Code and Community with RenderATL

Render ATL & The Commits: Building Inclusive Tech Communities

Key Concepts:

• Render ATL: A rapidly growing, bootstrapped tech conference focused on intersection of technology, culture, and community.
• The Commits: A new awards show created by Render ATL to recognize contributions to open-source development.
• Culture First: The core philosophy of Render ATL, prioritizing community and shared experiences alongside technical content.
• Economic Impact: The measurable financial benefit a conference or event brings to its host city.
• Bootstrap Funding: Financing a project or business with personal savings and revenue, rather than external investment.
• Open Source: Software with source code that anyone can inspect, modify, and enhance.
• Render Radicals: The community surrounding Render ATL.

The Need for Community in Tech

Andrea and Justin Samuels (Tug the Bugger) discuss the importance of building welcoming and culturally rich spaces within the tech industry. The conversation centers around Render ATL, a conference founded on the principle that technology and culture are inextricably linked. Justin emphasizes that culture isn’t a “taboo word” but rather “the thing that binds all of us together,” mirroring the importance companies place on “culture fit” and “workplace culture.” He argues that engineers, like employees in other fields, benefit from a strong sense of community, fostering quicker learning and better communication. As Justin states, “Engineers need to also have a sense of culture, too…having that sense of culture allows them to learn more quicker because it allows them to have more likewise connections with each other.”

Render ATL: From ReactJS to a Cultural Institution

Render ATL began in 2023 as a ReactJS conference with 300 attendees. It has since grown exponentially to 8,000 attendees in 2025, becoming a significant event in the tech calendar. The success is attributed to its “culture first” approach, prioritizing authentic experiences alongside technical talks. Render isn’t just about learning; it’s about enjoying great food, attending parties, and building connections. This focus on experience differentiates it from other conferences.

The conference and related organizations (including Render Tech Week) generated a combined economic impact of $55 million for the fiscal year 2025. This impact extends beyond financial gains, with Render fostering personal connections and career opportunities for attendees.

Introducing "The Commits": An Awards Show for Open Source

Render ATL recently announced a new initiative: “The Commits,” an awards show dedicated to recognizing contributions to the open-source community. Justin explains this arose from his own experiences receiving awards that didn’t resonate with him as an engineer. He wanted an award that specifically acknowledged open-source contributions, stating, “If I could win anything, it’ll be all for the contributions that I’ve done for the open source engineering world.”

The awards show aims to elevate the status of open-source work, which often goes unrewarded despite being foundational to much of the technology industry. Justin notes that many companies profit from open-source software without adequately compensating the creators and maintainers. He hopes “The Commits” will help change this narrative, even if incrementally.

The awards categories include:

• Commit of the Year
• Maintainer of the Year
• Small & Large Project of the Year
• Rising Star Contributor
• Documentation Excellence
• Design Excellence
• Open Source for Good
• Corporate Contributor of the Year
• Community Choice Award
• Unsung Hero Award

Nominations are open (via thecommits.com) and will be judged by an internal committee comprised of experienced open-source maintainers who are not currently actively maintaining projects, ensuring impartiality.

Render on Tour & Partnership Opportunities

To extend its reach beyond the annual conference, Render ATL launched the “Bits and Bites Tour,” bringing Render experiences to different cities. This includes pop-up events and activations at other conferences like GitHub Universe. The tour aims to provide consistent engagement with the “Render Radicals” community.

Companies interested in partnering with Render can do so in several ways: talent acquisition, product promotion, and establishing themselves as community supporters. Details are available on the Render ATL website.

Logistics & Future Plans

Due to the FIFA World Cup being held in Atlanta in June, Render ATL 2026 has been rescheduled for August 12th-13th. The team is committed to high-quality production, aiming for an awards show experience comparable to the Oscars or VMAs.

Notable Quotes:

• “Culture is the thing that binds all of us together.” – Justin Samuels
• “Engineers need to also have a sense of culture, too…having that sense of culture allows them to learn more quicker because it allows them to have more likewise connections with each other.” – Justin Samuels
• “If I could win anything, it’ll be all for the contributions that I’ve done for the open source engineering world.” – Justin Samuels

Technical Terms:

• Bootstrap Funding: Self-funding a project or business.
• Open Source: Software with publicly available source code.
• GitHub Universe: A large annual conference hosted by GitHub.
• ReactJS: A popular JavaScript library for building user interfaces.
• Patreon: A platform allowing creators to receive funding directly from their fans.

Logical Connections:

The conversation flows logically from the general need for community in tech to the specific example of Render ATL. The announcement of “The Commits” is presented as a natural extension of Render’s commitment to supporting the open-source community. The discussion of the “Bits and Bites Tour” highlights Render’s efforts to maintain engagement throughout the year.

Synthesis/Conclusion:

Render ATL exemplifies how prioritizing culture and community can create a thriving tech event. The launch of “The Commits” demonstrates a commitment to recognizing and supporting the often-overlooked contributions of open-source developers. Render’s success is a testament to the power of authentic experiences and a “culture first” approach, offering valuable lessons for other conference organizers and companies seeking to build meaningful connections within the tech ecosystem.