Name: Stop Coding and Advance in Seniority && WAF the F***?!? Do I need a firewall?
Start: 2025-01-30T18:00:00+01:00
End: 2025-01-30T22:00:00+01:00
Location: Babiel GmbH

In January, we’re bringing something truly special to our Web Engineering Düsseldorf Meetup! Sponsored and hosted by **Babiel** ([https://www.babiel.com/](https://www.babiel.com/)), we’re not only featuring two fantastic talks, but also introducing a unique format you won’t want to miss!

🎙️ **Agenda:**

* **18:00 - 18:50:** Arrival, grab a drink, and socialize
* **19:00 - \~19:30:** Talk #1: **Stop Coding and Advance in Seniority** by Wolfgang Gassler
* **19:45 - \~20:15:** Talk #2: **WAF the F**\*?!? – Or why do I need a firewall for my website?\*\* by Tim Windelschmidt
* **20:15 - Open End:** Socializing

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1️⃣ **Talk #1: Stop Coding And Advance in Seniority**
**Speaker:** Wolfgang Gassler

Are you a senior developer? Many of us proudly claim that title, but what does it really mean to be a senior or staff developer? Is it all about writing picture-perfect code, or is there more to the story?
In this talk, we journey from junior roles to higher echelons of seniority, shedding light on the indispensable skills needed for these positions. Even if you're not wrangling a team, technical leadership becomes paramount as you climb the ladder.
So whether you are currently in a senior role, eyeing one in the future, or simply curious about technical leadership, see you at the talk. Bonus: I’ll also share why I (no longer) hate titles in the tech world.

**About Wolfgang Gassler:**
I'm Wolfgang, a tech consultant from Austria with over 25 years of experience in industry and academia. My journey began in the ’90s, building web platforms with Perl and PHP 3, which sparked my passion for turning ideas into impactful solutions. Along the way, I earned a Ph.D. in computer science, wrote a MySQL book, and led diverse teams to tackle complex challenges and build scalable systems.
Beyond consulting, I love working on open-source side projects and co-host the Engineering Kiosk podcast, where I share lessons and stories to help developers grow. For me, it’s all about creating impactful solutions while fostering collaboration and innovation.

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2️⃣ **Talk #2: WAF the F\*\*\*?!? - Or why do I need a firewall for my website?**
**Speaker:** Tim Windelschmidt

What is a WAF and how does it protect my website from attacks like SQL injections or Cross-Site-Scripting? This talk explains why a Web Application Firewall (WAF) is useful, how it works, and the benefits it offers.

**About Tim Windelschmidt:**
Tim is a software developer and systems engineer. He works at Monogon SE and develops open-source tools for DDoS mitigation in his spare time.

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🎧 **Special Feature: Engineering Kiosk Podcast Recording**
In this meetup, we’ll also have a special opportunity for some live podcast recordings with **Wolfgang Gassler** and **Andy Grunwald** from the **Engineering Kiosk** ([https://engineeringkiosk.dev/](https://engineeringkiosk.dev/)) podcast. They’ll be asking participants a few interesting questions, and you might get a chance to contribute to the podcast with your own answers! Don't miss out on the chance to be part of this fun recording!

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**🚋 How to get there**
Babiel office at [https://maps.app.goo.gl/KyG6z5SggBjNQqV6A](https://maps.app.goo.gl/KyG6z5SggBjNQqV6A)

**🚗 Parking**
There is a parking garage on the premises of the Schwanenhöfe. Street parking is also available along Erkrather Straße.

**🚋 Public Transportation**
From the main station, take U-Bahn line 75 towards D-Eller, Vennhauser Allee, to the Kettwiger Straße stop, and then it's about a 400m walk.

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**Important to know**
Attendance is free. WiFi, food, beer, and non-alcoholic drinks will be provided (for free as well!), and we would love to see you there :)
• Language of the event: English
• WiFi: Available
• Costs: Free
• Drinks: Available
• Food: Available

Dario Tilgner

Web Engineering Düsseldorf

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MySQL

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Stop Coding and Advance in Seniority && WAF the F***?!? Do I need a firewall?

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