AWS re:Invent is just around the corner, and it’s like Disneyland for developers—but with fewer Mickey Mouse ears and more AWS reps in Patagonia vests. With a dizzying array of sessions, workshops, and keynotes (more than 3,000!) choosing where to spend your time can feel like trying to debug a legacy codebase.
If you’re headed to Vegas this year, we’ve got you covered. Here’s a casual guide to the must-see sessions at this year’s re:Invent for developers and software engineers alike.
Session types
At AWS re:Invent, there’s a session style for everyone—here’s a quick rundown of what each type is all about:
- Breakout sessions are 60-minute lectures by AWS experts, with most sessions available on-demand after the event.
- Chalk talks combine a 10–15 minute lecture with an interactive, 45–50 minute Q&A where experts and attendees solve problems together using a digital whiteboard.
- Workshops are two-hour hands-on learning experiences where small teams collaborate to solve challenges using AWS services, guided by a short introductory lecture.
- Builders’ sessions are 60-minute interactive, hands-on sessions led by an AWS expert, focused on building directly in AWS and encouraging live Q&A.
- Lightning talks are fast-paced, 20-minute stage demos showcasing key ideas or solutions.
- Code talks are 60-minute sessions featuring live coding demonstrations, with opportunities for attendees to engage deeply and ask questions about the speaker’s approach.
Day 1
Scaling on AWS for the first 10 million users | ARC201
Breakout session | Level 200 - Intermediate | Monday, Dec 2 | 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM | Caesars Forum
Why you should attend: Scaling your infrastructure can be tricky, but this session breaks it all down for you. Learn when to scale up versus scale out, where caching can save the day, and when breaking your app into smaller services makes sense. It’s packed with practical tips for navigating the challenges of rapid growth.
What you’ll learn: This talk gives you the tools to architect systems that grow with your business. By leveraging AWS services and distributed system patterns, you’ll be better prepared to handle success without the headaches of performance bottlenecks or infrastructure failures.
Speakers: Skye Hart (Solutions Architect Manager, AWS), Christine Chao (Sr. Startups Solutions Architect, AWS)
Time commitment: 1 hour
The modern CI/CD toolbox: Strategies for consistency and reliability (DOP202)
Breakout session | Level 200 - Intermediate | Monday, Dec 2 | 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM | Mandalay Bay
Why you should attend: CI/CD pipelines are a game-changer, and this session shows you how to build them seamlessly on AWS. Learn how to plan, collaborate, and automate your entire application lifecycle using infrastructure as code. It’s the ultimate guide to smoother, faster deployments.
What you’ll learn: How to streamline your development process with efficient pipelines that minimize manual effort. By automating testing and deployments, you’ll reduce the risk of errors and free up time to focus on building great features.
Speakers: Steve Rice (General Manager, AWS AppConfig, Amazon), Ranjith Ramakrishnan (Sr. Product Manager, Amazon)
Time commitment: 1 hour
Day 2
CEO Keynote with Matt Garman (KEY002)
Keynote | Tuesday, Dec 3 | 8 AM - 10:30 AM | Venetian
Why you should attend: Get an insider’s view of AWS’s latest innovations with CEO Matt Garman. He’ll dive into how AWS is reimagining core cloud technologies and introducing groundbreaking experiences to empower customers and partners. It’s your chance to see how AWS is shaping the future of the cloud.
What you’ll learn: The latest tools and strategies to drive your projects forward. Whether you’re looking for inspiration or practical insights, this session equips you to build smarter, faster, and with greater impact.
Speakers: Matt Garman (CEO, AWS), Lori Beer (Global CIO, JPMorganChase), Andy Jassy (President and CEO, Amazon) Jennifer Tejada (CEO and Chairperson, PagerDuty)
Time commitment: 2 hours
Build for massive scale & security with the HashiCorp Cloud Platform sponsored by HashiCorp (DOP301-S)
Breakout session | Level 300 - Advanced | Tuesday, Dec 3 | 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM | Venetian
Why you should attend: If you’re aiming to improve your cloud infrastructure while streamlining workflows, this session is for you. Learn how to leverage HashiCorp Cloud Platform (HCP) to create scalable, secure, and efficient systems, complete with a live demo and reference codebase to see it all in action. (Plus, HashiCorp is a customer, so they know how to do incident management right 😉).
What you’ll learn: Foundational principles for managing infrastructure and security lifecycles, strategies to address process and team challenges, and insights to up-skill your engineering team for faster business and platform growth.
Speakers: Rosemary Wang (Chief Developer Advocate, HashiCorp), Cole Morrison (Sr. Developer Advocate)
Time commitment: 1 hour
Day 3
Try again: The tools and techniques behind resilient systems (ARC403)
Breakout session | Level 400 - Expert | Wednesday, Dec 4 | 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM | Mandalay Bay
Why you should attend: If you’re into the nuts and bolts of system resilience, this session is for you. Marc Brooker, VP and distinguished engineer at AWS, shares the exact tools and techniques AWS uses to keep its systems rock solid. Expect a deep dive into circuit breakers, erasure coding, and simulation techniques that make systems stronger.
What you’ll learn: How to rethink and refine your approach to building reliable systems while picking up tips for creating faster, more robust code. It’s all about turning theory into action.
Speakers: Marc Brooker (VP and Distinguished Engineer, AWS)
Time commitment: 1 hour
The incident is over: Now what? (ARC207)
Breakout session | Level 200 - Intermediate | Wednesday, Dec 4 | 4:30 PM - 5:30 PM | Caesars Forum
Why you should attend: Incidents are bound to happen, but what you do after makes all the difference. This session explores how to dig deep into root causes, plan preventive actions, and turn every incident into a valuable learning experience. You’ll also learn how to navigate the shared responsibility model and work effectively with third-party vendors.
What you’ll learn: Strategies for thorough root cause analysis and actionable corrections that help prevent repeat incidents. Plus, you’ll gain insights into leveraging incidents as opportunities to improve your overall processes.
Speakers: Giorgio Bonfiglio (Principal TAM, AWS), Gavin McCullagh (Sr. Principal Engineer, Amazon)
Time commitment: 1 hour
Day 4
Dr. Werner Vogels Keynote (KEY005)
Keynote | Thursday, Dec 5 | 8:30 AM - 10:30 AM | Venetian
Why you should attend: If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by managing complex systems, this keynote is for you. Dr. Werner Vogels, Amazon’s VP and CTO, shares the hard-earned lessons and strategies Amazon uses to thrive at massive scale. It’s a rare chance to learn from one of the top minds in distributed systems.
What you’ll learn: Practical principles to tackle the complexity of distributed systems with confidence. You’ll leave with strategies to embrace and manage complexity, making your systems more scalable, reliable, and efficient.
Speakers: Dr. Werner Vogels (VP and CTO, Amazon), Andy Warfield (VP and Distinguished Engineer, AWS)
Time commitment: 2 hours
Using observability for effective incident response (COP305)
Workshop | Level 300 - Advanced | Thursday, Dec 5 | 12:30 PM - 2:30 PM | Venetian
Why you should attend: You’ll dive into a simulated incident to practice collecting and analyzing data, setting up smart alerts, and automating workflows using Amazon CloudWatch and AWS Systems Manager. Bring your laptop and get ready for some hands-on learning!
What you’ll learn: The tools to detect and respond to incidents faster and more effectively. You’ll walk away knowing how to automate repetitive tasks, make sense of complex system data, and stay ahead of potential issues before they become problems.
Speakers: David Rowley (Sr. Solutions Architect, AWS), Jeremy Silverman (Sr. TAM, AWS)
Time commitment: 2 hours
Reimagining the Developer Experience at AWS (DOP220)
Innovation talks | Level 200 - Intermediate | Thursday, Dec 5 | 2 PM - 3 PM
Why you should attend: Generative AI is changing the game for software development, and this session shows you how to make the most of it. AWS is empowering developers to embrace this evolution, integrating AI agents across the development lifecycle. You’ll see real-world use cases that modernize legacy systems, drive cloud-native innovation, and unlock incredible results.
What you’ll learn: Practical insights into using generative AI to fuel creativity and innovation in your work. You’ll leave inspired by the potential to build faster, more efficiently, and with a broader reach—reshaping what’s possible in software development.
Speakers: Adam Seligman (Vice President, Developer Experience, AWS), Sabrina Farmer (Chief Technology Officer, GitLab), Kyle Seaman (Product Manager, AWWS), Alison Spittel (Head of Developer Advocacy, NAMER and Frontend, AWS), Brooke Jamieson (Senior Developer Advocate, AWS), Nikhil Dewan (Senior Manager, Product Management, Amazon)
Time commitment: 1 hour
Conclusion
With so many incredible sessions at AWS re:Invent, there’s no wrong way to spend your time. Whether you’re figuring out how to scale your app to millions of users, exploring how generative AI can modernize your architecture, or just looking for ways to make deployments smoother, there’s something here for everyone. You can view the full catalog here.
If you’re heading to AWS, make sure to stop bye and say hi to our team! (Plus, see how you can win some customized kicks)
