers, Artem

Answer 20

User12533 posted

Hello everyone, I have create the Mobile .NET devs group for Sofia, Bulgaria. I'm looking for mobile devs from Bulgaria to meet and share experience and ideas.

Answer 21

User73249 posted

@Radingospodinov Great to hear about your new group!

Can you link me to your meetup page?

I'd love to check it out :)

Thanks! Jayme

Answer 22

User12533 posted

Hi @Jingleton I'm new in meetup, can you please help me how to do it?

@Jingleton said: @Radingospodinov Great to hear about your new group!

Can you link me to your meetup page?

I'd love to check it out :)

Thanks! Jayme

Answer 23

User73249 posted

@Radingospodinov Happy to help:

• Where to setup group: Meetup.com offers an easy way to create and manage developer groups.
• Name: [City] Mobile .NET Developers Group -- This is great because it brings in not only Xamarin developers but .NET developers in general and will allow you to focus on both Xamarin and .NET topics.
• Name your URL: http://www.meetup.com/[City]MobileDevelopers
• Event Date: It is important to meet consistently, the same day each month is optimal, for instance “Second Tuesday of Each Month”.
• Event Time: See what works best for you and your group. 6 PM to 7 PM seem to work well, but again it is optimal to select the same time each month.
• Location: Ideally it is great to have the same location each month as well. We have found that a lot of local colleges are eager to work with user groups. Local shared work spaces, libraries, and local businesses that use Xamarin products may have space available as well.
• Social It is really useful to create a Twitter account for your user group. This is a more appropriate way to send out quick updates without having to spam your users with emails. You can add your Twitter account to Meetup.com under "Group Tools -> Group Settings -> Optional Features". Facebook Pages are also a great tool based on your members usage.
• Meetup.com Topics: Be sure to include "Xamarin" as one of your topics as this will ensure your user group will show up on http://xamarin.meetup.com

Feel free to share the links to your new page :) !

Answer 24

User108859 posted

Hi @Jingleton I have a community in Mexico:

Name: Xamarin Students Mexico Name your URL: http://www.meetup.com/es-ES/Xamarin-Students-Mexico Event Date: Right now I'm, recording a date, why we not have a place to do, but this can be the last thursday of each month. Event Time: 7 pm - 10 pm Location: Social: https://www.facebook.com/xspmexico/

Regards!!

Answer 25

User79962 posted

Hi @Jingleton, @nishanil, @JamesMontemagno ,

I have created a Meetup group for Xamarin Developers in Delhi/NCR the details are as follows:

Name: NCR Xamarin Developers Name your URL: http://www.meetup.com/NCRXamarinDevelopers/ Event Date: I am planning the date for last Sunday of every month like 26th June. Event Time: 11 AM - 1:00 pm Location: TBD Social: #NCRXamarinDevelopers.

Please guide me how to move ahead.

Regards

Answer 26

User254387 posted

This article is brilliant. It has really made me think and that's the kind of writing I enjoy reading the most. Thank you for this well written material and information.

Answer 27

User106522 posted

Hi,

I m Xamarin developer and working in India. Are there any Group in Ahmedabad - India? If Not then i want to interested to start... If yes then please tell me the name of group....

Regards, Tejas Lodha

Answer 28

User211871 posted

Hello @TejasLodha , I am also very much interested to start Xamarin Group in Ahmadabad. If You Find Something Helpful for starting a group then please contact me.

Answer 29

User224429 posted

Shameless plug for our new meetup group in Cambridge (the original) in U.K. :tongue:

I hope that's cool @JamesMontemagno

https://www.meetup.com/Cambridge-Mobile-NET-Developers-Group-Xamarin-and-NET/