I Joined Google Cloud NEXT ’26 Without Feeling Ready

Prem Pagar — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 03:23:31 +0000

A few days back, I came across Google Cloud NEXT '26 Writing Challenge via DEV Community.

Initially, I thought:

"Cloud computing? Seems like this is for the pros; not for me."

However, something clicked in my mind – that everything we have known so far was due to jumping in before we were prepared.

Hence, I decided to take part.

As I watched the keynote, I realized that it's not just about developing cloud services, it's also about making developers productive. From artificial intelligence through Gemini, to improved deployments and workflows – nothing felt overly hyped and everything was practical.

In a recent project, I found myself spending more time resolving deployment issues than implementing new functionality. This realization hit me hard – development isn't only about coding, but also about knowing how the system works.

This challenge felt very personal for me.

The key takeaway?

Those who know both code and clouds will dominate the future.

Even if I'm still struggling,
Still trying to figure things out.

Maybe that's the idea.

You don't need to be prepared;
All you have to do is begin.

And I'm glad that I did.

DEV Community: Prem Pagar

I Joined Google Cloud NEXT ’26 Without Feeling Ready